Angola has restarted vehicle production after Opaia Group opened a new car assembly plant in Luanda on Tuesday, officials said.
The launch marks a symbolic return of industrial ambition, as the country seeks to reduce costly imports and nurture local manufacturing.
Opaia, a privately owned and diversified company based in Luanda, has previously focused on major national infrastructure projects.
Its new subsidiary, Opaia Motors, will operate the facility, which can assemble 22,000 light vehicles and 1,000 buses annually.
The company said the plant is currently Angola’s only operational vehicle assembly site, signalling the birth of a domestic automotive industry.
The facility occupies assets from a China-funded factory launched over a decade ago, which later halted production amid shifting economic conditions.
Opaia plans to import unbranded vehicles for local assembly, selling them under the Opaia Motors name, the company told Reuters.
Buses will come from Volvo in Sweden, while passenger vehicles will be sourced from China through partnerships with Chery and Dongfeng.
Beyond cutting dependence on imports, Opaia said it hopes one day to export vehicles and introduce electric production lines.