Automotive start- up to provide market for truck loans, services

• Says finance penetration for truck less than one per cent

TO migrate the trucking industr y online and increase financing penetration, automotive technolog y company , Autochek, has announced the launch of its online truck loans marketplace in Nigeria and Ghana.

Specifically, the auto tech company stated that finance penetration for truck in Africa is less than one per cent.

With hundreds of truck dealers across Nigeria and Ghana on its plat - form, the first- of- its- kind truck loans marketplace in Africa has fleet ranging from flatbeds, semi- trailers, tankers as well as heavy, garbage and panel trucks.

As part of the roll- out, Autochek is partnering with key logistics stake - holders in Nigeria and Ghana including Kobo360, to finance trucks for African e- logis - tics transporters and truck owners. This means that customers interested in owning a truck can do that with financing at the best rates.

Vice President, Operations, A utochek, John Egwu, said the firm’s focus has always been on transforming automotive trade on the continent. “Now it is time for us to extend our services to trucks, as we build out our network and support our partners by provid - ing a structured market for them to purchase and maintain their fleet.”

Egwu said the ambition of the firm is to migrate what is known to be a core offline market to a digital platform, to increase financing penetration and create a onestop- shop that will not just meet partners’ needs but also ultimately increase earning capabilities and job creation across the value chain.

Autochek, launched in 2020 by serial entrepre - neur Etop Ikpe and backed by Tlcom Capital, 4DX Ventures, combines technology and data to enhance the buying and selling experience across African consumers, by creating a single market - place for all automotive needs.

To date, the Autochek app already has 20,000 unique vehicles listed on its platform, and more than 12,000 dealers and private sellers as well as a range of corporate partners and customers.

The new platform is available via the A utochek android app or website and all trucks undergo a 150- point check inspec - tion process before being listed to guide the cus - tomers on the exact state of the trucks.

This allows the company to provide the same serv - ices to trucks as it does with the cars already listed on its platform; Autochek’s 360- degree solution provides truck financing through finance partners with core expertise in fleet financing such as Baobab Group & Fundquest with spread across Africa and competitive rates.

To ensure trucks are kept on the road in good conditions, truck owners also enjoy affordable and expert maintenance services from standardised workshops and techni - cians in the A utochek partner network.