Yutong, Kojo Motors join FG in Covid-19 fight

..Distributes 41,000 face masks to road transporters

Concerned about the safety of road travelers and committed to complementing the efforts of the federal government in the fight against the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, Kojo Motors Limited, principal representatives and sole franchise owners of the Yutong range of high, medium and low capacity buses in Nigeria has embarked on the distribution of face masks and other safety materials to all the transporters using the Yutong commercial buses in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on June 30 this year lifted the ban on interstate travel outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020 during a briefing by Boss Mustapha, chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under the current phase of the gradual easing of lock-down ordered to curtail further spread of pandemic.

In a telephone chat with BusinessDay, Chino Ogwumike, general manager, Kojo Motors Limited explained that distributing the 41,000 face masks to 15 transport companies in the country by his company being the franchise owners of the brand in collaboration with Chinese Yutong bus makers was to complement the commendable efforts of the federal government through the PTF towards the renewed battle against the corona-virus scourge.

According to Chino Ogwumike, ‘’Kojo Motors and Yutong China prioritizes passengers safety. For us, no contribution towards containing the coronavirus disease is too much towards the protection of the lives of the traveling public’’.

As the time of filing this report, not less than 15 transporters benefited from the 41,000 face masks largess. They include G.U. Okeke, Chisco, God Bless Ezenwata, Ifeanyichukwu, Landstar Express, E.Ekeson and Eddyson Motors. Others are Delta Express, Welfare Transport, SD Express, Ifesinachi Transport, Efex Executive, Young Shall Grow and ABC Transport amongst others.

It would be recalled that Kojo Motors Limited, sole manufacturers’ representatives and local assemblers of the Yutong vehicles in Nigeria joined other participating brands at the beginning of this year when the revamped Argungu Motor Rally was held.

The rally which kicked off from the Eagle Square Abuja to the historic and ancient town of Argungu in Kebbi state covered not less than 1,000 kilometers across cities and states in the north. Various Yutong bus models were also on display at the last trade fair in Sokoto state.

In June 2019, a new chapter was opened in the anal of commercial transportation history in Nigeria when Kojo Motors Nigeria Limited in collaboration with leading bus manufacturer, Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company of China, launched for the first time in any part of the world, the first ever 14-meter Yutong coach. The Yutong T139HDH coach was officially unveiled at a grand world launch ceremony inside the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The resplendent luxury high capacity bus with a capacity for up to 63 passengers features the Mercedes Benz (OM 457LA) engine, Mercedes Benz AMT gearbox, Germany sachs clutch, Germany ZF automatic steering axle, airbag suspension System, etc. The bus features in-built DVR cameras for monitoring, onboard WiFi to ensure passengers remain connected and video-on-demand to also keep passengers entertained.

Some other features of the Yutong T139HDH include the liquid crystal dashboard which is three times brighter automatic headlights that come on immediately it gets dark, electrically controlled passenger curtain, a provision for USB ports for passengers and electrically controlled driver’s window and rear mirror.

It also comes with automatic windshield wiper, seven colorful interior ambient lights as seen in the pictures below, AUS which prevents the bus from moving when passengers are getting in and out, an electronic braking device (EBD) and electronic stability program (ESP) and many more.

Yutong brand of buses is manufactured by Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company of China. The company has 80 percent share of the bus market in China. It also has a Global market share of 15 percent and has been the world’s largest bus maker for seven consecutive years.

‘’Kojo Motors and their manufacturers have a lot of confidence in the Yutong buses after subjecting them to extensive rough road tests across Nigeria’’. Chino Ogwumike, concluded.

MIKE OCHONMA

Transport Editor