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Innoson Group says it is widening its production footprint with a new plant dedicated to compressed natural gas trucks and electric vehicles, a move it says will add jobs and technical training in southeastern Nigeria.
Innocent Chukwuma, executive chairman of the Innoson Group, announced the expansion in Nnewi, an industrial city in Anambra state that has long served as the company’s manufacturing base. He said Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing plans to recruit an additional 2,000 workers in 2026 as the new lines come on stream.
Chukwuma described the project as the company’s biggest step yet into alternative powertrains. He said the compressed natural gas, or CNG, vehicle manufacturing plant is close to completion and is designed to rank among the largest globally.
The facility will have installed capacity to produce about 3,000 CNG units each year across six types of vehicles, he said. The plant will be fitted with modern machinery and is expected to be finished within the next few months.
Innoson’s chairman said the company has become one of the continent’s major employers, with operations that sustain thousands of families through direct jobs and related supply work. He framed the latest investment as part of a long running commitment to domestic manufacturing and youth development.
Alongside the factory, Innoson plans a technical training scheme aimed at young Nigerians. Chukwuma said the program will focus on practical, shop floor skills linked to the plant’s production needs and will offer employment to some participants after graduation. Others will receive certification intended to help them find work elsewhere.
“This initiative will help productively engage the youth and contribute significantly to reducing insecurity,” he said.
The company also intends to build electric vehicles at the new site, adding to its lineup of locally assembled buses, cars and commercial vehicles. Industry analysts say demand is shifting toward lower running costs and more stable fuel options, especially for fleet owners who feel the squeeze of volatile pump prices.
Chukwuma did not give a firm date for full scale operations, but said commissioning is expected soon and production will follow.
Innoson has repeatedly pitched itself as a homegrown alternative in a market that still relies heavily on imported vehicles and parts. The company has supplied vehicles to a mix of public agencies and private buyers and has sought to deepen local content by developing Nigerian based vendors for components and services. Local suppliers, he said, will be prioritized.
CNG vehicles, which run on natural gas stored at high pressure, are drawing interest in Nigeria as businesses look for ways to reduce fuel bills. Electric models remain a smaller slice of the market, but manufacturers see them as a long term play as charging networks and power reliability improve.
Chukwuma said the new investment is also meant to keep skilled workers in the country by offering career paths inside a modern factory. He said the expansion should ripple through the local economy, boosting demand for logistics, fabrication and maintenance services in the Nnewi area.
