Angola has taken a significant step toward rebuilding its industrial base with the launch of its first-ever operational vehicle assembly plant, a move expected to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported vehicles and stimulate local manufacturing.
The facility, inaugurated in Luanda by Opaia Motors, marks the return of vehicle production to the oil-rich southern African nation after years of inactivity in the sector. Opaia Motors is an automotive subsidiary of the privately owned Opaia Group, a Luanda-headquartered conglomerate best known for its infrastructure development projects.
According to the company, the plant has an installed annual production capacity of 22,000 passenger vehicles and 1,000 buses, positioning it as a potentially significant player in Angola’s domestic transport market. Opaia described the project as a major milestone in the establishment of a homegrown automotive manufacturing industry, aligned with broader efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Passenger vehicles assembled at the plant will be imported in semi-knocked-down form from China through partnerships with manufacturers including Chery and Dongfeng Motor, while buses will be sourced from Sweden’s Volvo. The assembled vehicles will be sold locally under the Opaia Motors brand, targeting both private consumers and public transport operators.
Vehicle assembly is not entirely new to Angola. A China-funded plant was established more than a decade ago, but operations stalled amid worsening economic conditions. Opaia revived the initiative after acquiring the assets of the defunct facility, effectively restarting domestic vehicle assembly with renewed private-sector backing.
Beyond meeting local demand, the company has signalled longer-term ambitions to explore export opportunities within the region and eventually introduce electric vehicle production, although no specific timeline has been announced.
For Angola, where the vast majority of cars and buses are currently imported, the opening of the Luanda plant represents an early but meaningful attempt to deepen industrial capacity, create jobs, and strengthen value chains in manufacturing. It also reflects a wider trend across Africa, where governments and private investors are increasingly turning to vehicle assembly as a pathway to industrialisation and economic resilience..
