Home / ASSEMBLY PLANTS / Coscharis Motors Unveils Ford Assembly Plant in Lagos
President/ CEO, Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka,CON.(middle) is flanked by the Group Executive Director ( Operations), Fred Amobi (left) and General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Abiona Babarinde, at the media launch of the Coscharis Motors Assembly Plant in Awoyaya, Lekki, Lagos...recently.

Coscharis Motors Unveils Ford Assembly Plant in Lagos

The Plant Coordinator, Mr. Sola Afolayan, explains a point of interest to the Coscharis Group President, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, and others during the tour of the facility
The Plant Coordinator, Mr. Sola Afolayan, explains a point of interest to the Coscharis Group President, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, and others during the tour of the facility

Coscharis new 1b

A group picture right inside the facility
A group picture right inside the facility

Coscharis Motors, Ford’s sole representative in Nigeria, Friday, unveiled its newly-built, ultra-modern Ford Assembly Plant to the media in Lagos. The massive facility in which no fewer than 600 units of made-in-Nigeria Ford Ranger have been rolled off the production line sits on a portion of the 14-hectare expanse of land situated right within the Coscharis Headquarters Complex in the Awoyaya area of Lekki in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.

The construction of the assembly plant, according to the auto dealership,  started in 2015 with the plan of rolling off at least 60 units of Ford Ranger per day. However, only 30 units of the light commercial vehicle (lcv) are currently being assembled per day at the new Semi-knocked Down (SKD) facility as it is yet to start producing at optimal capacity.

 Welcoming journalists to the media launch, the President/CEO of the Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, described the plant as the “the first ever Ford Assembly Plant in Nigeria and indeed the entire Sub-Sahara Africa,” saying its completion, despite the economic challenges facing the country, is a dream come true for his company.

He explained that the new assembly plant is the sole property of Coscharis Group for the production of  Ford Ranger while the CG-Eko LLP in Ikeja, Lagos is a  joint project between his company and the Lagos State Government for the training of auto technicians and production of buses, though the first made-in -Nigeria Ford Ranger was produced at the Ikeja facility.

“It has been a long wait from when we first announced in November 2015 that we had commenced physical structuring of the new Plant sighted on a piece of land of more than 14 hectares within our Lekki Group head office in Lagos. Thus, we are thankful to God that the day has finally come when you all shall witness the actual process of production taking place right here, in the Plant.

“Indeed, it is a dream come true.  Coscharis Group has been a great believer in the possibilities that lie ahead in this our great nation and we have shown courage by the actions that we are taking in investing in the future of Nigeria.

 “Although we are here today to unveil our newly-built Assembly Plant for Ford brand, you are all aware of the giant steps Coscharis Group has taken in the last few years in the agricultural sector of our economy, “ Maduka stated.

 “Today’s event is to showcase another initiative from our great organisation, Coscharis Motors Plc, to further create value as a leading player in the automotive industry in Nigeria, in response to the clarion call of the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP). This is also to appreciate the confidence that the globally respected iconic brand, Ford, reposed in us as their exclusive official representative in Nigeria to roll out the very first Ford Assembly Plant in Nigeria. This milestone marks another first in the evolution of our company towards remaining timeless in its relevance.

 “The National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) aims, among other objectives, to discourage the importation of completely-built vehicles and encourage the local manufacturing of vehicles through either Complete Knocked Down or Semi Knocked Down facilities for a start. We are aware that a few automobile companies have also initiated their process towards achieving this objective. However, at Coscharis Motors Plc, our concern and commitment to our loyal customers and stakeholders is to, as usual, set standards that other players will be judged by in the industry.”

 Maduka disclosed that the focus at the Plant, for now, is to roll out the Ford Ranger, which is a multipurpose mini-truck that serves well for both work and leisure, even as he explained that his company had a plan to also assemble Ford Explorer at the plant by 2020 but for the economic challenges facing the country.

“As you are all aware, Ford has a global standard for all of its products including the Ranger. Therefore, Ford’s certification of our facility and output is a confirmation that every single Ranger that rolls out of this plant is indeed “Built Ford Tough” from which we’ve rolled out over 600 units from this facility since we started operation; some of which are on display outside. But we will not rest on our oars as we are sure to wax stronger into the future with the introduction of other great Ford variants into the assembly line,” he said.

 Though, Maduka did not disclose the full capital overlay of the massive project, it was clear to everyone present at the media launch that, the new plant is, indeed, a capital intensive project as he hinted that the massive building alone gulped a whopping $15 million with an additional N500 million for the flooring.

“It might be news-worthy to mention here that this is a capital-intensive project, which also involves huge financial, technical and human resources commitment. Therefore, the fact that we have ventured into it headlong underpins the level of confidence and hope we have for the future of the Nigerian automotive industry. This is to underscore the human capital opportunities that stand to be delivered in terms of employment and by extension the multiplier effect on the economic development of our dear country, Nigeria.

 “We have always dreamt of a Nigeria that will take its place in the global arena, a Nigeria that sits among the egalitarians in the committee of Nations, taken its rightful place in the pages of history.  Our factory is the second ever Ford manufacturing outfit in the entire African continent, outside of South Africa; something we, indeed, are very proud of.  By this, Coscharis as an organisation reinforces its belief in the Nigerian project that this is the only country we have and absolutely nothing else,” Maduka said.  

 Explaining the rationale for such a huge investment despite the downturn in the economy, Maduka stated further: “We have taken the challenge for our generation as a result of this huge investment we’ve taken as a strong believer in our dear country as an entity, we can only but demand for governmental support in terms of enabling environment vis-à-vis basic infrastructures that are required to keep the manufacturing process on and more importantly the purchase patronage of the finished products from the Plant.

 “Nelson Mandela once said that sometimes, it falls upon a generation to be great and I say we can be that great generation but the only true way to let our greatness blossom is to dignify it via action.  It is, therefore, in reflection of all of these realities and celebration of the future possibilities that lie ahead, that we are gathered here today.”

The Plant Coordinator, Mr. Sola Afolayan, later conducted the media round the assembly plant, describing the various production processes at the plant right from the six-chassis assembly lines.

Check Also

Nissan Navara Convoy Heads Off on Daring Adventure Into Africa

A convoy of Nissan Navara pick-ups, representing the entire range that is manufactured in South ...