Kia Motors Nigeria is collaborating with popular online used car sales platform, Cars45, to provide reliable pre-owned vehicles and trade-in opportunities for all lovers of the Korean brand in the Nigerian market.
The partners said at a press briefing hosted in Lagos recently by Kia Motors Nigeria that both the certified used-car scheme and trade-in offer customers peace of mind and pre-verifiable value for money. According to them, it is “a uniquely seamless pre-owned car sales and trade-in programme on all Kia cars”.
Represented by Olu Tikolo, vice president, Kia Motors Nigeria, and Etop Ikpe, CEO, Cars45.com, the partners, who signed a memorandum of understanding at the event, also explained that the companies conceived the idea to offer customers the best Kia ownership package and meet the demands of a competitive marketplace.
The used car scheme provides a unique and comprehensive service where a vehicle owner has the option of selling it for cash or trading it in for an all-new Kia. It provides buyers the advantages of a fair valuation and a competitive deal.
Giving more insight, Tikolo said: “We have witnessed strong demand for our used Kia cars and customers have over the years asked for a trade-in option for a new model. The market size of pre-owned cars has grown significantly and our partnership with Cars45 is aimed at offering a well-organised used car and trade-in with a complete peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience to our customers.
“The country’s used car market has a huge growth potential and we expect ‘Kia Certified Used Car’ business to grow in the foreseeable future and contribute to the brand’s growth in Nigeria. Our partnership with a leading online used car sales portal will not only roll out a used certified car programme but also offer customers more choice, enabling them to create a bespoke buying process that suits their needs.”
In his remarks, Etop Ikpe said: “Our business is beyond providing a platform for Nigerians to sell their cars. The desire to meet the customers’ expectations is what is paramount for us at cars45. The used car market is growing and we have seen a lot of requests from Kia owners for an opportunity to swap their old Kia for new ones. This plan we believe further restates Cars45´s commitment to the Nigerian people to ensure that there are cars for the average Nigerian whenever he or she wants one”.
Ikpe, who was accompanied by Cars45 director of operations, Chinedu Okwuosa, vice president (trading), Mohammed Iyamu, and marketing manager, Abiodun Onifade, said his firm, which prides itself on being Nigeria’s largest car buying (and selling) service, was glad to have Kia as its first auto-maker partner.
It was learnt that car owners willing to sell their cars or swap them for new ones, do not have to compromise on their convenience as the process is tailor-made to suit individual needs of customers.
Also at the press briefing and MoU signing event was the Kia Motors Nigeria marketing manager, Olawale Jimoh, who added that the need to provide a fairly- used car sales or swap scheme in line with global practice, led to the partnership: “The partnership will further strengthen the auto industry and set it on the path of greater heights by exploring the used car business that has been the bedrock of the auto industry globally. The experience of buying a Kia-certified used car is equivalent to a new car purchase, offering class-leading facilities, service infrastructure, tailor-made service packages and fair evaluation, said company statement.”
According to him, taking advantage of the offer is as simple as “walking in into any Cars45 inspection centre across the country and swapping an old car for a new Kia or selling an old Kia car for cash. Customers can now sell their old Kia cars or swap them for even the 2018 models.”