Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, IVM, has called for stronger government policies, regional market protection and sustained investment in human capital to accelerate the development of Africa’s automotive industry.
The Chairman of IVM, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, made the call at the ECOWAS Regional Automotive Industry Development Forum, held in Abuja from August 4 to 6, 2026.
The forum brought together policymakers, development partners, manufacturers and other industry stakeholders to advance implementation of the ECOWAS Automotive Industry Policy Framework.
Speaking during a high-level panel on policy reforms needed to attract investment into vehicle manufacturing and assembly across the region, Chukwuma said Africa had the entrepreneurial capacity and technical expertise required to manufacture vehicles locally.
He, however, said the industry required deliberate and consistent government policies that would prioritise and protect locally manufactured vehicles.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as India, Chukwuma said successful industrial economies had developed strong automotive sectors through consistent government procurement policies, local-content requirements and long-term industrial planning.
He urged African governments to give preference to vehicles manufactured on the continent in government procurement and by public institutions, arguing that increased patronage of locally produced vehicles would stimulate demand and encourage international manufacturers to establish production facilities in Africa.
“Through continued investment in manufacturing, innovation, technology and skills development, IVM is building vehicles for Africa, by Africans, while contributing meaningfully to the continent’s industrial transformation and economic prosperity.”
Chukwuma also highlighted IVM’s evolution from producing vehicle components to manufacturing complete vehicles, saying the development demonstrated that indigenous innovation and technical expertise already existed on the continent.
He disclosed that the company was pursuing partnerships to develop electric vehicles by combining African manufacturing capacity with international technological expertise.
On used vehicles, the IVM chairman called for regional policies restricting the importation of ageing vehicles into ECOWAS member states. He said the measure would increase demand for locally manufactured vehicles, create jobs, strengthen local industries and reduce dependence on imports.
Chukwuma further stressed the importance of policy consistency, noting that investors needed confidence in stable and predictable industrial policies before committing substantial resources to the sector.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Kiara Academy, IKA, Mr Ndubuisi Ezengwa, said human capital development should be treated as a major pillar of the ECOWAS automotive transformation agenda alongside policy reforms and investment incentives.
Ezengwa said implementation of the ECOWAS Automotive Industry Policy Framework would require a skilled workforce capable of supporting advanced manufacturing, localisation, electric vehicle technologies, automation and Industry 4.0.
He proposed a Regional Automotive Skills Development Framework to support competency-based training, apprenticeship programmes, instructor development, technology transfer and industry-led curriculum development.
He also called for harmonised occupational standards and mutual recognition of automotive qualifications across ECOWAS member states to facilitate workforce mobility and strengthen the region’s automotive manufacturing capacity.
