PAN Nigeria parts ways with Peugeot, settles for Higer, Chery 

FOREMOST Nigeria auto-mobile manufacturer, PAN Nigeria Limited, which parted ways with Automobile Peugeot of France early this year made history as the only auto maker in Nigeria to have crossed the production of 500,000 vehicles. The Kaduna-based automobile manufacturer which is now a multi-brand auto producer made a total of 523,000 vehicles during its 47 years alliance with Automobile Peugeot.

This achievement stood PAN Nigeria out as the only automobile maker in  Nigeria to have crossed the half a million production mark. For now, PAN Nigeria is channelling its experience towards the production of other reputable brands like Higer and Chery, two Chinese leading brands that are renowned for the production of various categories of vehicles.

A PAN Nigeria source who spoke to newsmen Motoring but wouldn’t like his name in print said the two new brands offer the company and its customers wider range of products. He said: “While Higer is a leading producer of pick-ups and buses, Chery is renown for the production of passenger cars and Sport Utility Vehicles”. The source further said that the “divorce between the two companies was quite peaceful as none took the other to court,” adding “we are now concentrating on the production of whole range of vehicles from sedan to Sport Utility Vehicles and buses which at the long run would benefit our customers across the country.”

Presently, the Dangote Group has acquired Peugeot in Nigeria with another plant while PAN Nigeria Limited retains its plant in Kaduna where it is currently producing the Higer and Chery brand of vehicles.