Auto
JAC’s 4WD Pick-Up Hits African Market 2017
By Dipo Olowookere
It has been confirmed that the new four-wheel drive pick-up of JAC Motors will been sold in the Middle East and African markets from next year.
The company said it is selling the vehicles in the two markets following the success of their Frison model in the international market.
The Chinese auto maker disclosed that it aims to repeat the success the Frison has achieved globally, when it unveils its new model in Africa and the Middle East in 2017.
Sales of the Frison were particularly high in Chile, where it quickly became the No.1 Chinese pick-up model after its release in May. This followed the model’s strong performance in the Philippines and Paraguay.
During the first half year JAC overseas pick-up sales have doubled compared to the previous half year.
These outstanding sales figures not only demonstrate a growing recognition of the JAC’s reliability and quality in the international market, but also indicate the company’s ability to manufacture and export an independently-developed pick-up.
The Frison has won acclaim across the international and Chinese markets for its power, superior loading ability and advanced fuel economy. Take the Frison’s largest export markets such as Chile and the Philippines, and popular Chinese markets such as Yunnan and Guizhou as examples. Complicated landscapes in these areas add difficulties to loading and logistics, and require advanced transportation tools. The superior pass ability and power performance of Frison have perfectly met the demands of these areas.
The Frison’s gasoline pick-up is equipped with a 2.0 Lengine developed by JAC, with maximum power of 110kw and torque of 196Nm. Meanwhile, the model’s higher emissions efficiency and better fuel economy have fully met the demands of long-distance transportation.
The Frison has sold particularly well for commercial purposes. With advanced seventh-generation JAC chassis technology and a pick-up track of 1520x1520x470mm (or 1810×1520×470mm on the upgraded model), the Frison has an enhanced loading ability, making it especially suitable for use in mining, timber and fishery enterprises, such as in Chile, the sugar industry, such as in Cuba, and the transportation of building materials, such as in Venezuela.
Consumers from these industries have in particular praised the Frison’s fuel-saving performance.
Firstly, the Frison’s body is formed from light-weight and plastic composite materials, effectively reducing the body weight of the vehicle. Secondly, the vehicle has incorporated Navistar’s highly efficient and eco-friendly engineering, Bosch’s high-pressure common rail system and variable super charger technology, as well as advanced LC5T80 five-speed manual transmission.
This has greatly reduced the Frison’s fuel consumption to a mere 7L per hundred kilometres.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A bill aimed at prohibiting hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles in Nigeria has been passed by the Senate.
The bill known as the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, imposes fines between N50,000 and N100,000 for violations if assented to by the President.
The piece of legislation was passed by the red chamber of the National Assembly on Thursday and should later be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Members of the upper chamber of the parliament explained that the law was amended to discourage distractions in commercial vehicles and improve the safety of commuters.
In addition, motorists who fail to cooperate with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion are liable to fines or imprisonment or both.
Lawmakers noted that this was to improve compliance with road safety regulations and reduce road crashes, as fines for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs were raised to N100,000 from N5,000, with the risk of spending two years behind bars.
It was also proposed that disobedience to traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings and other traffic control devices will now attract N100,000, while the fine for speed limit violations is now N100,000, with reckless driving now a fine of N100,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
By Dipo Olowookere
Residents and motorists plying the Aina Obembe Road in Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, may soon heave a sigh of relief as the excruciating traffic gridlock being experienced in the area both day and night may soon be a thing of the past.
This is because the chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Mr Lukmon Agbaje, has directed those involved in indiscriminate truck parking along the road to remove the heavy-duty vehicles within one week, threatening to invoke appropriate enforcement measures for noncompliance with this directive.
Speaking during a meeting on Wednesday with the management of SENA Company, which owns the affected trucks, as well as the leadership of Oluwadara CDA and other key stakeholders like the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), at the council’s secretariat, Mr Agbaje frowned at the prolonged inconvenience suffered by the community, stressing that public roads must remain accessible and safe for all users.
He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach in resolving the issue without undermining legitimate business operations, noting that he’s focused on finding a lasting solution to the gridlock experienced between Oluwaga and Aina Obembe, where parked trucks have continued to obstruct traffic, disrupt business activities, and pose safety concerns for residents and motorists.
He tasked the firm and the CDA to jointly identify and implement alternative parking arrangements that would remove all trucks from the affected roads and restore the free flow of traffic.
He declared that, “The welfare of our people remains our highest priority. No individual or corporate organisation should obstruct public infrastructure or create avoidable hardship for residents. We must ensure that economic activities coexist with public safety, order, and convenience.”
The council chief reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting orderly development, ensuring safe and accessible roads, improving traffic management, and creating an environment where businesses can thrive alongside the well-being of residents.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has cut import levies on new and used vehicles by as much as 10 per cent in a move aimed at reducing the cost of vehicle importation, even as it commenced the implementation of a new Green Tax surcharge.
According to an update issued by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, the import levy on new vehicles has been reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while the levy on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent under the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, which took effect on July 1, 2026.
The customs said the policy is designed to ease the cost of vehicle imports while advancing the government’s environmental sustainability objectives through the newly introduced Green Tax.
The implementation also reduces the overall import duty on fully built passenger vehicles from 70 per cent to 40 per cent.
As part of the Green Tax framework, a new environmental surcharge of between two per cent and four per cent will apply to petrol-powered vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2,000cc. However, mass transit buses, electric vehicles, and passenger cars with engines below 2,000cc are exempt from the surcharge.
Beyond the automobile sector, the fiscal measures also lower import duties on several essential goods. The duty on imported rice has been reduced from 70 per cent to 47.5 per cent, while crude palm oil now attracts a 28.75 per cent duty.
In addition, import duties on agricultural and manufacturing machinery have been completely removed to support local production, while Waste PET has been added to the export prohibition list to encourage domestic recycling.
