Chinese engineering firm Launch Design Shanghai and Nigeria’s Hybrid Motors have signed a deal to set up electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly plants in Lagos and Abuja, in a push to boost local production and clean transport in Nigeria.
Signed on May 8, 2026, the agreement covers the production of Acely, Hybrid Motors’ indigenous EV brand designed for Nigerian roads and consumers.
Besides, the partnership aims to drive technology transfer, train local workers, and build out Nigeria’s EV supply chain.
“This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future,” said Hybrid Motors CEO Jubril Arogundade.
“With Acely, we are proving that world-class vehicles can be conceived, designed, and assembled right here in Nigeria, by Nigerians, for Nigerians. Launch Design brings world-class engineering expertise directly into our operations, ensuring Acely meets international standards while remaining authentically Nigerian.”
Launch Design CEO Wang Xun explained that the partnership combines his firm’s turnkey engineering with Hybrid Motors’ market knowledge.
“Together, we are not just building vehicles, we are building an industry,” he added.
Under the deal, Launch Design will provide engineering solutions covering vehicle architecture, manufacturing processes, design optimization, and quality assurance.
The two plants will have a combined capacity of 70,000 units annually at full output. The Lagos facility, on the Lekki-Epe axis near Lekki Deep Sea Port, will serve as the main hub with capacity for 50,000 units a year. It is expected to supply southern Nigeria and export to Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Abuja plant, located in the Free Zone Business Area of Centenary Economic City, will produce 20,000 units annually and serve northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region. It will benefit from tax incentives and access to northern trade corridors.
The companies said the two-site strategy will cut logistics costs, improve efficiency, and create jobs across regions.
Acely vehicles will focus on local assembly, designs tailored to Nigerian roads and climate, and advanced powertrain technologies with an emphasis on electric and hybrid systems.
The firms project the initiative will create jobs, transfer technology, develop local supply chains, reduce reliance on imported vehicles, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the African automotive value chain.
The deal aligns with Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan and its shift toward cleaner transport.
“With facilities in Lagos and Abuja serving distinct but complementary markets, we are laying the foundation for a new era of mobility — one that is locally rooted, globally competitive, and sustainably driven,” Arogundade added.