President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has finalized a major automotive partnership with BAIC FOTON, placing an order for more than 1,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to boost operations across Nigeria.
The fleet acquisition, facilitated by Kewalram Autos, is expected to significantly enhance the logistics and distribution capacity of Dangote Cement, while also supporting the Group’s broader industrial activities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement followed a high-level meeting in Beijing between a Dangote Group delegation led by Dangote and senior executives of BAIC FOTON. The meeting was organised by the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Kewalram Mobility, Anil Sahgal.
At the meeting, General Manager of BAIC Group and Chairman of BAIC FOTON, Chang Rui, commended the Dangote Group for its role in advancing industrialisation across Africa and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding its footprint on the continent. Other executives present included Executive Vice President Lu Zhenghua and Vice President and President of BAIC FOTON International, Fu Jun.
Fu Jun highlighted BAIC FOTON’s global expansion strategy and its advancements in new-energy commercial vehicle technology, stressing the company’s focus on delivering efficient and customer-oriented transport solutions worldwide.
In his remarks, Dangote praised BAIC FOTON’s technological capabilities, particularly in the development of CNG-powered trucks, describing the partnership as aligned with Africa’s sustainability goals and ongoing energy transition efforts.
Under the agreement, the Dangote Group will take delivery of a range of CNG-powered tractors and semi-trailers aimed at improving the efficiency and scale of its cement haulage operations. The deployment of the trucks is expected to cut fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions, further reinforcing the Group’s commitment to cleaner energy solutions.
Sahgal assured that Kewalram Autos would provide comprehensive lifecycle support, including after-sales services and the development of local assembly infrastructure, to guarantee optimal fleet performance.
Industry analysts say the transaction reflects rising confidence in alternative-fuel technology within Nigeria’s heavy-duty transport sector and underscores the Dangote Group’s continued investment in logistics to support its expanding industrial footprint.
