Get Guardian on GoogleNigerian mobility technology company, Yoyei Technologies Limited, has signed a five-year, $115 million strategic partnership with Chinese electric vehicle supply partner, ZMEV, to introduce up to 5,000 Electric Vehicles (EVs) into Nigeria as part of efforts to accelerate the adoption of cleaner transportation.
The agreement, signed recently in China, covered electric vehicle procurement, charging infrastructure development, technical training, after-sales support and plans for local vehicle assembly, a statement by the automobile company said.
The partnership is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s emerging electric vehicle market, particularly in the commercial transportation and ride-hailing segments, where rising petrol prices and vehicle maintenance costs are increasing pressure on operators.
Under the agreement, ZMEV would facilitate the sourcing and supply of electric vehicles from manufacturers based on specifications developed by Yoyei, with consideration for Nigerian road conditions and the operational demands of commercial mobility services.
The vehicles are expected to support Yoyei’s planned expansion into the electric mobility market, while the accompanying infrastructure and technical support arrangements are designed to address some of the challenges limiting EV adoption in Nigeria.
Yoyei’s Chief Executive Officer, Beril Bunuzigha and Chief Marketing Officer, Sunmisola Olorunnisola, signed the agreement on behalf of the company.
The company emphasised that the first batch of electric vehicles had been purchased and was expected to arrive in Lagos in December 2026, while another shipment of 250 vehicles is scheduled for January 2027.
A major component of the agreement is the proposed establishment of local vehicle assembly operations after the delivery of 2,000 electric vehicles.
The initiative is expected to encourage domestic participation in the EV value chain through technical skills development, vehicle assembly and supporting services.
Speaking on the partnership, Bunuzigha said the agreement represented a significant step towards transforming Nigeria’s transportation industry and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
He explained that the company’s ambition extended beyond importing electric vehicles to developing an integrated mobility ecosystem that would combine vehicle deployment, charging infrastructure, digital payments and fleet management.
He added that the initiative was also expected to create employment opportunities across vehicle operations, charging infrastructure, technical services and other areas of the electric mobility industry.
According to him, Yoyei was targeting more than 80,000 direct jobs as its operations expand, although the actual employment impact would depend on the pace of vehicle deployment and the development of supporting infrastructure.
ZMEV Chairman, Kenny Li, described Nigeria as one of Africa’s promising markets for electric mobility, expressing confidence in the partnership’s potential to support the country’s transition to cleaner transportation.
Li explained that the five-year agreement would provide a framework for cooperation in vehicle supply, charging infrastructure, technical training and after-sales services, alongside the proposed local assembly programme.
The proposed transition to local assembly could provide an opportunity to deepen domestic participation in the automotive industry, although its success would depend on the availability of adequate facilities, technical capacity and a sustainable market for electric vehicles.
Yoyei’s approach combines electric vehicle deployment with digital payments, fleet management and transportation intelligence, targeting drivers, investors, fleet operators and other participants in the mobility sector.
The partnership is therefore expected to test the capacity of Nigeria’s emerging electric mobility ecosystem to support large-scale commercial EV operations while creating opportunities for local automotive businesses and technical service providers.
