February 02, (THEWILL) – Managing Director/ Chairperson, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), Martina Biene, has restated the interest of the leading German automobile brand to return to Nigeria after exiting the local market a few years ago.
Biene, who also heads the Volkswagen Group operations in Africa, restated this in an interview with a select group of Nigerian journalists, including this reporter, during a visit by the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, to the Volkswagen Group assembly plant in Kariega, South Africa, last week.
“We are interested in the Nigerian market,” the Volkswagen Africa chairperson confirmed, adding,”We know that we also have a history in the Nigerian market. We will also re-emphasis that VW signed an MoU in 2018 with the government to establish a partnership. That is also what we want.”
She however maintained that ”What is needed is a new car market in Nigeria.”
According to Biene, ” New car market is going to happen with the implementation of the (automotive) policy and once we establish a proper new car market, I am pretty sure that we all want business. We are eager to start the business.”
When asked about the dealership VW would be working with on its return, Biene said; “We are not committing to any partner but I am just saying we want to come back.”
About the Author
Olaolu OLUSINA is the Editor, THEWILL Newspaper.
