Founder of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, has urged Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), Chief Innocent Chukwuma, to make electric vehicle production the company’s central focus, saying Nigeria must position itself to benefit from the global shift towards cleaner transportation.
Murray-Bruce made the call on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in a post on X, where he praised Chukwuma for building Nigeria’s first indigenous automobile manufacturing company and advancing local vehicle production.
He described Innoson’s establishment in Nnewi, Anambra State, as a landmark industrial achievement, noting that the company had demonstrated the potential of Nigerian-owned manufacturing.
While acknowledging Innoson’s move into electric mobility, including its electric vehicle development efforts unveiled in 2024, Murray-Bruce urged the company to make EVs its main business direction rather than a secondary venture.
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He argued that rising petrol costs, lower maintenance requirements of electric vehicles and Nigeria’s renewable energy potential provide strong reasons for accelerating EV adoption.
The Silverbird founder also highlighted Nigeria’s lithium deposits, particularly in Nasarawa State, as a potential advantage in building a local electric vehicle value chain.
His comments come amid growing global investment in electric mobility and ongoing efforts by Nigeria to strengthen local automotive production through cleaner and more sustainable technologies.
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, founded by Innocent Chukwuma, operates its automobile plant in Nnewi, where it produces passenger vehicles, buses and utility vehicles, and remains one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous automobile manufacturers.
Murray-Bruce said a stronger focus on electric vehicles could help Innoson play a key role in Nigeria’s transition to the future of transportation.