Launch Design, Hybrid Motors Unveil Massive EV Assembly Plants for Lagos, Abuja

Launch Design, Hybrid Motors Unveil Massive EV Assembly Plants for Lagos, Abuja

 

Nigeria’s ambition to become a major player in Africa’s electric vehicle industry has received a major boost following a landmark partnership between Chinese automotive engineering firm Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria.

The two companies have signed a strategic agreement to establish electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly plants in Lagos and Abuja, a move expected to deepen local automobile production, accelerate technology transfer and strengthen Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation.

The partnership centres on the development of “Acely,” Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle brand tailored specifically for Nigerian roads, climate conditions and consumer needs.

Signed in Shanghai on May 8, 2026, the agreement is being positioned as one of the most significant collaborations yet in Nigeria’s emerging EV sector, combining Chinese engineering expertise with local manufacturing ambitions.

Under the arrangement, the companies plan to build two production facilities with a projected combined annual output of 70,000 vehicles at full capacity.

The Lagos plant, located along the Lekki-Epe corridor, will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with a planned capacity of 50,000 units yearly. Its proximity to the Lekki Deep Sea Port is expected to support exports to 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 function as a secondary manufacturing and technology centre with an annual production target of 20,000 units.

The location is expected to enhance access to Northern Nigeria and neighbouring Sahel markets while benefiting from free-zone incentives and strategic trade routes.

Executives of both companies described the alliance as a transformative step capable of reshaping Nigeria’s automotive landscape.

Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Mr. Jubril Arogundade, said the partnership represents a major leap toward building a globally competitive automobile industry rooted in local innovation.

“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.”

Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design Shanghai, Mr. Wang Xun, said the collaboration combines advanced automotive engineering with strong local market understanding.

“Together, we are not just building vehicles; we are building an industry,” he said.

Launch Design Shanghai is expected to provide engineering support spanning vehicle architecture, manufacturing process development, design optimisation and quality assurance systems.

The companies said the project would also focus on local workforce training, supply chain development and gradual localisation of vehicle components as production expands.

According to both firms, Acely vehicles will feature market-specific designs, energy-efficient systems and increasing integration of electric and hybrid propulsion technologies suited for Nigerian driving conditions.

Industry observers say the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan and could help reduce dependence on imported vehicles while creating new jobs and boosting industrial diversification.

The companies added that the dual-facility strategy would improve operational efficiency, reduce logistics costs and position Nigeria as a growing hub within Africa’s automotive value chain.

Describing the agreement as a defining moment for the country’s auto industry, Arogundade said the Lagos and Abuja plants would lay the foundation for “a new era of mobility” driven by local manufacturing and sustainable transportation solutions.