Boulos unveils locally-made Suzuki super carry
Boulos Enterprises Limited, a leading motorcycle and outboard motors distribution and assembly company in Nigeria, has finally launched the Suzuki Super Carry into the Nigerian market.
The Super Carry was launched with four body options: Van, High Top Van, Refrigerated Van, and Pick-Up. It is, however, hoped that as production increases other body options will be built and made available.
At full production capacity, the Super Carry will be available in 20 body options including a refrigerated unit.
Speaking on the launch, Boulos Quality Control Manager, Olusegun Adekoya, said: “There was a real buzz in the factory, we fabricated the van units under 16 hours. As production steps up and we become more familiar with the process, the manufacturing time will decrease. It was great to see them drive out, as made in Nigeria means made by Nigerians.”
Commenting, the Marketing Manager, Titi Olodun, explained that the Super Carry, sold in 192 countries since its launch in 1961 and now in its 12th generation, “is the most tried and trusted one-tonne van in the world. It is one of the most reliable in the world and here in Nigeria, the launch price of N4.1 million is N2 million less than any other competitor’s vehicle. The engine of the vehicle is the tried and tested Suzuki 1.2 litre petrol, which is also fitted to the Suzuki Swift, Vitara, Splash, Baleno, Kizashi, and many others. In fact, it is so reliable that other manufacturers buy the engines from Suzuki for use in their vehicles.”
“The Super Carry is backed by a comprehensive warranty and dealer service representation across Nigeria. Additionally, Boulos stocks over $5 million spare parts at any one time, so there is never a worry for spares. This moment marks the continuation of more than 57 years of representation of SUZUKI in Nigeria by Boulos Enterprises,” Olodun added.
According to the auto firm, the ban of fully built motorcycles gave the company the impetus to embark on a manufacturing/assembly plant. Considering the bright future of automobile business in Nigeria and the level of technology, the company embarked on the construction of a phased integrated motorcycle manufacturing complex located at its present 25-acre plot at Ogba Industrial Scheme, Ikeja. The present integrated plant has an installed capacity of 150,000 units for motorcycles assembling per annum on a single 8-hours shift per working day with 320 Nigerians employed full time.
Additionally, Carry D700 and P400 commercial tricycles are assembled at the factory. Boulos also distributes Suzuki OBM marine engines from 9hp to 300hp, all of which are 4-stroke.
The Super Carry, motorcycle and tricycle plant assembling facilities has an independent service utility backup system.
Boulos Enterprises Limited was incorporated in 1964 by the Boulos brothers Anthony and Gabriel Boulos. The initial trading business was started with Suzuki in 1959. The main focus of their business initially, was trading and incorporation of general merchandise including some brands of motorcycles from Western Europe. After a few years, they concentrated on the importation of the “Suzuki” brand of motorcycles and outboard motors from Japan and since then it remained.
Suzuki has over 45,000 employees worldwide with 35 main production facilities in 23 countries and 133 distributors in 192 countries including Boulos in Nigeria. The Boulos Ikeja, Lagos factory is the oldest Suzuki production plant in the world outside of Japan.
