Carbin Africa to drive TIM Motors’ new & used vehicle rollout in Nigeria

Carbin Africa, a Nigerian B2B automotive startup, has partnered with Chinese automaker TIM Motors to distribute its new line of passenger vehicles across Nigeria, marking TIM’s official pivot from commercial trucks into the consumer car space.

TIM Motors, known for selling brands such as FAW, Sinotruk, and Shacman, has been operating in Nigeria for over six years, serving industrial clients with trucks, equipment rentals, and after-sales services. The move into passenger cars aims to shake up a market where new car purchases remain a rarity—less than 5% of the population buy new cars annually. New cars represent around 15,000 of the market, Fawaz Abdul, co-founder of Carbin Africa, told Condia.

Carbin Africa, which powers digital inventory and sales for over 1,000 dealers, will support the rollout while maintaining its focus on foreign-used vehicles. “We are focusing on the foreign-used component since that is our forte,” said Femi Oriowo, Carbin’s CEO and co-founder. “We will also assist with the distribution of brand-new cars, but the foreign-used ones are our major focus.”

TIM CEO Leon Zhan plans to undercut premium brands like Toyota and BMW, offering financing options to make new cars more accessible. As used car prices surge—making models like the 2008 Camry cost upwards of ₦7 million—the company is betting buyer sentiment will shift toward new offerings within five years.

Carbin, which also supports Carloha Nigeria (Chevrolet’s exclusive distributor), sees the partnership as a boost to its portfolio and revenue. Its product suite—including Dealer Mart, Car Flex, and Carbin Lease—positions it to monetise all corners of the car market: Nigerian used, Tokunbo, and now, brand new.

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