Chinese-Nigerian partnership targets electric vehicle manufacturing

A Chinese company, Launch Design Shanghai, and Hybrid Motors Nigeria are set to boost electric vehicle manufacturing in Nigeria. The company’s CEO, Jubril Arogundade, said this in a statement on Sunday.

Arogundade said the partnership would support electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly operations in Lagos and Abuja.
He said both firms signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shanghai to accelerate production of ‘Acely’.

“Acely is Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous electric vehicle brand, designed to meet local mobility needs,” he said.

He said the agreement would support technology transfer, workforce training, and the gradual development of Nigeria’s electric vehicle supply chain.

Mr Arogundade described the partnership as a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s automotive future.

“This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future. With Acely, we are proving world-class vehicles can be designed, engineered, and assembled in Nigeria, by Nigerians, for Nigerians,” he said.

He said the collaboration combined local market understanding with advanced automotive engineering expertise. According to him, the vehicles would meet international standards while remaining suitable for Nigerian roads and consumers.

Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design Shanghai, Wang Xun, described the partnership as transformative.

“Together, we are not just building vehicles, we are building an industry,” Mr Xun said. The firms said they would establish manufacturing operations in Lagos and Abuja. They projected a combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units at full operational maturity.

According to the companies, the Lagos facility along the Lekki-Epe corridor would serve as the main production hub.

They said the Lagos plant was projected to produce 50,000 units annually. The Abuja facility, located within Centenary Economic City, would function as a manufacturing and technology centre. The companies said the Abuja plant would have an annual production capacity of 20,000 units.

They said the facilities would support job creation, technology transfer, supply chain development, and reduced dependence on imported vehicles.

According to the firms, the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s automotive development plans and cleaner transportation goals. NAN