The Chief Executive Officer of Tim Motors, Leon Zhan, has expressed confidence that the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and other new energy vehicles (NEVs) in Nigeria will accelerate in the coming years, driven by global industry trends, improving purchasing power and growing demand for cost-effective transportation.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, Zhan acknowledged that the high cost of acquiring electric vehicles and limited charging infrastructure remain key barriers to wider adoption. However, he said these challenges would gradually diminish as Nigeria’s economy improves and consumer purchasing power strengthens.

According to him, Nigeria’s current low penetration of electric vehicles presents a significant investment opportunity, particularly as motorists seek alternatives to rising fuel costs.

“If you are making a decision for investment, you have to look at the trend and the room for growth. Currently, electric vehicles account for just one or two per cent of this market, while in countries like China, penetration is around 70 per cent. That shows the huge growth potential for Nigeria,” he said.

Zhan noted that the size of the Nigerian market continues to attract Chinese automobile manufacturers, adding that their vehicles would become increasingly affordable over time.

“Nigeria is growing, and purchasing power is also improving. In the coming years, more Nigerians will be able to afford Chinese vehicles that offer advanced technology at competitive prices,” he said.

The Tim Motors boss disclosed that the company planned to establish after-sales support centres across major cities to ensure a seamless ownership experience for customers. The move followed the company’s recent launch of Geely Galaxy new energy vehicles in Nigeria under an exclusive distributorship agreement with Geely Auto, one of China’s leading automakers in the transition to new-energy mobility.

He also revealed that the company has already put infrastructure in place in Abeokuta to support future local vehicle assembly operations.

Zhan said Tim Motors had carefully planned its entry into Nigeria’s electric vehicle market by addressing key concerns such as maintenance, spare parts availability and charging support.

To strengthen customer confidence, the company has partnered with service providers nationwide.