By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria’s push for cleaner transportation and local automobile manufacturing has received a major boost following a new strategic partnership between Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria to establish electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly plants in Lagos and Abuja.
The agreement, signed in Shanghai on May 8, 2026, is expected to accelerate electric vehicle production in Nigeria while promoting technology transfer, workforce development, and local supply chain growth.
The partnership will support the expansion of “Acely,” Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous electric vehicle brand developed specifically for Nigerian roads and consumers.
Under the agreement, both companies will establish dual manufacturing facilities with a projected annual production capacity of 70,000 vehicles at full operation.
The Lagos plant, located along the Lekki-Epe corridor, will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with a projected annual capacity of 50,000 units. Its proximity to the Lekki Deep Sea Port is expected to strengthen exports to West African markets including Ghana, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Abuja facility, located within the Centenary Economic City Free Zone Business Area, will function as a secondary manufacturing and technology centre with an annual production target of 20,000 units, serving Northern Nigeria and parts of the Sahel region.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design, Wang Xun, described the collaboration as a transformative venture for Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Jubril Arogundade, said the partnership represents a long-term commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future through local innovation and sustainable mobility.
According to the companies, the project will focus on local assembly, vehicle designs adapted to Nigerian road and climate conditions, and the deployment of advanced electric and hybrid propulsion technologies.
The firms also projected major economic benefits from the initiative, including job creation, industrial diversification, reduced dependence on imported vehicles, and stronger participation in Africa’s growing automotive value chain.
The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan and broader efforts to promote cleaner and more sustainable transportation systems across the country.
Arogundade described the agreement as a defining moment for Nigeria’s automotive sector, noting that the Lagos and Abuja facilities would create a new mobility ecosystem that is locally driven, globally competitive, and environmentally sustainable.
