The social media has been agog recently with the photo of a sleek car, followed by claims that it was manufactured in Nigeria by Innoson Vehicle Motors (IVM).
Similarly, a claim has been making the rounds on the social media that IVM would give internet users an IVM G5 SUV as part of the company’s 15th anniversary celebrations.
Verdict: False. The claim that IVM manufactured a brand new sleek car, Innoson Laraki, in Nigeria is false. The photo of the sleek car in circulation was neither manufactured in Nigeria nor even produced by the IVM. A reverse image search showed that it was a prototype, futuristic car designed and unveiled in Libya in September 1999. Similarly, it is also not true that the company will give out the IVM G5 SUVs to lucky winners to commemorate its 15th year in existence. The company has debunked the claim.
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A Facebook page, Naijapolity, with over 33,000 followers, recently claimed that IVM had just unveiled a high-end world class car named Innoson Laraki.
The post, which got 160 comments and about 70 shares, claimed further that, “Looking at the beauty and speed of the car, you will not believe it’s built” in South-East of Nigeria.
On September 6, 2021, a Facebook user, Sekepmaster Brown, also claimed that the same vehicle was built in Anambra. Brown’s claim, which identified the same car as Innoson Laraki, generated 60 comments and 16 shares.
Several social media users, including blogs, have also published the same claim.
But how true is the claim that the sleek car pictured in the claims was manufactured by IVM.
Similarly, on September 15, 2021, a post circulated online that IVM was running a 15th anniversary celebration promo in which winners would receive IVM G5 SUVs after completing questionnaires.
How true is the claim that IVM is running the promo?
Brief on IVM
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd, shortened as IVM, is a Nigerian automobile and bus manufacturing company founded by Mr Innocent Chukwuma Nwala and runs a plant in Nnewi in Anambra State.
According to Ventures Africa, 70 per cent of the car parts are produced locally.
Techpoint Africa said about 30 per cent of the company’s car parts were sourced from Japan, China, and Germany.
African Business stated that among IVM’s vehicle models were the five-seater Fox (1.5-litre engine) and Umu (2-litre engine), as well as the mini-bus, Uzo.
Tech Gist Africa describes IVM as “one of the biggest car manufacturers on the continent. So far, it has produced luxury, minibuses and trucks. Innoson cars are already on sale and in use in Nigeria.”
But how true is the claim that the company manufactured the sleek car called ‘Innoson Laraki’?
Verification
Checks showed that IVM has no vehicle named Innoson Laraki. A reverse image search of the photo of the vehicle showed that its real name is Saroukh el-Jamahiriya, also known as “The Libyan Rocket.” It was unveiled in Libya in September 1999 by the late Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi.
Describing the car as built with “sleek styling and 21st century looks,” the CNN reported on September 7, 1999 that, “It is called Saroukh El-Jamahiriya or ‘The Libyan Rocket.’ Besides being the brainchild of Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi, it is being touted as the safest car on earth.”
Findings showed that the vehicle was unveiled to international journalists covering the summit of the Organisation of African Unity and the 30th anniversary of the revolution that brought Gadhafi to power.
Meanwhile, according to Auto Josh, a platform with expertise on automobiles, the Libyan Rocket car was supposed to be mass-produced in Libya’s capital city, Tripoli, where a factory was set to be built the following month before the project was cancelled.
On the other hand, the claim that IVM would be giving vehicles to internet users as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations has been debunked.
Describing the campaign as a hoax perpetrated by fraudulent elements, Chukwuma disclosed that his phone and those of managers and staff of IVM had been buzzing frequently since last week as friends and curious members of the public called to ascertain its genuineness or otherwise.
A statement signed by the company’s head, corporate communications, Cornel Osigwe, advised Nigerians to ignore the claim.
“Please be advised that any of such notifications is fraudulent and we have not authorised any agency to act on behalf of IVM in any capacity. Innoson Vehicles hereby disassociates itself from this notification and activities in connection to it. IVM has no relationship whatsoever with this link or any of its agents or affiliates,” the statement noted.
In addition, Dr Chukwuma said his company was not running any promo to mark their 15th anniversary.
“Innoson is not running any promo. We are not giving out any vehicle free and we have no plans to organise any anniversary campaign of any kind for people to win. What you are seeing on the social media is the handiwork of mischief makers. I want to advise social media users to totally disregard the link leading to the promo because it is fake,” he said.
Chukwuma said his phone and those of managers and staff of IVM have been buzzing frequently since last week as friends and curious members of the public called to ascertain its genuineness or otherwise.
He said, “We are shocked at how far mischievous people can go to generate false information, but we are happy that a lot of people who saw the promo knew it was fake and promptly alerted us. However, to avoid playing into the hands of the fraudsters, the fake promo should be ignored by all because it has nothing to do with Innoson.”
Conclusion
The claim that IVM manufactured a brand new sleek car, Innoson Laraki, is false. The photo of the sleek car in circulation was neither manufactured in Nigeria nor even produced by IVM. A reverse image search showed it was a prototype, futuristic car designed and unveiled in Libya in September 1999. Similarly, it is also not true that the company will give out the IVM G5 SUVs to lucky winners to commemorate its 15th year in existence. The company has debunked the claim.
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