Pioneer bus-hailing firm, Plentywaka on Monday said it has entered a local partnership with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) in what is a first-of-its-kind collaboration for both companies.

The indigenous auto manufacturer, IVM will bolster Plentywaka’s fleet with a host of new vehicles as the startup prepares to break into Southeastern Nigeria starting with Delta State in Q4 2020, it said in a press release.

Commuters in the region reportedly still face the “age-old problems” of a lack of safety, comfort, and convenience, which has plagued Nigeria’s bus network for decades. Plentywaka’s plan is to replicate the success of its tech-driven service in Lagos and Abuja in addressing these issues.

“This is a major step towards developing a robust and reliable transport system built by Nigerians for Nigerians,” said Onyeka Akumah, Plentywaka Co-Founder & CEO. “We are two brands that have lived through an outdated transport system in Nigeria and we’re joining forces to bring our country into an era that is long overdue and driven by technology.”

Launched last year, the startup recently marked its anniversary with more than 200,000 completed trips and over 40,000 app downloads. “We’ve been closely monitoring Plentywaka’s progress since its launch in September 2019 and their growth has been very impressive in such a short space of time,” IVM chief executive and founder Dr. Innocent Chukwuma revealed.

Plentywaka announced entry into the capital Abuja from Lagos in August and is now set for further expansion to other parts of Nigeria with the new partnership in effect. “With IVM on board, we’re breaking into new territory so riders in the South-eastern states are not left behind,” notes Akumah.

The partnership means a first entry into the tech ride-hailing space for IVM – the pioneer “Made In Africa” automobile brand founded in 2007. The company has a manufacturing plant based in Anambra State and is part of the Innoson Group.