Launch Design, Hybrid Motors Nigeria Sign Strategic Partnership For Establishment Of EV Manufacturing Plants In Lagos, Abuja



*Landmark agreement marks major milestone for Nigeria’s Homegrown Electric Vehicle Brand “Acely”,

*Development  combines local assembly with world-class automotive engineering




Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria on Friday,  announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement for the establishment of state-of-the-art Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing facilities in Lagos and Abuja. 

This landmark collaboration will accelerate the production of Acely, Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s proudly homegrown vehicle brand, designed and engineered specifically for Nigerian roads and drivers.

The signing ceremony, held in Shanghai on May 8, 2026, brings together two industry leaders committed to transforming Nigeria’s automotive landscape through innovation, local manufacturing excellence, and sustainable mobility solutions.

At the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design Mr. Wang Xun and Mr. Jubril Arogundade, Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, delivered keynote addresses underscoring the significance of the partnership and their shared vision for the future of automotive manufacturing in Africa.



Acely Motor represents the convergence of deep local market expertise and cutting-edge automotive design. Developed in partnership with Launch Design Shanghai a global leader in automotive design and turnkey engineering solutions. Acely is positioned to deliver practical, modern vehicles built specifically for Nigerian drivers.

“This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future,” said Mr. Jubril Arogundade, Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria. 


“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.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design added: “Launch Design is proud to partner with Hybrid Motors Nigeria in this 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.”

Launch Design Shanghai brings decades of advanced automotive engineering expertise, providing Hybrid Motors Nigeria with comprehensive turnkey solutions spanning vehicle architecture, design optimization, manufacturing process engineering, and quality assurance systems.


The partnership establishes manufacturing operations across two strategic locations, with a combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units at full maturity:• 

Lagos  situated in the Lekki-Epe Axis of Lagos,  will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with an annual capacity of 50,000 units at maturity.

 Strategically positioned near the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Lagos plant will serve as the export gateway for Acely, covering Southern Nigeria and West African markets including Ghana, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and beyond. 

The facility leverages Lagos’ status as Nigeria’s commercial capital and its robust maritime infrastructure to optimize regional distribution and international trade logistics.•

 Abuja facility, located at the Free Zone Business Area of Centenary Economic City, Abuja,  will operate as a secondary manufacturing and technology center with an annual capacity of 20,000 units at maturity. 


The Abuja plant will primarily serve Northern Nigeria and the broader Sahel region, capitalizing on the Free Zone’s tax and regulatory incentives, Abuja’s central geographic location, and its connectivity to major northern trade corridors and land-border markets.

This dual-facility approach ensures comprehensive national and regional coverage, reduces logistics costs, maximizes operational efficiencies through strategic Free Zone positioning, and creates employment opportunities across multiple regions of the country.


Acely Motor embodies a forward-looking vision for Nigerian mobility:

 Vehicles built in Nigeria, creating jobs and fostering technology transfer within the domestic automotive sector.


 Every vehicle engineered with Nigerian road conditions, climate, and driving patterns as core design parameters.


 Integration of advanced powertrain technologies, intelligent vehicle systems, and energy-efficient solutions.

 A growing emphasis on electric and hybrid propulsion systems aligned with global sustainability trends and Nigeria’s clean energy goals.


The establishment of EV manufacturing plants in Lagos and Abuja is expected to deliver significant socioeconomic benefits, including:• Job Creation — Direct and indirect employment opportunities across engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors.• Technology Transfer — Knowledge exchange between Launch Design’s global expertise and Nigeria’s growing technical workforce.• Supply Chain Development — Stimulation of local component manufacturing and vendor ecosystems.• Foreign Exchange Conservation — Reduction in vehicle import dependency through domestic production.• Industrial Diversification — Strengthening of Nigeria’s manufacturing base and positioning within the African automotive value chain.


 Establishing Nigeria as a manufacturing hub for West African and Sahel region automotive markets.


The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s broader objectives under the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) and supports the country’s transition toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation solutions.“Today’s signing in Shanghai is a defining moment for both our organizations and for Nigeria’s automotive industry,”  Mr. Arogundade concluded. 

“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."




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