Angola’s Opaia Group has officially launched the country’s only operational vehicle assembly plant, marking a milestone in efforts to reduce import dependence and develop a local automotive industry.
The Luanda-based facility, operated by subsidiary Opaia Motors, has the capacity to assemble up to 22,000 light vehicles and 1,000 buses annually. The plant uses a white-label assembly model, importing vehicle kits from international partners, including China’s Chery and Dongfeng Motor, as well as Volvo buses from Sweden, before assembling and selling them under the Opaia brand.
The launch revives a sector that had been dormant since a previous China-funded assembly plant ceased operations years ago.
Beyond boosting local manufacturing, Opaia Group has revealed plans to expand into electric vehicle production, signaling a long-term commitment to modernizing Angola’s industrial and automotive landscape.
Officials say the initiative will create jobs, strengthen domestic production capacity, and position Angola as a growing player in the African automotive sector.
