This week, the automobile industry witnessed a milestone as Nigeria’s first coach brand BUSCAR was unveiled to the public with a grand ceremony held at the serene Zen Garden, GRA Ikeja. BUSCAR, an innovation which integrates the bus technology with the luxury and convenience of a car is a full blown African coach brand with a Nigerian origin.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/CEO of the BUSCAR Company Mr. Friday Yange said that he commenced the BUSCAR journey in 2005 as a freelancer for some notable dealers for Chinese bus brands. “Mid 2008 we secured and became a distributor for BONLUCK in Nigeria. In 2015 the idea of BUSCAR brand was conceived and birthed in line with the Nigeria Government automotive and local content policy. Against the background of increasing globalization of bus builders, there are a number of emerging new faces in Nigeria and Africa” and BUSCAR is now one of them.
He confirmed that BUSCAR is one of the new emerging talents in Africa wave of bus builders with its continuous innovation and diligent work. He added has brought about a new era for African export vehicles. From inception, BUSCAR aimed its products for competition in the global market, further narrowing the gap between speedy deliveries to the African local market”.
Mr. Yange affirmed that the mission of the BUSCAR Company is “To become the preferred Bus and Coach Brand working with the most qualified team to produce cost-efficient and durable products through the use of modern techniques to satisfy customers and bring good returns to stakeholders”. He said that the mission of the brand ultimately drives its vision which is to become the leading bus and coach supplier in Africa and among the top three brands in the world. He added that the BUSCAR brand was conceived out of passion to challenge the status-quo in the bus and coach industry particularly in Africa and around the world. “With superior insight of the African terrain, BUSCAR is set to emerge as the most reliable and durable bus and coach brand in Africa, with a vision to also compete globally. To this end, the BUSCAR identity must be strong and be in tandem with these qualities”.
To achieve its set goal, the BUSCAR Company is in partnership with Cummins, world acclaimed engine builders, to roll out a range of coach buses which includes the CityBus designed to commute within the metropolis. Mr. Yange explained that the BUSCAR Company chose to partner with Cummins because the company is tested and approved by testimony to be a world leader in the construction and manufacturing of automotive engines. “Cummins is also approved as a high profile company with reputable track records in servicing the world for close to 100 years. “We plan to be a great company and we plan to partner with a great Company”. Cummins, he said will support BUSCAR to actualise its vision by providing not only high technology in engine production and supply but also by involving in the training and engagement of qualified engineers who provide solutions to customers to ensure they have the right standards operating procedures to add efficiency to the BUSCAR system”.
In his speech the Managing Director, Cummins West Africa, Mr. Kwame Gyan-Tawiah commended the BUSCAR Company for the great feat of providing the world with a coach brand for Africa and from Nigerian origin. He stated that the BUSCAR strategy is in alignment with the Cummins business philosophy of operating as a global company with local presence.
“Our strategy especially for Africa is to bring our resources closer to our customers and end users to ensure dependable power, a pleasing experience and all-round after-market solution”. He said that beside training and other aftersales service provision, Cummins will also ensure the availability of genuine spare parts at affordable and competitive prices for the BUSCAR brands. Mr. Gyan-Tawiah assured Nigerians that Cummins are fully committed to the BUSCAR brand business.
The Assistant Corps Commander, RS2 18, Ikeja Unit, Command Emma Fekoya applauded the management of BUSCAR for such a great initiative and for the efforts made in ensuring that all the necessary safety elements are recognised in the conceptualisation, design and production of the BUSCAR range. She advised the company to ensure that the safety standards are maintained at all times.
In his comments Alhaji Nojeem Yasin, President, National Union of Road Transport Workers commended the BUSCAR Company for the boldness of initiating a vehicle brand for the African market and with its origin from Nigeria. He advised the Company to ensure that there is adequate supply of genuine spare parts for the operators and also to ensure that the standard of the vehicle with its warrantees be sustained as a matter of business principle.
