The show focused on ardent buyers, manufacturers and marketers of a vast array of automobile related products and services. The Show featured only a few the latest and best vehicles from around the world. It appears many automobile franchises were not ready to showcase their product their product this year. For instance Stallion Motors had nothing this year and Coscharis Motor didn’t even launch even the latest 5 series for 2010. On the show only two major player in the auto market appeared and that is Mercedes Benz Weststar of Nigeria and Toyota Nigeria. There were also others like Briscoe Ford who launched their Ford Fusion 2010 in the event as their star car and of course showcased various product like the Escape which the had on the event. The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado had a red carpet reception as the star for Toyota Nigeria which didn’t come as surprise. The 2010 Camry came with a face lift and we don’t expect to see anything new until five years is over since it was launch in 2007. Mercedes Benz Weststar also had their product on ground from the A-class to the S-class which the 2010 AMG model was suppose to be the star car but because of clearance issue it could not get to venue on time. So they had the ML63 AMG as their star car-which I think should be the star car actually (see page 22). Hyra Motor also had their product from Geely but without realizing how much potential the had with their new LC 1.3 which shares engines and chassis with the Toyota Aygo that is not imported to Nigeria. Peugeot Automobile Nigeria hand their stand and the had the 407 plus its previous model 406 which we will be saying good bye as the 307 sedan replaces it in the assembly line- it will be very much missed.
Other marketers of a vast array of automobile related products and services were not left out. Product such as Prolong with various automobile lubricants and up coming ones like the Naija Navigator that have been able to come with a navigation system that works for Nigeria in english. I was given a demonstration even in an instance of heavy traffic.
The Federal road Safety Corps was not left out of the event because as cars increase so have accidents and the need for more campaign. It was at this event that Jerry M. Dajangla the Superintendent Route Commander from the public enlightenment department of Road Safety, showcased a video of many of the Road Safety rescue operation carried. It contained many horrific graphics aimed at sensitizing the public on the need to be cautions on the road. Brochures were distributed alongside handbills containing hotline numbers for emergencies. Dajangla enlightened me that many of the accidents on the road are as a result of bad attitude to driving. Most Nigerian drivers forget the effects of recklessness as soon as their sensitized.
The event still was a success because quite a number participant had shown the public what Nigeria is vested with in the auto industries even though a large number were still not well represented.
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