Lanre Shittu Motors Set To Assemble Electric, CNG Vehicles In Nigeria

Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM) has announced plans to assemble electric and compressed natural gas-powered vehicles in Nigeria following the increase in the pump price of fuel after the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Deputy Managing Director of the company, Lukman Shittu, disclosed this during a chat with newsmen in Lagos.

He said the new EVs and CNG-powered automobiles would be unveiled before the end of the year.

Also, the company is concluding arrangements to start the exportation of the LSM-branded vehicles that would be assembled in Nigeria.

He stated, “We should roll out the EVs and the CNG vehicles by the end of the year.

“These vehicles would be locally assembled. We would assemble the CKD of the CNG vehicles and the EVs at our Assembly plant in Ogun State.

He said the company has both the expertise and the expatriates to deliver on this project.

“We have been training people. We just trained 100 people in Ekiti. We have trained over 2,000 people in Nigeria already. We intend to do more. We are going to different states to enlighten them about the electric and CNG vehicles.”

Speaking earlier, the company’s Managing Director, Taiwo Shittu, said the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) had approved the licence to start the assembling of the EV/CNG vehicles.

He said, “The DG of the NADDC, Jelani Aliyu, has been very supportive. He opens his door once we knock. He knows the serious investors. Lanre Shittu Motors is a priority to him and we get the necessary support. He has approved our licence for the CNG and EVs already.”

According to him, the company will offer support for the buyers/users of the products through the building of battery charging stations and auto finance.

Taiwo Shittu stated, “We are investing in charging stations in many locations. We have a place in Lekki right now that we are working on. It will be a lounge where people can come and charge the battery of their electric vehicles. That will be part of our commitment.

“If you buy a large number of vehicles from us, we can build a charging station to support the operation, which we will build in the contract.”

However, He noted that the company would not stop assembling and selling of Internal Combustion engine vehicles.

“Now that the government is talking about electric vehicles, we have to remain relevant and move up to be market leaders, we have to key into the project.

“We have two plants already running in Lagos – the truck plant and the car plant for fossil fuel engine vehicles. The six-line plant in Ogun State will do more electric and CNG vehicles.”