As part of Autochek’s digitisation partnership with The Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), we have now extended our activities to Nigeria’s most popular used car market “ The Berger Market”. The Berger Market, known as the largest used car market in Nigeria is situated in the heart of Apapa. This market houses over 10000 vehicles ranging from different brands and models.
Through the Autochek app, our users can now view all cars sold in the Berger market, empowering them to make buying decisions from the convenience of their mobile phones and avoid all the major hassles of travelling to the depot. For car buyers who face the incredibly daunting traffic of hundreds of trucks & tankers blocking entry to the Berger market, it marks a major breakthrough in terms of boosting accessibility to one of the most desired destinations for vehicle purchases in Africa.
Similar to every vehicle listed on our platform, all the cars from the Berger market listed on our app have undergone our usual 150-point check inspection process to remove all the ambiguities of purchasing a vehicle and equip our users with the information they need to make an informed decision. However, we’re well aware a car purchase is still one of the most expensive outlays for most people in their lifetimes and as such, we also recommend in-person inspections before making such a large commitment.
This is why as part of our partnership with the Berger market, our team is delivering personal tours to the depot for customers who want to get up close and personal with their future vehicles and ensure everything is in order. Here’s the experience of one of our customers, Mr Adebiyi, who recently took part in a tour:
“When my wife and I were looking for a very good Toyota Corolla to buy, I gave the staff at Autochek my specifications regarding the vehicle we wanted and they were wonderful in giving us options to select from. Eventually, we settled for a Toyota Corolla located at the Berger market and due to the difficulties in accessing the market and locating the vehicle, one of their staff, Yinka, took us there to inspect the vehicle and was very patient with both us and the dealer in finalising the purchase!”
With over 10,000 vehicles and approximately 30 dealer parks, the Berger market has been a key pillar in Nigeria’s automotive industry over the last three decades but with the rapid rise in commercial activities at the nearby Tin Can Island, it has experienced a severe decline in sales in recent years. Currently, there are hundreds of heavy-duty trucks and petrol tankers parked end to end on all major roads leading to and from the Apapa port, leaving access routes to the Berger market completely obstructed and forcing customers to find alternatives.
However, through our partnership, we’re looking to radically transform this – not only for car buyers but also car dealers whose vehicles are now benefitting from a much-needed increase in visibility through our app, which recently passed the 10,000 downloads mark. Whilst there is still a lot of uncertainty about the Berger market’s situation, we strongly believe that through the power of technology, this partnership could be a major catalyst for growth that not only impacts the livelihoods of the Berger market’s immediate stakeholders but also advances wider job creation in one of Lagos’ key commercial hubs.
We’re extremely excited for the next chapter of this journey and look forward to hearing more great stories from our customers!