Nigeria is teaming up with a company from Morocco to start making and putting together electric vehicles right in Nigeria. This effort, led by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), is aimed at boosting Nigeria’s car manufacturing industry and decreasing the country’s need to import cars from other places.
Joseph Osanipin, the Director-General and CEO of NADDC, shared the details of this collaboration during a business forum focused on Nigeria and Morocco. He pointed out several exciting benefits of this partnership. These include the creation of local parts for cars, the production of electric vehicles (EVs), the development of infrastructure to support electric cars, and even the manufacture of vehicles that run on gas.
Osanipin mentioned that the Nigerian team had recently visited Morocco, where they met with various organizations. They visited the National Center for Homologation and spoke with E-move Vehicles Company, which produces electric motorcycles, three-wheelers, and batteries. This company is a significant player in battery storage systems, meaning they know a lot about how to store and use energy efficiently.
Read Also: $1 Trillion Economy Possible, Says Tinubu
Additionally, the Nigerian group looked into working together with another Moroccan business called Univers Acier Steel, which makes parts for car companies. They discovered several electric vehicle components that could potentially be manufactured in Nigeria and then exported back to Morocco.
The delegation’s trip included a visit to Cetiev, Morocco’s technology partner for the automotive industry, as well as six different testing centers for various vehicle types. Osanipin emphasized that they are eager to bring some of the successes seen in Morocco back to Nigeria’s own car industry.
The goal of this collaboration is not just to make cars but to enhance local production capabilities, improve technical skills, and support economic growth while also being kind to the environment. Osanipin pointed out that understanding how to manufacture batteries and efficient electric vehicles in Nigeria would support the country’s shift toward greener transportation options and create new job opportunities for locals.
A recent report called the Global Electric Vehicles Outlook 2024 predicts that the worldwide number of electric cars is expected to increase by 17 million by the end of this year, showing how important and timely this partnership is for Nigeria.
Overall, this collaboration is a crucial move in Nigeria’s journey to build its electric vehicle industry, sharing knowledge and strategies to improve how cars are developed. Osanipin concluded by stating that Nigeria still has a lot to learn from Morocco, especially regarding regulations, inspections, and testing processes needed in the automotive industry.
