Zamfara buys 100 Proton cars for civil servants

The state government, it was learnt, procured the vehicles for civil servants in the state, as part of a scheme designed to enhance productivity..  The initial supply of some units was made last month during which the marketers assured the state officials in Gusau of a very solid after-sales backup for the cars, including replacement parts and professional servicing..

Commenting on the development, the Chairman of Automal, a promoter of automobile technology transfer, Dr Haroun Adamu, said he was glad that more Nigarians are daily discovering the truth that the Proton cars are among the best value-for-money vehicles in the global auto market.

According to him, one of the reasons state governments (like Ondo’s which last year indicated interest in hosting a Proton assembly plant), corporate buyers and image-conscious customers, are embracing the cars, is that they are at home in Nigeria. Reason: The Malaysian climate and motoring environment, he said, are akin to Nigeria’s, while the vehicles are imbued with the advantage of being modern and trendy without compromising luxury, safety and durability.

“As you can see, the efforts we have been making in the pat two years – taking the cars round the country, to fairs, to state governments, corporate buyers and other potential buyers, and sensitizing the market generally, have not been in vain”, Dr Adamu said.

In the past couple of years, Automal has taken Proton to motor fairs in Lagos, Abuja and other exhibitions. It also plans to sponsor some Nigerians to Malaysia where they will undergo training on the maintenance of the vehicles in order to ensure smooth motoring for the customers in Nigeria.

It has also appointed service centres in some parts of the country. Dr Adamu assured that his firm has not buried the idea of establishing a Proton assembly plant which will enhance technology transfer to Nigeria, saying the important thing is to first endear the cars  to the vehicle buying public in the country  “Let the cars get acceptance first; then an assembly plant will follow later.”, he said.

The Proton cars come with the full compliments of automatic gear, anti-lock brake systems, alloy wheels, and 1.8 litre engines, Fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs are other factors which  buyers are said to have discovered as the strong points. The tough body panel is also one of the characteristics they consider an advantage over competitors.