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Removal of fuel subsidy: How to enhance fuel efficiency of your car

The Eyewitness Educational Series
It is no longer news that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has eventually taken the tough decision of removing fuel subsidy.
This decision, though painful but desirable, is to free the funds trapped in the wasteful subsidy regime and use it to provide other social amenities and build more infrastructure.
However, one of the direct consequences of subsidy removal is the high cost of Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS) otherwise known as petrol.
Since the new development, the average cost of fuel per litre is between N488 to N530, depending on your state in Nigeria.
Therefore it is imperative to ensure that your cars consume less fuel to save costs.
Below are the quick tips car owners should know to enhance the fuel efficiency of their automobiles.
These tips are best suited for automatic transmission vehicles.

Driving an automatic is easy. The whole driving experience is comfortable and convenient, when there’s no having to shift the gears up and down.

However, automatic cars tend to be less fuel efficient than manual ones.

 The slightly higher fuel consumption figure is due to the engine working a little harder, as they use a bit more gas to transmit power through an automatic transmission than a manual one.

Here are some tricks and tips on how to drive your automatic car to save fuel and money, while keeping your vehicle running smoothly.

Even Out the Acceleration : 
When driving an automatic car, one way to save fuel is to even out your acceleration. This can be done by gradually pressing down on the gas pedal instead of sudden, jerky movements. It’s also helpful to anticipate stopping, easing off the accelerator to slow down, rather than braking suddenly.Additionally, try to maintain a steady speed on the motorway and avoid changing lanes and speeding up and slowing down frequently.

Use cruise control (when on flat, straight roads) or the speed limiter to maintain a steady and consistent speed, helping you avoid slowing down or speeding unnecessarily. Remember, the key is to drive smoothly and anticipate the road and traffic ahead.

 Don’t Rest Your Foot on the Brake:

One of the best ways to save fuel is to avoid resting your foot on the brake. Most cars have a footrest right beside the pedal, so get used to putting your left foot there — it’ll help you keep your foot off the brake, so you can continue moving forward smoothly.Resting your foot on the brake can also wear out your brakes quicker, and increases drag (even if only slightly).

Use the AC Sparingly:

Using your air conditioning constantly can have an impact on fuel efficiency.
 To save fuel, it’s best to use your air conditioning sparingly. One way to do this is by rolling down the windows at lower speeds and using the air conditioning when driving at higher speeds, such as 50 km/h or more.

 At these speeds, the AC will have a more significant effect on cooling the car, while the drag caused by open windows will have a greater impact on fuel consumption.

Check Your Tyre Pressure:

Flat or under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means that your car has to use more energy when you are moving. Maintaining proper tyre pressure can boost the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, so be sure to check and set the correct tyre pressure for your car.Regular wheel alignments will also ensure safer and more efficient driving, so it’s worth making sure you’re getting it done with your regular services.

Control Your Transmission:

Even though you’re driving with an automatic transmission, there are tricks you can use to save fuel.
For one thing, you can coax your car transmission into shifting gears earlier by listening for the engine note and watching the needle on the tachometer to track the RPM when you’re accelerating.
 Remember, the higher the engine note climbs, and the higher your RPMs go, the more fuel you’re burning.
Modern cars also come with paddle shifters, so you can control the gears like a manual car while still enjoying the ease of an automatic.Shift to Neutral or Turn off When Stopped:

This is one of the most obvious ways to save fuel and also one of the most effective. When you stop in traffic, shift into neutral and idle your engine. That way, your transmission isn’t working harder to keep up with your idle speed, and therefore uses less fuel than if it were running.Modern engines use far less fuel when you start them than if you let them idle for an extended period of time — so it’s better to turn everything off if you’re waiting around or are going to be parked for more than a minute or so.

Plan Ahead:

Before you set out on your drive, prepare for your commute. Google Maps or other Sat nav tools can help you find the best route to take — one that bypasses congestion or school pick-up and drop-off times. Where you can, avoid traffic lights and crossing intersections, as they are likely to cause you to stop and start quickly often. This way, you’ll save on gas and your valuable time.If you’re likely to make multiple trips, try to knock out more than one errand at a time, so you don’t have to head out on multiple journeys.

Utilise Your Vehicle’s Technology:

Alongside Sat nav for efficient journeys and cruise control for smoothing out the ups and downs, there are other clever features in your car that help track and control your fuel consumption.On the multi-information display, some driver-assist systems will show how much fuel you’re consuming in a litres per 100kms figure. You may find it a worthy challenge to adjust your driving habits to see if you can reduce this figure.

The automatic function of hill-hold control is especially effective when driving from a stopped position up a steep incline. It holds your vehicle temporarily  so your car won’t roll back down as you release the brake pedal to accelerate, reducing the use of fuel.

Tyre pressure monitoring systems let you know if and which tyre needs topping up on air, which helps improve overall fuel efficiency.

Stay On Top of Maintenance:

By regularly servicing your vehicle and keeping it in tip-top shape, you can ensure that the engine is running exactly as it should — at its most fuel-efficient level.Keeping the fluids topped up and replacing faulty components and consumables like oil and air filters is essential.

If in doubt, follow the service schedule for your specific vehicle. Staying on top of maintenance will reduce the chances of something going wrong with the car that might cause it to burn more fuel than usual.

Lighten Your Load:

This might seem like a no-brainer, but having excess weight in your car can affect your gas mileage. Additional weight requires more power, and therefore fuel, to move, so removing the items in your luggage area that you don’t require for the trip will save you at the pump.Also, items like roof racks or roof boxes cause drag which reduces the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Be sure to remove these items when you are not requiring them to keep your vehicle as streamlined as possible.

Develop fuel-efficient habits with these tips

So there you have it! Ten tricks to save fuel when driving an automatic car. Be sure to follow these tips to help you drive more efficiently, save money on fuel, and keep your car in the best condition possible.

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New costs of clearing Tokunbo cars under VIN regime at Nigerian ports

      The Eyewitness reporter
Customs duties on imported second-hand vehicles, otherwise known as Tokunbo, at the Nigerian ports have shot up astronomically under the recently introduced Vehicles Inspection Numbers(VIN) valuation policy of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The situation was further compounded by the free fall of the Naira in exchange for Dollars in the foreign exchange market, thus effectively taking the purchase of second-hand vehicles out of the reach of average Nigerians due to the high tariff of the item at the ports.

Buying used foreign cars is fantastic, some believe it’s better than buying Nigerian used cars.

So in this article, we will disclose the charges such as Nigerian customs duty charges on imported cars, port charges, and clearing agent charges that you must pay before your car can be claimed and cleared from Apapa Port or any other port in Nigeria.

Following the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increase in the official exchange rate for cargo importation into Nigeria, the Valuation Department of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Nigerian ports has issued an update to assist importers in determining rates of duty payable on various brands of vehicles and their levies.

Recently, the official exchange rate was increased from N409 per $1 Dollar to N422.3 per Dollar.

The update which was prepared by Valuation SIFAX Bonded Terminal also took into consideration the ex-factory price and VIN Valuation of the vehicles and the NAC Levy.

Rules For Importing Cars Into Nigeria

The government of Nigeria claims that you must make an e-Form M to import any type of goods. E-Form M is valid for half a year, except for the E-Form M that you open in order to import machinery and plants, which is valid for 1 year.Shipping From the USA To Nigeria: A Step-By-Step Guide
Let’s brief you on a step-by-step shipping guide.DURATION: the ship takes about 2-3 weeks to arrive in Lagos (unless the vessel will stop in the other ports) from the moment it takes off from the USA port.TRANSIT TIME: Once the ship drops off your car at the destination port in Nigeria, the estimated time of clearance usually takes a maximum of THREE DAYS under VIN valuation regime.

You should keep in mind that when the ship gets to port in Lagos, the process does not end here. Usually, the off-loading process takes several weeks. And this is the best moment to get your clearing agent to work.

Here is the step-by-step guide on shipping cars if you do it yourself or with the help of an agent:

How to ship any car by yourself

Find a Shipping Broker Online or Offline
Download their application form called Docket Receipt
Complete the docket receipt and fax or email it to the shipping broker.
The broker will process and send it back to you in 1-2 days depending on their response timing
Make 6 copies of the docket receipt and 6 copies of the car title front and back
Take your car and paper-work to the port
The port staff will give you a receipt confirming that your car was accepted for shipping
The broker then sends you a bill for the shipping
Once you make the payment, they will mail your bill of lading to you
Make a copy of the bill of lading and send the originals immediately to your clearing agent preferable by courier
Your clearing agent will clear the car from the port
All this process may take up few weeks, depending on the compliance level of the importer.
However, having concluded the necessary pre-clearance procedures, it takes a maximum of THREE DAYS to take your car out of Customs control under the new regime of VIN valuation.
Shipping any car through a shipping agent
Find a shipping agent in your area
Complete the Agent’s paper-work form
Give him the car, Keys and original title
You may be required to pay the shipping fee immediately or when the ship leaves
Once the bill of lading is ready, the agent will call you for pick-up
Make a copy of the bill of lading and send the original copies to your clearing agent.
Your cleaning agent clears the car from the Port
This whole process may take up few weeks depending on the complaint level of the importer and his agent
However, having concluded the necessary pre-clearance procedures, it takes a maximum of THREE DAYS to take your car out of Customs control under the new regime of VIN valuation.
Cost of shipping cars from the USA to Nigeria
You have to pay an auction fee when you are buying through an Auction abroad;
You pay the shipping cost to the foreign country;
You pay clearing fees and different port charges;
Your payment includes customs duty, levy, and VAT;
You are charged for the commission, that goes to shipping and clearing agents;
You pay charges to the shipping company at the delivery point;
The costs also may include some miscellaneous expenses.
EX-FACTORY PRICE (VIN-VALUATION)
HINT: SURFACE DUTY X 2.359= TOTAL DUTY (NAC INCLUSIVE) @N422.30/$
Type of Vehicle Year Price
TOYOTA COROLLA 2000-2013 ₦299,430
TOYOTA COROLLA 2014 ₦369,642
TOYOTA COROLLA 2015 ₦432,625
TOYOTA COROLLA 2016 ₦505,934
TOYOTA COROLLA 2017 ₦573,000
TOYOTA COROLLA 2018 ₦769,684
TOYOTA COROLLA 2019 ₦899,323
TOYOTA COROLLA 2020 ₦1,110,990
TOYOTA COROLLA 2021 ₦1,509,300
TOYOTA RAV 4 2000-2013 ₦408,877
TOYOTA RAV 4 2014 ₦504,901
TOYOTA RAV 4 2015 ₦590,600
TOYOTA RAV 4 2016 ₦690,754
TOYOTA RAV 4 2017 ₦808,462
TOYOTA RAV 4 2018 ₦1,051,104
TOYOTA RAV 4 2019 ₦1,228,697
TOYOTA RAV 4 2020 ₦1,517,802
TOYOTA RAV 4 2021 ₦2,060,907
TOYOTA VENZA 2000-2013 ₦622,609
TOYOTA VENZA 2014 ₦768,194
TOYOTA VENZA 2015 ₦899,323
TOYOTA CAMRY 200-2013 ₦346,926
TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 2000-2013 ₦441,918
TOYATA CAMRY 2014 ₦428,495
TOYOTA CAMRY 2015 ₦500,771
TOYOTA CAMRY 2016 ₦585,438
TOYOTA CAMRY 2017 ₦685,592
TOYOTA CAMRY 2018 ₦891,063
TOYOTA CAMRY 2019 ₦1,041,811
TOYOTA CAMRY 2020 ₦1,286,518
TOYOTA CAMRY 2021 ₦1,747,021
TOYOTA C-HR 2018 ₦862,153
TOYOTA C-HR 2019 ₦1,008,770
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2000-2013 ₦545,170
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2014 ₦673,202
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2015 ₦787,811
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2016 ₦922,039
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2017 ₦1,077,949
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2018 ₦1,401,127
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2019 ₦1,638,606
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LE 2020 ₦2,023,736
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021 ₦2,747,631
TOYOTA YARIS 2000-2013 ₦204,438
TOYOTA YARIS 2015 ₦295,300
TOYOTA SIENNA 2000-2013 ₦509,031
TOYOTA SIENNA 2015 ₦720,698
TOYOTA SIENNA 2017 ₦986,055
TOYOTA SIENNA 2018 ₦1,281,355
TOYOTA SIENNA 2021 ₦2,513,150
TOYOTA SIENNA 2022 ₦2,824,865
TOYOTA AVALON 2000-2013 ₦565,820
TOYOTA AVALON 2014 ₦697,982
TOYOTA AVALON 2015 ₦816,722
TOYOTA AVALON 2016 ₦956,112
TOYOTA AVALON 2018 ₦1,452,753
TOYOTA AVALON 2021 ₦2,849,680
TOYOTA TACOMA 2000-2013 ₦410,942
TOYOTA TACOMA 2015 ₦592,666
TOYOTA TACOMA (10%) 2017 ₦811,559
TOYOTA TACOMA 2018 ₦1,055,234
TOYOTA TUNDRA 2000-2013 ₦529,682
TOYOTA TUNDRA 2014 ₦653,584
TOYOTA TUNDRA 2019 ₦1,590,078
TOYOTA TUNDRA 2021 ₦2,665,962
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 2000-2013 ₦609,126
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 2020 ₦2,257,085
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 2021 ₦3,065,547
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 2022 ₦7,620,339
TOYOTA PRADO 2020 ₦3,539,698
TOYOTA PRADO 2022 ₦4,136,888
TOYOTA PRADO TXL 2022 ₦4,193,191
TOYOTA FORTUNER 2020 ₦1,988,630
TOYOTA FORTUNER 2022 ₦3,336,404
TOYOTA COASTER (10%) 2019 ₦1,761,476
TOYOTA COASTER (10%) 2020 ₦1,988,630
TOYOTA HIACE BUS (10%) 2020 ₦1,583,790
TOYOTA HIACE BUS (10%) 2022 ₦1,478,050
TOYOTA HILUX 2000-2013 ₦331,420
TOYOTA HILUX (10%) 2016 ₦545,170
TOYOTA HILUX (10%) DOUBLE CABIN 4WD) 2020 ₦1,189,700
TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2015 ₦1,138,868
TOYOTA TUCSON 2000-2013 ₦371,707
TOYOTA PRIUS 2000-2013 ₦339,699
HONDA ACCORD 2000-2013 ₦378,934
HONDA ACCORD 2014 ₦467,730
HONDA ACCORD 2015 ₦547,235
HONDA ACCORD 2016 ₦640,161
HONDA ACCORD 2017 ₦748,575
HONDA ACCORD 2018 ₦972,632
HONDA ACCORD 2019 ₦1,137,835
HONDA ACCORD HYBRID 2019 ₦1,213,209
HONDA ACCORD 2020 ₦1,404,224
HONDA ACCORD 2021 ₦1,908,094
HONDA CIVIC 2000-2013 ₦312,853
HONDA CIVIC 2020 ₦1,160,551
HONDA FIT 2000-2013 ₦255,032
HONDA PILOT 2000-2013 ₦474,958
HONDA PILOT 2015 ₦686,624
HONDA CR-V 2000-2013 ₦363,446
HONDA CR-V 2014 ₦448,113
HONDA CR-V 2015 ₦524,519
HONDA CR-V 2016 ₦614,362
HONDA CROSSTOUR 2000-2013 ₦425,397
HONDA CROSSTOUR 2014 ₦525,552
HONDA CROSSTOUR 2015 ₦615,291
HONDA RIDGELINE 2000-2013 ₦534,844
HONDA INSIGHT 2000-2013 ₦361,911
HONDA ODYSSEY 2000-2013 ₦485,898
HONDA ODYSSEY 2014 ₦599,893
AUDI Q5 2000-2013 ₦483,219
AUDI Q7 2000-2013 ₦581,676
AUDI Q7 2017 ₦1,875,181
AUDI A4 2017 ₦1,207,014
AUDI A6 2019 ₦1,597,308
ACURA MDX 2000-2013 ₦596,796
ACURA MDX 2014 ₦1,020,784
ACURA MDX 2015 ₦1,193,591
ACURA MDX 2017 ₦1,632,411
ACURA RDX 2000-2013 ₦633,966
ACURA TSX 2000-2013 ₦406,421
ACURA TL 2000-2013 ₦634,999
ACURA ILX 2014 ₦522,454
ACURA TLX 2015 ₦919,974
SCION TC 2014 ₦489,414
SCION XD 2000-2013 ₦360,349
SCION XB 2000-2013 ₦368,609
SCION IM 2016 ₦637,588
SUBARU OUTBACK 2000-2013 ₦420,235
SUBARU FORESTER 2000-2013 ₦386,162
SUBARU TRIBECA 2000-2013 ₦543,105
LEXUS RX350 2000-2013 ₦695,917
LEXUS RX350 2014 ₦860,088
LEXUS RX350 2015 ₦1,005,673
LEXUS RC350 2015 ₦1,007,738
LEXUS RX350 2016 ₦1,176,038
LEXUS RX350 2017 ₦1,375,314
LEXUS RX350 2019 ₦2,240,565
LEXUS RX350 2020 ₦2,766,117
LEXUS RX350 2021 ₦3,507,033
LEXUS ES300 2000-2013 ₦658,747
LEXUS ES350 2000-2013 ₦628,804
LEXUS ES350 2014 ₦776,454
LEXUS ES350 2019 ₦1,889,509
LEXUS ES350 2020 ₦2,333,883
LEXUS GS 350 2000-2013 ₦805,364
LEXUS GX460 2000-2013 ₦873,511
LEXUS GX460 2014 ₦1,077,949
LEXUS GX460 2015 ₦1,260,705
LEXUS GX460 2017 ₦1,725,338
LEXUS GX460 2018 ₦2,241,597
LEXUS GX460 2020 ₦3,237,978
LEXUS GX460 2021 ₦4,397,157
LEXUS GX460 2022 ₦4,786,589
LEXUS IS 250 2000-2013 ₦608,153
LEXUS IS 250 2014 ₦751,272
LEXUS LX 570 2000-2013 ₦1,363,184
LEXUS LX 570 2017 ₦2,692,585
LEXUS LX 570 2020 ₦5,052,112
LEXUS LX 570 2021 ₦6,861,530
LEXUS LX600 VIP 2022 ₦7,706,018
LEXUS NX 300 2020 ₦2,155,898
LEXUS GS 300 2000-2013 ₦805,364
LINCON AVIATOR 2000-2013 ₦806,397
L/R FREELANDER 2000-2013 ₦258,130
LAND RANGE ROVER 2000-2013 ₦672,169
L/R RANGE ROVER SPORT 2000-2013 ₦1,083,112
L/R RANGE ROVER 2018 ₦1,727,713
L/R RANGE ROVER VELAR 2018 ₦2,279,800
L/R RANGE ROVER VELAR 2019 ₦2,666,995
L/R DISCOVERY 2000-2013 ₦595,763
LAND ROVER LR2 2000-2013 ₦717,600
LAND ROVER LR3 2000-2013 ₦461,536
LAND ROVER LR4 2015 ₦1,406,934
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2000-2013 ₦499,739
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2014 ₦616,413
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2018 ₦1,282,388
NISSAN FRONTIER 2000-2013 ₦449,145
NISSAN ROGUE 2000-2013 ₦398,552
NISSAN ROGUE 2015 ₦576,145
NISSAN ROGUE 2017 ₦787,811
NISSAN ALTIMA 2000-2013 ₦379,967
NISSAN VERSA 2000-2013 ₦232,317
NISSAN QUEST 2000-2013 ₦420,235
NISSAN ARMADA 2000-2013 ₦742,381
NISSAN XTERRA 2000-2013 ₦401,650
NISSAN KICKS 2021 ₦1,498,184
NISSAN SENTRA 2014 ₦371,707
NISSAN SENTRA 2017 ₦594,731
NISSAN TITAN 2000-2013 ₦589,550
NISSAN TITAN 2018 ₦1,466,176
NISSAN MURANO 2000-2013 ₦497,554
NISSAN MAXIMA 2000-2013 ₦540,007
M/BENZ E-CLASS 2000-2013 ₦852,860
M/BENZ E-CLASS 2014 ₦1,052,136
M/BENZ E-CLASS 2017 ₦1,684,807
M/BENZ S500 4M 2021 ₦7,482,493
M/BENZ S-CLASS 2000-2013 ₦1,486,826
M/BENZ S-CLASS 2015 ₦2,147,638
M/BENZ S-CLASS 2021 ₦7,485,758
M/BENZ E-CLASS 2021 ₦4,293,211
M/BENZ METRIS 2021 ₦2,492,025
MERCEDES BENZSPRINTER 2021 ₦1,986,499
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 2000-2013 ₦356,219
MITSUBISHI L200 (10%) 2022 ₦1,139,820
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS 4X4 GLS CVT 2022 ₦1,727,019
MAZDA 3 2000-2013 ₦338,666
MAZDA CX-7 2000 – 213 ₦425,398
MAZDA CX-9 2000-2013 ₦533,812
MAZDA CX-9 2014 ₦659,779
MAZDA CX-9 2016 ₦902,421
MAZDA TRIBUTE 2000-2013 ₦345,864
BENTLEY BENTAYGA 2019 ₦7,579,717
BMW X3 2000-2013 ₦661,844
BMW X5 2000-2013 ₦₦929,267
BMW X6 2000-2013 ₦1,014,702
CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 2000-2013 ₦236,447
CHRYSLER SEBRING 2000-2013 ₦352,089
CHRYSLER VOYAGER 2000-2013 ₦425,398
CHRYSLER TOWN &COUNTRY ₦2000-2013 416,105
CHRYSLER 300 ₦2000-2013 466,698
CHRYSLER 300 2016 ₦788,603
CADILLAC CTS 2000-2013 ₦586,470
CADILLAC ESCALADE 2015 ₦1,712,948
CADILLAC ESCALADE 2016 ₦2,004,066
CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2000-2013 ₦678,365
CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2017 ₦1,175,006
CHEVROLET VOLT 2000-2013 ₦547,235
CHEVROLET VOLT 2016 ₦924,498
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2016 ₦1,745,704
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2000-2013 ₦446,048
1500 CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2000-2013 ₦374,804
CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2017 ₦741,348
CHEVROLET CAMARO 2000-2013 ₦394,513
DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2000-2013 ₦430,560
DODGE JOURNEY 2000-2013 ₦370,674
DODGE CHARGER 2015 ₦680,430
DODGE CHALLENGER 2014 ₦545,170
DODGE SPRINTER VAN 2000-2013 ₦686,625
DODGE DOKATA (BUS)10% 2000-2013 ₦155,910
DODGE RAM 1500 ST 2000-2013 ₦292,203
HYUNDAI ACCENT 2000-2013 ₦240,577
HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2000-2013 ₦301,495
HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT 2000-2013 ₦325,243
HYUNDAI ELENTRA 2017 ₦596,796
HYUNDAI ELENTRA 2018 ₦775,421
HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2000-2013 ₦411,975
HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2014 ₦509,032
HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2015 ₦595,358
HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2018 ₦1,058,284
HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2020 ₦1,528,127
HYUNDAI SONATA 2000-2013 ₦345,894
HYUNDAI SONATA 2014 ₦427,463
HYUNDAI SONATA 2015 ₦499,739
HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID 2015 ₦614,024
HYUNDAI SONATA 2016 ₦584,405
HYUNDAI SONATA 2017 ₦₦683,527
HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID 2000-2013 ₦424,365
HYUNDAI TUCSON 2000-2013 ₦371,624
HYUNDAI TUCSON 2016 ₦1,254,510
HYUNDAI TUCSON 2019 ₦1,116,008
HYUNDAI GENESIS 2000-2013 ₦359,316
HYUNDAI VERACRUZ 2000-2013 ₦407,845
HYUNDAI VELOSTER 2000-2013 ₦296,333
HYUNDAI AZERA 2000-2013 ₦420,864
FORD EXPLORER 2000-2013 ₦516,259
FORD EXPLORER 2014 ₦638,096
FORD EXPLORER 2016 ₦872,478
FORD EXPEDITION 2021 ₦4,194,958
FORD EDGE 2000-2013 ₦490,446
FORD EDGE 2015 ₦708,308
FORD EDGE 2017 ₦968,502
FORD ESCAPE 2000-2013 ₦392,357
FORD ESCAPE 2014 ₦484,251
FORD ESCAPE 2016 ₦662,877
FORD ESCALADE 2022 ₦7,619,985
FORD TRANSIT CONNECT 2000-2013 ₦514,194
FORD FIESTA 2000-2013 ₦307,690
FORD FUSION 2014 ₦493,544
FORD FUSION 2015 ₦578,210
FORD FUSION 2017 ₦790,909
FORD FLEX 2000-2013 ₦447,080
FORD FOCUS 2014 ₦237,479
FORD RANGER 2000-2013 ₦512,129
GMC SAVANA 2000-2013 ₦678,365
GMC ENVOY 2000-2013 ₦402,682
GMC YUKON DENALI 2000-2013 ₦1,068,419
GMC SIERRA 1500 2000-2013 ₦467,148
GMC ACADIA 2000-2013 ₦723,061
GMC TERRAIN 2000-2013 ₦394,513
KIA OPTIMA 2000-2013 ₦368,609
KIA OPTIMA 2019 ₦1,107,892
KIA SOUL 2000-2013 ₦275,682
KIA SOUL 2022 ₦1,798,998
KIA SPORTAGE 2000-2013 ₦377,902
KIA SORENTO 2000-2013 ₦425,398
INFINITI QX80 2014 ₦1,300,515
PEUGEOT 407 2000-2013 ₦382,032
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2000-2013 ₦345,894
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2000-2013 ₦362,414
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2015 ₦523,487
VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2000-2013 ₦393,389
VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 2000-2013 ₦763,031
JEEP (CHEROKEE) 2014 ₦500,771
JEEP GLADIATOR 2021 ₦2,664,628
VOLVO S60 2000-2013 ₦568,918
VOLVO XC60 2000-2013 ₦632,934
VOLVO XC70 2000-2013 ₦757,868
VOLVO XC90 2000-2013 ₦761,998

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Toyota dethrones GM as number one US automaker

—–outpaces GM’s 2.2m with 2.3m sales in 2021
For the first time since 1931, General Motors Co. isn’t the top-selling automaker in the U.S.

The Detroit-based company lost its crown to Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp., which boosted sales 10% last year despite a 28% decline in the fourth quarter. With 2.3 million units sold in the U.S. in 2021, Toyota narrowly outpaced GM’s 2.2 million.

The Japanese carmaker said outselling GM likely isn’t sustainable. “That is not our goal,” Jack Hollis, a senior vice president in charge of U.S. sales for Toyota, said on a conference call with reporters.

The change at the top reflects the volatility of a year many carmakers will be happy to leave behind. From snarled shipping lines to semiconductor shortages, the challenges of 2021 left manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand. While industrywide sales likely rose modestly from 2020, supply constraints shattered any hope of a quick recovery from the early pandemic slump.

Carmakers likely sold a seasonally adjusted annual rate of about 12.5 million new vehicles in December, down 23% from a year earlier, according to the average forecast of six market researchers surveyed by Bloomberg.

The extent of the issues became more clear on Tuesday as most major automakers reported U.S. sales for the fourth quarter and a full year. Ford Motor Co. is expected to release its figures Wednesday.

For the full year, auto sales likely came to 14.9 million vehicles, a 2.5% jump from the coronavirus-stricken days of 2020, according to Cox Automotive.

The year wasn’t without its bright spots. The inventory challenges helped push some buyers to more-profitable, option-laden models, while the mainstream embrace of electric vehicles accelerated. Indeed, Tesla Inc. on Sunday blew past Wall Street’s expectations with record quarterly global deliveries.

Other automakers will be hard-pressed to match that kind of performance. We’ll take a look at the results as the major manufacturers report throughout the day.

GM Loses Ground

GM’s sales for the year declined 13%, weighed down by a 43% plunge in the final quarter. Chevy Silverado sales fell more than 30% and GMC Sierra sales tumbled 21% in the quarter. The auto giant was quick to blame chip constraints for its woes, saying they put a 13% drag on sales.

That forced GM to be strategic about where it dedicated supplies. In a dismal quarter, sales of the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade large sport utility vehicles all were up. Those are the most profitable vehicles the company sells.

Crucially for investors, GM said semiconductor supplies got better toward year-end, and the company forecast further improvements in 2022.

Toyota Takes Over

Toyota’s strong 2021 performance was buoyed by sales of sedans such as the Corolla and Camry. While the automaker’s top-selling vehicle remained the RAV4, the compact SUV’s sales actually dropped 5% for the year. Sales of the Corolla and Camry rose 5% and 6.6%, respectively.

While final tallies for the industry are still to come, Toyota likely gained one point of market share in the fourth quarter, giving it 15.5% of sales and the top spot. It’s the first time GM hasn’t been No. 1 since 1931 when it beat out Ford.

Honda Crossover Leads Deliveries

Much like Toyota, Honda Motor Co. managed to boost sales for the year despite a sharp drop at the end. December’s tally fell 23% to 105,068 vehicles, while 2021 sales rose 8.9% to 1.47 million.

Honda’s plucky CR-V compact crossover led deliveries, rising 8.3%. The Civic compact and Accord midsize sedans also did well, continuing the dominance of Asian brands in the segment. Among Honda’s biggest gainers: its Ridgeline pickup and Passport midsize SUV, both of which were redesigned to showcase a more “rugged” look.

Hyundai’s Cheap Chic

Hyundai Motor Co.’s namesake brand was one of the big winners last year, logging a 19% increase in sales from a year earlier. The Korean automaker did lose some steam in the waning months of 2021, however, with a 15% drop in fourth-quarter deliveries to 152,446 vehicles. For the month of December alone, its sales fell 23%.

U.S. retail sales were the company’s highest ever, buoyed by demand for the budget-friendly Venue subcompact crossover model, which starts at less than $20,000, as well as for the Kona subcompact SUV and Tucson compact SUV.

Hyundai had comparable inventory levels as Toyota and other Japanese competitors, but availability fell late in the year, said Randy Parker, senior vice president of sales at Hyundai Motor America. The company adapted by pushing dealers to sell more cars they didn’t yet have.

“You get better at online retailing and get better at pre-selling your pipeline,” Parker said in an interview. “That’s exactly what we did, and that helped fuel our success in a very difficult year.”

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Car Mart

Nigerians spend N1.632 trillion on Tokunbo vehicle imports in 2020

 Tunde Ayodele

Despite the Coronavirus challenges, no fewer than 1.03million used vehicles valued at $3.4billion ( N1.632trillion) were imported into the country in 2020.

Data by the International Trade Administration (ITA) explained that the United States exported more than 500,000 units into the country in the period under review.

It was learnt that automobile importers have shifted importation of used vehicles from Europe to America and India since 2017.

It was gathered that United States vehicle specifications are more in line with the demand and taste of Nigerian consumers which is not always met by entry-level models from Europe.

Meanwhile, data from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s shipping position revealed that a total of 2,900 units of used vehicles would be off-loaded at the Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML), Tin Can Island Port.

They were ferried by eight vessels with Grande Cameroon leading with 450units; Grande Lagos, 300units; Grand Mercury, 250units; Grande Congo, 350 units; Grande Costa D”avorio, 350units; Gral. Sal Martin,  400 units; Grande Sierra Leone, 400units and Grande Luanda, 400units,

However, 2,200 units were offloaded in February 2021 by Grande Tema with 400 units; Grande Dakar, 400units; Grande Abidjan, 400units and Grande Senegal, 300 units, Grande Lagos, 400 units and Grande Argentina, 300units.

As at 2020,  it cost N700,000 to clear Acura MDX 2007 at the seaport; N850,000, Acura MDX 2008; while Acura MDX 2009 was cleared at    N980,000; Acura TSX, N380,000 and Benz ML, N450,000

Others are Ford Edge 2007,     N900,000; Ford Focus 2012, N1,400,000; Hyundai Elantra 2013 – 2016, N1,3million; Hyundai Sonata, N350,000; Kia Optima 2012,N1.2million;  Kia Spectra, N500,000; Land Rover R/Sport 2006, N1.5million; Lexus RX 300, N420,000 and Mazda 3 SV,    N2million.

Data by Deloitte revealed that the number of vehicles in the country has surge from1.34million in 2015 to 1.62million in 2019.

Until 2014, the market grew steady, hitting the 57.000 units record for new vehicles as the domestic market collapsed to 11.743 units in 2017 due to the deep economic crisis generated by poor domestic demand.

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