Industry insiders say the move is partly driven by the need to diversify amid a slowdown in sales of conventional vehicles. Dealers are now considering both locally manufactured cars and electric models as part of a broader strategy to adapt to changing market dynamics.
The National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDN), Mr. Ajibola Adedoyin, confirmed the development in a conversation with our correspondent on Sunday. He explained that the association is actively promoting “made-in-Nigeria” vehicles alongside electric and gas-powered alternatives.
“We are now trying to promote our own made-in-Nigeria and electric cars, as well as gas-propelled vehicles. We are looking to enter these sectors as dealers instead of focusing only on the conventional cars we are used to,” Adedoyin said.
According to him, while the sector has benefited from relative stability in exchange rates over the years, consumer demand has recently weakened. “The demand has dropped. People are now trying to manage what they have, refurbishing older vehicles rather than buying new ones,” he noted.
Adedoyin acknowledged that the adoption of electric cars in Nigeria remains limited, posing certain challenges. Nevertheless, he emphasized that EVs represent the “next phase of transportation” in the country. “Because they have not been widely used here before, there are still areas people consider as disadvantages. But overall, electric vehicles can be promoted as the new face of transportation in the coming years,” he said.
The development comes shortly after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced plans to grant safe passage to personal vehicles temporarily imported or transiting through the country by international travellers. Adedoyin, however, suggested that this initiative may have limited impact on the local market.
“From the general look of things, it won’t affect much. Perhaps it’s aimed at opening trade to neighbouring countries, but few people will import vehicles from distant nations like the U.S. for temporary use,” he added.
Supporting this view, Mr. Chinonso Amariwu, a car dealer at Berger Car Market, acknowledged a shift in consumer preferences. “The demand for fossil-fuel cars has dropped, and interest in electric cars is increasing. The main challenge is mechanical—especially battery life over time—but we are preparing to address that,” he said.
As Nigeria’s automotive industry grapples with evolving consumer behaviour and technological trends, dealers’ increasing interest in electric vehicles signals a potential turning point for the sector, aligning with global shifts toward sustainable transportation.