Hyundai Kona, a car manufactured by the Stallion Group at its assembly plant in Ojo, Lagos State, has gone into the history books as Nigeria’s first locally-made full electric car.
Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, unveiled the car on Friday, at Stallion Group’s assembly plant, Lagos State.
The governor, who was accompanied by top officials of his administration, commended the company for accomplishing the feat which he described as technology on display.
“The future that we see is the future of technology and this is the technology that we are talking about. This is 21st Century technology that has been brought into our country,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He added: “With an innovation of Hyundai Kona, we do not need to put the pressure on what is the pump price of oil again, what is the pump price of petroleum again. All the issues and fights that we are having about prices of petroleum going up and the rest of it will be a thing of the past.
“This is a way to go, and it is the future that we are seeing now. This is the first electric car that we are seeing and we as the government need to partner with them.”
Sanwo-Olu said there is the need to create an enabling environment for the company to do well, so that it could employ a lot more youths.
The governor said with the unveiling of the Hyundai Kona electric car, youths would be employed and empowered for greater opportunities.
According to him, the Lagos State government will partner with Ibile Oil and Gas and other private organisations to create different charging points in the city, so that people will have where to charge the cars.
“For us, we see a renowned hope, for us we see a tomorrow coming today, for us we see and believe in the Stallion dream,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu commended Stallion Group for believing in the Lagos and Nigeria’s dream, and revamping the moribund asset located along Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
The effort will help in reducing the reliance on petroleum, which is the direction the world is headed.
The Managing Director Stallion Group, Mr. Rohtagi Manish, described the innovation is a step towards an eco-friendly green Lagos.
Manish said the material used to assemble Nigeria’s first 100 per cent electric zero emission car was mostly sourced within the country.
The vehicle, when fully charged for nine hours 35 minutes, can go a distance of 482km (equivalent of Lagos to Warri), before recharging.
The car is 100 per cent electric and comes with zero emission, 482km driving range, and can be charged both at home and workplace.
Kona electric has been extensively applauded for its class driving range, safety convenience features and fast-charging capability. Its success can be measured by the following. In April 2020, it was named the Best Small Family Car by the inaugural TopGear Electric Awards based on its 24-hour (1,600-km) performance. This year, U.S News & World Report named it the Best Electric Vehicle. WardsAuto included KONA Electric on its 10 best engines list.
In 2018, Auto Express named it the Affordable Electric Car of the Year. The EV also played a role in the KONA nameplate winning Spanish newspaper ABC’s Best Car of the Year award. It also won the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.