Ben Bruce Urges Innoson To Go All-In On Electric Vehicles

Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has called on Nigerian automobile manufacturer to make electric vehicles the company’s primary focus, arguing that the future of transportation has shifted decisively towards clean energy.

In a message addressed to the industrialist, Murray-Bruce praised Chukwuma for pioneering indigenous automobile manufacturing, saying he had achieved what many believed was impossible.

“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,” he said.

The former lawmaker acknowledged the company’s initial steps into electric mobility with its EX02 model and new production facility in Nnewi but urged the automaker to go further.

“You have already started the electric journey with the EX02 and the new Nnewi plant. My appeal, brother: make electric your main line, not your side line,” he said.

Murray-Bruce argued that prevailing economic realities favour a transition to electric vehicles, citing rising petrol prices, lower maintenance costs and Nigeria’s renewable energy potential.

“Common sense says the maths is on your side. Petrol is above ₦1,300 a litre, but sunlight is free in Nigeria 365 days a year. Electric cars have fewer moving parts, so they cost far less to maintain, they save families money every month, and they save Nigeria the scarce dollars we burn importing fuel,” he said.

He also pointed to Nigeria’s lithium deposits and global trends in electric vehicle adoption, urging the indigenous manufacturer to seize the opportunity.

“The lithium is already in our soil in Nasarawa. Meanwhile one in every four new cars sold worldwide last year was electric, in China it is more than half, and Ethiopia has stopped importing petrol cars altogether. The world has moved. Let Innoson be the reason Nigeria catches up,” Murray-Bruce added.