By Justina Okpanku
Nigeria’s automotive industry
Three China -made vehicles, Changan, Jetour and Chery, have emerged as the leading contenders for the 2025 Nigeria Car-of-the-Year (COTY) title as the Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) released their nomination which signals a remarkable shift in the country’s auto market. The Chinese brands are rapidly gaining dominance over traditional global rivals.
The Changan CS55, which caused an industry upset last year after defeating the Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio to clinch the award, is back in the spotlight in it’s attempts to defend its title.
However, analysts believed the competition would be more intense this year with both the Jetour Dashing and Chery Tiggo 8 recording strong uptake among Nigerian buyers.
The 2025 NAJA Auto Awards would hold on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 in Lagos.
The event is widely regarded as the country’s most credible and influential automotive awards platform, attracting policymakers, industry leaders, manufacturers, dealers and the media.
NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the emergence of three Chinese models as the top contenders reflects the sweeping changes taking place in Nigeria’s auto sector.
“For the first time, Chinese manufacturers are not just competing, they are leading the pack.
“The quality, technology and market acceptance we’ve seen from these three shortlisted brands show how much the industry is changing,” Opara said.
He added that the Awards Committee placed strong emphasis on innovation, durability and suitability for Nigeria’s road conditions during the selection process.
NAJA is expected to release nominations for other award categories in the coming days.
These would cover areas such as local assembly, electrification, aftersales support, heavy-duty trucks, transport services, and luxury mobility.
Chairman of the Awards Planning Committee, Frank Kintum, said preparations are nearing completion, with this year’s edition expected to further strengthen NAJA’s credibility.
“Preparations are in top gear to ensure the 2025 edition sustains NAJA’s reputation as the most credible and unifying platform for recognising excellence in the nation’s auto industry.
“The industry is expanding rapidly — from electric vehicles to local assembly — and the awards must reflect this evolving reality,” he said.
The statement also confirmed that the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Chief Joseph Osanipin, and the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would attend as Special Guests of Honour.
Osanipin, known for championing local vehicle assembly and electric-vehicle adoption, is expected to highlight the NADDC’s long-term vision for Nigeria’s automotive future.
The FRSC Corps Marshal is also expected to use the platform to reinforce the agency’s road-safety advocacy among industry stakeholders.
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