Nigeria, Chinese firm partner on EV manufacturing in Lagos, Abuja
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Nigeria, Chinese firm partner on EV manufacturing in Lagos, Abuja
A new partnership between Chinese automotive engineering firm Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria is set to boost Nigeria’s electric vehicle, EV manufacturing drive as the country pushes to deepen local industrial capacity and expand clean transportation infrastructure.
The two firms signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shanghai on May 8, 2026, to establish electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly operations in Lagos and Abuja under Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle brand, Acely.
The collaboration is expected to promote technology transfer, local workforce training and the gradual development of Nigeria’s electric vehicle supply chain, while strengthening Nigeria’s position in Africa’s automotive value chain.
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Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design, Wang Xun, and the Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Jubril Arogundade, described the partnership as a major step toward transforming Nigeria’s automotive industry through innovation, local manufacturing and sustainable mobility solutions.
Arogundade said the Acely brand reflected the fusion of local market understanding with world-class automotive engineering expertise.
“This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future,” he said.
“With Acely, we are proving that world-class vehicles can be conceived, designed, and assembled right here in Nigeria, by Nigerians, for Nigerians. Our collaboration with Launch Design brings world-class engineering expertise directly into our operations, ensuring that Acely meets the highest international standards while remaining authentically Nigerian.”
Wang Xun said Launch Design was proud to partner with Hybrid Motors Nigeria in what he described as a transformative venture for the continent’s mobility sector.
“Our turnkey engineering capabilities, combined with Mr. Arogundade’s leadership and Hybrid Motors’ deep understanding of the Nigerian market, create a powerful formula for success. Together, we are not just building vehicles, we are building an industry,” he said.
Under the agreement, the companies will establish two manufacturing facilities with a projected combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units at full maturity.
The Lagos plant, located along the Lekki-Epe corridor, will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with an annual capacity of 50,000 units.
The facility is expected to leverage its proximity to the Lekki Deep Sea Port to support exports across Southern Nigeria and West African markets including Ghana, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Abuja facility, to be situated within the Free Zone Business Area of Centenary Economic City, will operate as a secondary manufacturing and technology centre with a projected annual capacity of 20,000 units, targeting Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
The firms said the dual-facility structure would help reduce logistics costs, improve operational efficiency and create employment opportunities across multiple regions of the country.
According to the companies, Acely vehicles will focus on local assembly and market-tailored designs suited to Nigerian roads and climate conditions, while incorporating advanced powertrain technologies and energy-efficient systems with increasing emphasis on electric and hybrid propulsion technologies.
The partnership is also expected to support Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan through reduced dependence on vehicle imports, industrial diversification, local supply chain development and the promotion of cleaner transportation systems.
Describing the Shanghai signing as a defining moment for both firms and Nigeria’s automotive industry, Arogundade said the initiative would lay the foundation for a globally competitive mobility ecosystem.
“With facilities in Lagos and Abuja serving distinct but complementary markets across Nigeria and the wider region, we are laying the foundation for a new era of mobility — one that is locally rooted, globally competitive, and sustainably driven,” he said.
