Nigeria’s EV Push Gains Momentum as Launch Design, Hybrid Motors Seal Lagos-Abuja Plant Deal

A new China-Nigeria partnership aimed at accelerating electric vehicle production is attracting attention as Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand local manufacturing capacity and clean transportation infrastructure.

Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria have signed a strategic cooperation agreement focused on electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly operations in Lagos and Abuja.
The collaboration is expected to promote technology transfer, local workforce training, and the gradual development of Nigeria’s electric vehicle supply chain.
The agreement represents a significant milestone for Nigeria’s indigenous electric vehicle brand, “Acely,” bringing together local assembly operations and advanced automotive engineering expertise.
Under the arrangement, the two companies will establish electric vehicle manufacturing facilities in Lagos and Abuja to fast-track the production of Acely, Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s homegrown vehicle brand developed specifically for Nigerian roads and consumers.
The signing ceremony, which took place in Shanghai on May 8, 2026, brought together major stakeholders from both organisations. Participants described the partnership as a transformative step for Nigeria’s automotive sector through innovation, local manufacturing, and sustainable mobility solutions.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design, Mr. Wang Xun, and the Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Mr. Jubril Arogundade, stressed the importance of the partnership and their shared vision for the future of automotive manufacturing in Africa.
Arogundade said the Acely brand reflects the combination of local market understanding and global automotive engineering standards.
“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 stated that Launch Design was pleased to collaborate with Hybrid Motors Nigeria in what he called a transformative venture.
“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.
Launch Design Shanghai is expected to provide comprehensive engineering solutions covering vehicle architecture, manufacturing process engineering, design optimisation, and quality assurance systems.
The partnership will establish manufacturing operations across two locations with a projected combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units when fully operational.
The Lagos facility, situated along the Lekki-Epe axis, will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with an annual capacity of 50,000 units.
Located close to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the plant is expected to support exports across Southern Nigeria and West African markets, including Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Abuja facility, located within the Free Zone Business Area of Centenary Economic City, will function as a secondary manufacturing and technology centre with a projected annual capacity of 20,000 units.
The facility is expected to serve Northern Nigeria and the broader Sahel region while benefiting from tax incentives and access to northern trade corridors.
The companies stated that the dual-facility strategy would help lower logistics costs, improve operational efficiency, and create employment opportunities across different regions of the country.
According to the firms, Acely vehicles will focus on local assembly and development, market-specific designs tailored to Nigerian roads and climate conditions, as well as advanced powertrain technologies and energy-efficient systems with increasing emphasis on electric and hybrid propulsion technologies.
The companies also projected major economic and industrial benefits from the initiative, including job creation, technology transfer, development of local supply chains, reduced dependence on vehicle imports, industrial diversification, and a stronger Nigerian presence within the African automotive value chain.
The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan and the country’s broader transition toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation systems.
Arogundade described the Shanghai signing ceremony as a defining moment for both companies and Nigeria’s automotive industry.
“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.