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Launch Design, Hybrid Motors Ink Deal for EV Plants in Lagos, Abuja

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2026

Joel Ajayi

A new China-Nigeria partnership aimed at accelerating electric vehicle production is drawing 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 partnership is expected to support technology transfer, local workforce training, and the gradual development of Nigeria’s electric vehicle supply chain.

The agreement marks a major milestone for Nigeria’s homegrown electric vehicle brand, “Acely,” combining local assembly with advanced automotive engineering expertise.

Under the agreement, the two firms will establish electric vehicle manufacturing facilities in Lagos and Abuja to accelerate the production of Acely, Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle brand designed specifically for Nigerian roads and consumers.

The signing ceremony, held in Shanghai on May 8, 2026, brought together key stakeholders from both companies, who described the collaboration as a transformative step for Nigeria’s automotive sector through innovation, local manufacturing, and sustainable mobility solutions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design, Mr. Wang Xun, and Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Mr. Jubril Arogundade, highlighted the significance of the partnership and their shared vision for the future of automotive manufacturing in Africa.

Arogundade said the Acely brand represents the convergence of local market knowledge and world-class automotive engineering.

“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 said Launch Design was proud to partner with Hybrid Motors Nigeria in what he described as 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 optimization, and quality assurance systems.

The partnership will establish manufacturing operations across two locations with a projected combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units at full maturity.

The Lagos facility, located along the Lekki-Epe axis, will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with an annual capacity of 50,000 units.

Positioned 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, situated within the Free Zone Business Area of Centenary Economic City, will operate as a secondary manufacturing and technology centre with a projected annual capacity of 20,000 units.

The plant is expected to serve Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region while benefiting from tax incentives and access to northern trade corridors.

The companies said the dual-facility strategy would help reduce logistics costs, improve operational efficiency and create employment opportunities across multiple regions of the country.

According to the firms, Acely vehicles will focus on local assembly and development, market-tailored designs suited 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 significant economic and industrial benefits from the initiative, including job creation, technology transfer, development of local supply chains, reduction in vehicle import dependence, industrial diversification and the strengthening of Nigeria’s position 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.

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FG Signs MoU Agreements On Legacy Road Projects With Messrs Hitech, Infiouest Under President Tinubu’s Infrastructure Renewal Agenda

Published

12 hours ago

May 13, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, today signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between it and two (2) construction companies — Messrs Hitech Africa Limited and Infiouest International Limited — as part of the Renewed Hope Administration’s ongoing legacy road projects across the country.

The signing ceremony, held at the Ministry’s headquarters, was attended by the Honourable Minister of Works, the Permanent Secretary, Directors, and representatives of the contracting firms led by their Managing Directors.

Speaking during the event, the Minister, H. E. Sen. Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE described the occasion as another milestone in the transformation of Nigeria’s infrastructure sector.

According to the Minister, many people initially doubted and criticised the projects, but today they have seen the reality. “These projects are not just road projects; they are investments that will stimulate economic growth, improve connectivity, and enhance national development and integration,” he stated.

The Minister also highlighted the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR in transforming campaign promises into tangible developmental projects across the nation. He appealed to the people of the South-East and the South, generally, to reciprocate the President’s gesture by supporting his 2027 re-election bid, describing the people of the zone as “ a people of wisdom.”

The Minister commended the Contractors handling the four (4) Legacy Road Projects for their professionalism, commitment, and adherence to engineering specifications and timelines. He noted that despite initial criticisms of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Nigerians are now witnessing its immense economic value and engineering excellence.

“When we started the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, many doubted its feasibility, but today the project has become a beauty to behold and an economic catalyst for Nigeria,” the Minister opined.

Engr. Umahi revealed that Section II of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Superhighway (Trans- Saharan Route) spans from the Ebonyi State Border -Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa States, while Section IV of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway passes through Oyo State, and Section V of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway goes through Akwa Ibom State. Work is progressing steadily on the other sections in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

He explained that Section V of the Coastal Highway traverses extremely difficult terrain, with over 70 percent of the route located in deep swampy soil requiring extensive excavation, filling, and reinforcement works.

“This is not an ordinary road project. It is an investment that will last for 100 years with minimal maintenance,” he added.The Minister further disclosed that the average cost per kilometre for the standard dual carriageway remains competitive despite the complex engineering requirements, including reinforced pavement structures, concrete drainage systems, culverts, and other road architecture.

Speaking on the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Minister stated that the project demonstrates Mr. President’s commitment to equitable infrastructure distribution across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

He also highlighted the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure durability and quality in all road projects, stressing that contracts under the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) model would not be subject to arbitrary cost reviews, except under clearly established unforeseen circumstances.

Senator Umahi reiterated that the Federal Government would provide 30 percent counterpart funding for the projects, while the remaining would be sourced through a structured funding arrangement. He added that the roads upon completion would eventually be tolled to guarantee sustainability and return on investment.

The Managing Director of Hitech Africa Limited, Mr. Dany Abboud, assured the Federal Government of the company’s readiness to deliver the projects within and even ahead of the 36-month completion timeline. “Hightech remains fully committed to delivering these projects to international standards, even better than what has already been achieved on Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” he stated.

He added that the company is eagerly waiting for the commissioning of the completed Section I in Lagos State, reaffirming the contractor’s commitment to quality, speed, and excellence.
The Ministry reassured its determination to continue delivering durable and economically beneficial road projects, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, GCFR.

The Minister used a popular proverb to encourage appreciation for hard work and dedication, saying: “When a lizard falls from a tall tree and nobody applauds it, it applauds itself.”

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan described the projects as hallmarks of President Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the nation’s infrastructure landscape and commended the Minister for his leadership and dedication to repositioning the road sector.

The Agreements were signed by the Permanent Secretary, on behalf of the Ministry, while the Managing Directors signed for their respective contracting companies. They include;1. Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Superhighway, Section II: Ebonyi State Border – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa States 2. Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Section IV: Oyo State 3. Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Section 5: Akwa Ibom State and 4. Dualisation of Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road, Section 2: Gombe – Biu.

“What we are doing today represents the President’s commitment to changing the face of infrastructure in Nigeria. Since the coming of the Minister, the road sector has witnessed tremendous transformation, and we are confident that these projects will be delivered within the stipulated timelines,” he stated.

Also speaking during the event was the Director, Highways, Bridges, and Design, Engr. Musa Sa’idu, who oversees the Legacy Road Projects, stated that the projects formed part of the Federal Government’s strategic infrastructure development programme, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, GCFR.

He disclosed that the agreements signed cover a new alignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Akwa Ibom State, spanning approximately 82.8 kilometres of Dual Carriageway; Section IV of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway covering about 180 kilometres; and the Biu-Gombe section of the Akwanga-Maiduguri corridor covering approximately 125 kilometres.

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