Ben Bruce Calls on Innoson to Make Electric Vehicles Core Business

Former Senator and Silverbird Group founder Ben Murray-Bruce has urged Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing to prioritise electric vehicle production, arguing that the shift would position Nigeria to benefit from the global transition to cleaner transportation.

Murray-Bruce made the appeal in a social media post on Tuesday, praising Innoson founder Chief Innocent Chukwuma for establishing Nigeria’s indigenous automobile company.

Addressing Chukwuma directly, Murray-Bruce wrote, “My good friend Chief Innocent Chukwuma, you did what nobody else dared. You built a car company in Nnewi and put Made-in-Nigeria vehicles on our roads. I still drive Innoson with pride”.

While acknowledging Innoson’s progress with the EX02 electric model and the new Nnewi plant, he added, “My appeal, brother: make electric your main line, not your sideline”.

The former lawmaker argued that economic realities favour electric vehicles, noting that petrol now sells above ₦1,300 per litre while sunlight is abundant in Nigeria throughout the year.

He explained that electric cars have fewer moving parts and cost far less to maintain, saving families money monthly while helping Nigeria conserve foreign exchange currently spent on fuel imports.

Murray-Bruce also highlighted Nigeria’s lithium deposits, particularly in Nasarawa State, as a strategic advantage for developing a local electric vehicle value chain.

He pointed to global trends, noting that one in every four new cars sold worldwide last year was electric, with China exceeding half and Ethiopia having stopped importing petrol cars altogether. “The world has moved. Let Innoson be the reason Nigeria catches up,” he said.

Innoson has already begun its electric journey, unveiling models including the EX01, EX02 and IVM Link, while also expanding into compressed natural gas vehicle production.

The company is constructing a multibillion-naira plant in Nnewi dedicated to manufacturing CNG, LNG and electric vehicles, expected to create thousands of jobs.

Murray-Bruce’s call has sparked renewed discussion about Nigeria’s readiness for electric mobility and the role indigenous manufacturers can play in building a cleaner transport system.