File photo: AFP
Nigeria’s transition from fossil‑fuel‑powered vehicles to electric ones received a boost with the naming of Jet Systems Automobile Industries Limited as the Nigerian Auto Journalists Association Electric Vehicle Company of the Year. In response to the award, Sanjay Rupani, the company’s director of sales and marketing, said, “We are delighted to have received the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association award. We interpret this recognition as a challenge to accomplish more in terms of development and innovation.”
Rupani disclosed that Jet Systems has set ambitious plans to intensify the transformation of the e‑mobility space across Nigeria. A key part of these plans is to promote the adoption of e‑mobility and educate the public about electric vehicles. “We will also encourage relevant stakeholders such as governments at various levels, financiers, investors, the general public and other assemblers to come together and develop policies that will promote the systems,” he declared. The company also intends to introduce more products that meet diverse mobility needs at budget‑friendly prices, while innovating to provide energy solutions related to electric vehicles.
According to Rupani, Jet Electric Vehicles’ target audience includes all ministries, departments and agencies of government, corporate entities, schools, transport companies and other logistics support providers.
Chief operating officer Oluwemimo Osanipin reflected on the constraints facing automotive assemblers in Nigeria. He identified bottlenecks such as inconsistent government policies, poor infrastructure, and the high cost of funding—up to 28 % annually. He also highlighted an unfavorable duty structure, multiple taxes, and porous borders that facilitate grey‑importation, all of which hamper assemblers’ bottom lines. Osanipin asserted that electric‑vehicle assemblers expect the federal government to introduce policies that encourage investment in EVs and improve their use, offering both financial and non‑financial incentives to accelerate adoption. He called for better policies supporting local raw‑material production and infrastructure development.
Jet Systems’ electric vehicle is the first fully locally made EV to run on Nigerian roads. Designed to have zero emissions, it is eco‑friendly. “We wanted to create a global product that is built to last. We were obsessed with getting it right because if our vehicles can work well on Nigerian and African roads, they can succeed anywhere in the world. Generally, our testing has led us to see what is best for the Nigerian and African market and that is what we have built with Jet Mover,” Rupani asserted.
Founded in 2018 by a team of passionate professionals, Jet Motor Company launched its flagship brand, the Jet Mover, a multipurpose van aimed at promoting locally made vehicles. The company’s primary goal was to produce electric vehicles from the outset. After about three years of research, testing and iterative development, the company achieved this objective with the JET EV.
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