Pursuant to sustainable transportation in Nigeria, leading indigenous investor, Coscharis Motors has announced the addition of Joylong Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to its vehicle brands portfolio.
The automobile company said the rationale for this latest addition is to create viable ownership solutions for fleet and individual customers, both in the Public and Private sectors respectively, towards reducing budget for petrol and general vehicle maintenance within the warranty period and beyond.
The firm noted that the launch of the CNG buses also highlights the company’s commitment to its vision of remaining timeless in its relevance, especially given the Government’s new policy direction and the need to upscale the CNG sector with professionals and certified technology.
Speaking at the unveiling of the CNG buses in Lagos on Tuesday, the General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group; Mr. Abiona Babarinde, noted; “For us in Coscharis, this is the opportune moment to invest in CNG given the expansion of more refueling CNG stations across Nigeria and the high cost of petrol makes it a more viable option for Nigerians. Coming into the fray as an established brand in the automobile sector gives the CNG auto sector more credibility that will attract Nigerians who have been reluctant towards this idea so far.
“In addition, the need to align with global and local eco-friendly drive is an impetus with specific reference to the push by the Federal and Lagos State Governments. The Joylong CNG is a cleaner-burning fuel, producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants compared to petrol; a quieter engine operation which reduces noise pollution and enhances smoother driving experience, he stated.
According to Babarinde, the long-term plan is to commence the assemblage of these Joylong CNG buses at the existing Coscharis Assembly plant in Lagos as he recalled that the company’s first locally assembled vehicle in Nigeria about 10 years ago at its former Ikeja Assembly plant was the Joylong bus.
While Coscharis intends to hit the Nigerian market with other seating capacity buses, it currently has 19-seaters of the brand in the country.