Hybrid Motors Nigeria has secured $95 million in investment to build electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants and a nationwide charging network in Lagos and Abuja. The move marks one of the largest private-sector clean mobility projects in the country, aiming to shift Nigeria’s transportation sector from vehicle imports and pilot programs to full-scale local production.
The investment includes partnerships with Chinese firms. One deal is with Launch Design Shanghai to develop EV factories in Lagos and Abuja. Another involves a Chinese charging infrastructure company to deploy 110 mega charging stations across the two cities over four years. The manufacturing facilities will cost $75 million, while $20 million funds the charging network.
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Jubril Arogundade, CEO of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, says the project will begin with 7,000 vehicles produced annually in the first year, scaling to 70,000 units by full maturity. The Lagos plant, in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, will lead production with a 50,000-unit capacity. Abuja’s Centenary City Free Zone facility will handle 20,000 units yearly.
Land for the factories is already secured, with construction underway. A factory unveiling is planned for early 2027. Assembly could start as early as September 2026 using prototype units imported from China, ahead of full-scale production.
The initiative introduces Acely, a new EV brand tailored to Nigerian roads, climate, and consumer needs. Unlike many local assembly operations relying on semi-knocked-down (SKD) imports, Hybrid Motors will establish an R&D center in Nigeria to design vehicles for local use, promoting engineering expertise and technology transfer.
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Launch Design Shanghai, a partner in the project, has worked with Chinese automaker BYD and designed models for global firms. The collaboration aims to avoid dependency on imported vehicles while building local technical capacity.
The charging network will include 12-bay stations capable of charging 24 vehicles simultaneously in 30 minutes. A prototype is being tested in Lagos, with equipment already shipped from China. The project targets consumer concerns about charging accessibility, a major barrier to EV adoption.
Hybrid Motors also plans to train 10,000 Nigerians in five years, covering maintenance, engineering, and charging operations. The program seeks to address technical capacity gaps in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, a challenge for advanced industries.
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Nigeria’s EV market is still nascent, with most activity focused on imports and small-scale solutions. Rising fuel costs and energy transition discussions have boosted interest, but adoption is limited by charging infrastructure, high costs, and weak local production.
By building factories and charging networks simultaneously, Hybrid Motors aims to tackle supply and infrastructure barriers. Success could strengthen Nigeria’s automotive sector, reduce foreign exchange use, and position the country as a West African EV hub.