Innocent Chukwuma is pushing Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) into a new phase of expansion, with the Nigerian businessman betting heavily on local production, job creation and cleaner transportation.
Chukwuma, the founder and Executive Chairman of Innoson Group, established Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing in 2007 in Nnewi, Anambra State. The company is recognised by ECOWAS as Nigeria’s first local automobile manufacturer and produces cars, buses, trucks and specialised vehicles.
The scale of Chukwuma’s current expansion is significant. In February 2026, he disclosed that Innoson had about 8,000 direct employees nationwide, with plans to create another 2,000 jobs as new facilities become operational.
One of the biggest projects behind the planned recruitment is a new factory focused on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks and electric vehicles.
According to Chukwuma, the CNG plant is designed to produce 3,000 units annually across six different vehicle types. The facility is expected to strengthen Innoson’s position in Nigeria’s emerging cleaner-transport market while creating opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire technical skills.
Innoson is also increasing its conventional vehicle manufacturing capacity. Reports in January 2026 said the company had upgraded its production capacity from 10,000 vehicles per year to 60,000, a 500% increase, following a shift from manual production towards semi-automation.
But Chukwuma’s ambitions extend beyond automobiles.
The businessman is also developing a tractor manufacturing plant at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as part of efforts to support agricultural mechanisation and reduce dependence on imported equipment.
His expansion comes at a time when Nigeria continues to struggle with high import costs, foreign-exchange pressure and the need to create more productive jobs for its growing population.
Chukwuma has also dismissed reports that Innoson plans to relocate its operations and investments to Ghana, insisting that the company remains committed to Nigeria. The company said it is instead deepening its investment in the country through projects in CNG and electric vehicle manufacturing.
The company’s ambitions are increasingly regional. In August 2026, Chukwuma met with the ECOWAS Commission as the regional body worked on developing a competitive West African automotive industry. Innoson also disclosed plans for a partnership with Senegal involving local production of automotive components, materials and equipment, alongside technology transfer.
For Chukwuma, the strategy is bigger than selling Nigerian-made vehicles. With a workforce target of 10,000 direct employees, production capacity of up to 60,000 vehicles annually, and investments in CNG, electric vehicles and tractors, the businessman is positioning Innoson as an industrial platform capable of serving both Nigeria and the wider African market.
