Lagos, Nigeria — Hybrid Motors Nigeria is expanding its electric mobility strategy with plans for a dedicated EV research and development centre, a vehicle financing platform and a wider charging infrastructure rollout across Lagos and Abuja.
The company says the goal is to build an electric mobility ecosystem that goes beyond vehicle assembly, addressing the key areas needed for EV adoption in Nigeria: locally relevant vehicle design, charging access, affordability and long-term technical capability.
The planned research and development centre will focus on adapting electric vehicles for African road conditions, climate realities and daily usage patterns. Areas of work are expected to include battery optimisation, charging efficiency, vehicle durability, software systems and design improvements for local markets.
According to Hybrid Motors Nigeria, the R&D centre will be developed with support from Launch Design Shanghai, the company’s strategic technical partner.
“At the centre of this partnership is research and development,” said Jubril Arogundade, Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria. “We are not just assembling vehicles. We are building a proper R&D ecosystem in Nigeria where vehicles can be designed and adapted specifically for African roads, climate and mobility realities.”
The company believes that local research and product development will be critical to the long-term success of electric mobility in Africa. Rather than relying only on vehicles designed for other markets, Hybrid Motors Nigeria wants to help create EVs that reflect the realities of Nigerian roads, charging conditions, customer behaviour and operating costs.
The R&D programme will also support the development of Acely, Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle brand. Acely is being positioned as a locally relevant vehicle platform designed to meet the needs of private owners, families, businesses, ride-hailing operators, logistics providers and fleet customers.
In addition to vehicle development, Hybrid Motors Nigeria is working on a financing platform aimed at making electric vehicle ownership more accessible. The platform is expected to offer financing options at single-digit interest rates, helping to address one of the biggest barriers to vehicle ownership in Nigeria: access to affordable credit.
“People may want EVs, but affordability remains a challenge,” Arogundade said. “We are building a platform that allows people to own vehicles through affordable financing structures with single-digit interest rates.”
The company expects vehicle financing to play a major role in supporting EV adoption, particularly among drivers and businesses that can benefit from lower running costs but may not be able to pay the full cost of a vehicle upfront.
Hybrid Motors Nigeria is also investing in charging infrastructure. The company plans to deploy 110 charging stations across Lagos and Abuja over the next four years, with each station designed to include 12 charging bays and support up to 24 vehicles at a time.
The stations are expected to provide fast-charging access, with full charging projected to take around 30 minutes depending on vehicle type and battery capacity. Prototype charging stations are already under development in Lagos ahead of a wider rollout.
For Hybrid Motors Nigeria, charging infrastructure is central to building confidence in electric mobility. The company believes that customers are more likely to adopt EVs when they can see a reliable network of chargers in the places where they live, work and operate.
The wider strategy brings together vehicle production, research and development, financing and charging infrastructure into one coordinated platform. Hybrid Motors Nigeria says this integrated approach is necessary to make EV ownership practical, affordable and scalable in Nigeria.
The company’s manufacturing plans in Lagos and Abuja will provide the production foundation for this strategy, while the R&D centre, financing platform and charging network will support adoption and long-term market growth.
Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s ambition is to help build a clean mobility ecosystem that creates jobs, develops local technical skills, reduces operating costs for drivers and businesses, and supports Nigeria’s transition towards more sustainable transport.
About Hybrid Motors Nigeria
Hybrid Motors Nigeria is an automotive and clean mobility company focused on electric vehicle assembly, charging infrastructure, vehicle financing and mobility innovation for African markets. Through its manufacturing facilities, Acely vehicle platform and clean energy initiatives, the company is working to make electric mobility more accessible, practical and locally relevant across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
