Launch Design and Hybrid Motors Partner to Build EV Manufacturing Plants in Lagos and Abuja

Bennett Oghifo

Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria have entered into a strategic partnership to build electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants in Lagos and Abuja, a move that aims to accelerate Nigeria’s automotive and clean‑mobility goals.

The agreement was signed in Shanghai on 8 May 2026 and will facilitate the production of “Acely,” Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s locally developed vehicle brand designed for Nigerian roads and driving conditions.

The collaboration combines Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s knowledge of the domestic market with Launch Design Shanghai’s global automotive engineering expertise. Both companies described the partnership as a transformative step for Nigeria’s industrial and automotive sectors.

During the signing ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Mr. Jubril Arogundade, said the project demonstrates a strong commitment to a sustainable automotive future for Nigeria.

“This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future,” Arogundade 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,” he added.

Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design, Mr. Wang Xun, described the partnership as a major opportunity to develop Africa’s automotive manufacturing ecosystem.

“Launch Design is proud to partner with Hybrid Motors Nigeria in this transformative venture,” he said. “Our turnkey engineering capabilities, combined with 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.”

Under the agreement, the two firms will set up manufacturing operations in Lagos and Abuja with a combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units once fully operational.

The Lagos facility, located along the Lekki‑Epe axis, 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 support export operations to West African markets, including Ghana, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.

The companies say the Lagos plant will leverage the state’s commercial and maritime advantages to improve regional distribution and international trade logistics.

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 plant is expected to serve Northern Nigeria and neighbouring Sahel markets while benefiting from Free Zone incentives and Abuja’s strategic geographic position.

The dual‑facility model is intended to reduce logistics costs, improve operational efficiency and create employment opportunities across multiple regions of the country.

Acely vehicles will focus on local assembly, energy efficiency and advanced technologies tailored to Nigeria’s terrain, climate and mobility demands.

The project will also support the gradual adoption of electric and hybrid propulsion systems in line with global sustainability trends and Nigeria’s clean‑energy objectives.

Industry analysts believe the partnership could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s automotive value chain by encouraging local component manufacturing, technology transfer and skills development.

The initiative is also expected to reduce dependence on imported vehicles, conserve foreign exchange and position Nigeria as a regional automotive manufacturing hub.

Both firms stated that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan, which seeks to expand local vehicle production and attract investment into the automotive sector.

Arogundade described the Shanghai signing as a defining moment for Nigeria’s mobility future.

“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.