Nigerians spend average of N845,000 yearly on car maintenance
• 90% patronise roadside mechanics
NIGERIAN car users spend an a verage of N845,000 yearly to main - tain a car , with the figure expected to increase soon owing to escalating prices of component and service charges.
But a little of the spending goes to well- established service centres as over 90 per cent of the vehicle users rely on roadside and halftrained mechanics to fix their automobiles.
The situation, it is reported, leads to poorly maintained vehicles and regular breakdowns of cars on the roads.
The Chief of Staff Cardio Autotec, Hephzibah Iniodu, disclosed these at the launch of its car maintenance phone application, stressing that given the state of the economy, used cars will continue to dominate the market.
He maintained that with the market for vehicle maintenance growing at a rapid pace, the need for efficient vehicle maintenance solutions is important now more than ever.
While stressing the need for reliable vehicle maintenance services in the country, Iniodu said the industry is faced with challenges ranging from the absence of organised automobile care services to opaque pricing structures as well as heavy reliance on roadside mechanics.
The reliance on half- trained technicians, he said, leads to inconsistent spare parts or having original components replaced with lower- quality substitutes and inflated costs. He noted that 90 per cent of the users, including companies, are struggling to monitor expenses related to fleet maintenance and repairs, resulting in operational inefficiencies and financial setbacks.
To ensure reliable car maintenance, he said, Cardio Autotech has launched an app designed to transform car maintenance in Nigeria by helping individuals and businesses take control of their car maintenance needs.
He explained: "The Cardio App offers a subscriptionbased auto maintenance and repair service where car owners can save costs by subscribing to a plan that suits their lifestyle adding that they can schedule appointments, track expenses and monitor repairs and maintenance for their vehicles with ease, all within their subscription period.