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The Chairperson/Managing Director, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), Martina Biene, has adduced reasons why the leading German automobile brand wants to return to Nigeria after exiting the local market a few years ago.
Biene, who also heads the Volkswagen Group Africa operations, said her company would like to return to Nigeria and be part of the prosperity journey in the Nigerian market.
Biene, who doubles as the President of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), disclosed this in an interview during a recent visit by the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, to the Volkswagen Group assembly plant in Kariega, South Africa, last week.
“We are interested in the Nigerian market,” the Biene confirmed, adding,”We know that we also have a history in the Nigerian market. We will also re-emphasis that VW signed an MoU in 2018 with the government to establish a partnership. That is also what we want.”
She however maintained that ”What is needed is a new car market in Nigeria.”
According to Biene, ” New car market is going to happen with the implementation of the (automotive) policy and once we establish a proper new car market, I am pretty sure that we all want business. We are eager to start the business.”
When asked about the dealership VW would be working with on its return, Biene said; “We are not committing to any partner but I am just saying we want to come back.”
Responding to the visit of the NADDC Director General to South Africa and Volkswagen Group Africa in particular, Biene said: “We had a very good engagement from my point of view, specifically, as you might remember when you three were visiting us. We were joking. Give us the policy and we have seen the ideals of the policy. And not only the ideals but the crafting of the policy in Nigeria,which is pretty much, a very comprehensive policy which implemention will help the automotive industry to thrive in Nigeria. That was really good. ”
She however said: “”The next step is ratification and implementation in the National Assembly in Nigeria In Nigeria,, we agreed on supporting the Association of Automotive Manufacturers in Africa but also of course, Volkswagen is interested in the Nigerian market. We really want to be part of the Nigerian market. We also want to be part of the prosperity in the Nigerian market and we have seen a very good approach in terms of policy. ”
On previous efforts of which she has been a part, the VW boss said: ”The previous (immediate past) Minister of Trade and industry had been consulting the AAAM and he has been also instrumental in crafting some of the African automotive policies. He was also very encouraging and complimenting under automotive policy that Nigeria is now putting forward. Yes we need to work on some details that’s fine but it’s really now about getting going and Automotive Show in Nigeria.
”It was a very good engagement. We have really shown everything in full shape. Suppliers, manufacturing, supporting businesses, it has been very very positive.”
