Johannesburg – Angola’s Opaia Group has launched a major step in the country’s industrial diversification drive with the inauguration of Opaia Motors, marking the resumption of vehicle assembly after more than a decade. The project, which coincides with Angola’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations, is seen as a milestone in the nation’s economic transformation.
Founded in 2002 by Agostinho Kapaia, the Luanda-based Opaia Group has grown into one of Angola’s most diversified conglomerates, with operations spanning construction, solar energy, water systems, agriculture, hospitality, technology and financial services. With offices in Lisbon, São Paulo, Guangzhou and Miami, the group has positioned itself as a global investor while remaining deeply rooted in Angola’s industrial and social development.
AfricaHeadline Reports Team
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The group’s automotive ambitions follow a series of high-profile investments. In November 2024, Opaia broke ground on a bus assembly plant in the Barra do Dande Free Trade Zone (Bengo), in partnership with Volvo, with an annual capacity of around 1,000 buses and the potential to generate 2,500 jobs.
Earlier the same year, Opaia subsidiary Amufert signed a landmark $1.4 billion agreement with the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) to finance a fertiliser plant in Soyo, one of the largest industrial investments currently underway in Angola.
The launch of Opaia Motors builds on the group’s acquisition of the former CIF car assembly plant in the Luanda–Bengo Special Economic Zone. The facility, covering more than 360,000 square metres, is being transformed into a modern automotive hub.
With an initial investment of $150 million, the factory aims to assemble 25,000 vehicles per year, with the capacity expected to double within five years. The project is also set to create 1,500 direct jobs and thousands more across the automotive supply chain.
The initiative strengthens Angola’s ambitions to reduce its reliance on imports while positioning itself as a regional exporter. With its geographic location, access to deepwater ports and the Lobito Corridor rail link, Angola is aiming to become a competitive base for Southern African vehicle distribution.
Beyond the automotive industry, Opaia’s portfolio reflects a wider commitment to sustainable growth. Initiatives in solar power, water supply, construction and ICT highlight the group’s focus on diversification, job creation and technological innovation.
For Angola, the inauguration of Opaia Motors represents more than a factory opening, it signals a new phase of industrial self-reliance and economic diversification. By combining vehicle assembly, bus production and fertiliser manufacturing, the Opaia Group is positioning itself as a central player in reshaping the country’s industrial future.
