Passion Drives PH Automotive Pioneer Francisco Motors to Export to Nigeria

Last Updated on: 22nd July 2025, 10:42 am

As Philippine automotive pioneer Francisco Motors Corp. (FMC) readies to export its Pinoy Transporter to Nigeria, Chairman Elmer Francisco expressed to CleanTechnica his frustration over the slow processing and seeming lack of support from Philippine businesses and government agencies in developing the potent e-vehicle market in the country.

He, however, also highlighted his passion for the project to “bring Philippine technology outside of our boundaries.”

Earlier this June, FMC inked a strategic partnership with Nigerian entrepreneur Emmanuel Akpakwu, who owns Space AI Nigeria Ltd. Akpakwu also serves as the Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Lagos.

An engineering sample of the FMC Pinoy Transporter will be headed to Nigeria to undergo real-world testing. Importation of completely built-up units (CBU) made in the Philippines is FMC’s short-term goal. The long-term plan is to set up an all-new plant for full-scale production and distribution to all major cities in Africa.

“The first few batches will be Completely Built Units (CBU) as we slowly transition to CKD for local assembly in Nigeria, as it will drastically lower our costs. Most of the parts and components will come from Camarines Norte and some from Thailand, Germany, Australia, and China,” Francisco told CleanTechnica in an email.

“Distribution will extend to all West African countries,” he added.

Passion & Frustration

Francisco is a physicist, and an impatient one at that.

“As previously disclosed, Francisco Motors established a factory in China for our global market while waiting for the very slow process of the Philippine government, so that we could start the localization process at our 30-hectare integrated manufacturing facility at our Special Economic Zone in Camarines Norte,” Francisco told CleanTechnica.

To rush his projects, and move FMC forward, he has cooperated with energy and fuel technologists from various countries to go beyond the lithium battery as an energy source.

In a recent social media post, he talks about significant developments in green hydrogen production through his partnership with NetZero Global. This tie-up aims to first facilitate the extraction and storage of green hydrogen. Second, it will promote the conversion and manufacture of hydrogen-powered engines, according to Francisco. The concept is to use hydrogen to power Francisco’s ambitions of repurposing old jeepneys to meet the standards of the PUVMP (Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program).

“We announced this collaboration in March last year. There are too many entities that move slowly. Our aim to decarbonize the Philippines’ transport system and establish a hydrogen economy involves a potential US$5 billion mobilization for infrastructure development,” Francisco told CleanTechnica.

Currently, eFrancisco Motors, a spinoff of FMC, is working with Australian, British, Chinese, German, and Thai technology partners. These companies, like the UK-based HDX, the world’s first hydrogen exchange company, help develop processes that encourage hydrogen production and use. Australian NextGen NRG is developing the eFrancisco hydrogen fuel cell systems.

We asked Elmer, “Why not allow foreign partners to control the sustainable transportation ecosystem under FMC, rather than just partner with them, especially since some companies have, in the past, shown interest in taking part in FMC’s electrification operations?” This was his passionate reply:

“Francisco Motors will never agree to let foreigners dictate what they want in terms of modernizing our own public transportation. I will never agree to become a puppet of any foreign entity. I did not agree with the Japanese, I did not agree with the Germans, I did not agree with the Indians, I did not agree with the Israelis, I did not agree with the Chinese, and I will not agree with the Koreans. Only we Filipinos can dictate our own future.”

Why Nigeria?

Francisco inked a deal in the form of a Commercial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), supplementing an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between his company and Space AI Nigeria Ltd. This was witnessed by Mersole Mellejor, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria.

Francisco told CleanTechnica that “Nigeria’s public transportation system is underdeveloped. Most Africans do not own cars. They rely on inconsistent, informal, and sometimes dangerous modes of public transport. Nigeria and many African states are progressing quickly, and its population growing. They need to keep up with public services too, especially transportation. Transportation as well as infrastructure needs to keep up with this growth. This is why Nigeria sought the assistance of our country’s major transport vehicle, the jeepney.”

Francisco further clarified that to operate efficiently, the e-jeepneys will adopt the Philippine “boundary-hulog” system, which is effectively a rent-to-own or installment-based acquisition scheme, allowing drivers to own the vehicle as it is being operated. Part of the “boundary,” or earnings, goes toward payment for the vehicle.

To help execute this plan, an agreement with FutureView Financial Services Ltd, headed by GCEO Elizabeth Ebi from Nigeria, has also been signed. This tripartite agreement will help build and organize the implementation roadmap and ensure the successful deployment of the vehicles. Transportation service operations will start in Benue State, Nigeria. Space AI Nigeria Ltd will lead the establishment of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, the setting up of digital fare systems, systematic parts and servicing for the vehicles, and eventually local assembly training, laying the groundwork for community empowerment and MSME participation.

Also present at the signing event were Bureau of Investments (BOI) Usec. Perry Rodolfo, PhilExport President & CEO Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Nina Mangio, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Nigeria will be ground zero for the project, which we will branch out to 12 neighboring countries, all under the jurisdiction of Amb. Mellejor,” Francisco shared. He added that “the first few batches will be assembled at the FMC plant in Camarines Norte, South of Luzon. We will slowly transition to local manufacturing in Nigeria. These are intended for all West African countries, as it will drastically lower our costs. The first delivery will be 100 units, and this will scale to about 2,000 in Lagos alone. We will then scale up from there.”