Automobile Giant, Honda Begins Assembly Of Its Cars In Nigeria

In a speech in Tokyo last week which heralded the birth of Nigerian assembly plant, Honda Motors new president and chief executive officer, Takahiro Hachigo, has disclosed that the Japanese multinational manufacturer of automobiles, will begin its first ever African assembly plant in Nigeria.

According to The Leadership, Honda Automobile Western Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary, yesterday said that it had already begun local assembly of the Accord Sedan in Lagos, Nigeria. Initial Accord annual production capacity is 1,000 units and it is Honda’s first car plant in Africa.

The firm established the car plant by installing automobile production facilities and equipment within the property of the existing Honda motorcycle production plant. The automaker began motorcycle production and sales in Nigeria in 1980, and in 2013, it established a local automobile business subsidiary and began imports and sales.

Honda views Africa as a new growth market. It has been expanding its motorcycle, automobile and power products businesses in Africa through its local subsidiary established in South Africa in 2000.

Honda Motors senior managing officer and director, Yoshi Yamane, said, “I expect that this initiative will lead to a great leap in our automobile business in Nigeria and become a first step toward expansion to the entire African market.”