Man working to create Nigeria’s first supercar

When you think of supercar powerhouses around the world, it’s fair to say Nigeria’s probably never crossed your mind.

Some say Italy produces the best supercars, while Germany has a proud motoring tradition and many active supercar manufacturers.

Japan has produced its fair share of high-performance cars, too, and even China is making progress in electric vehicles.

However, one man is looking to shift that dynamic and, with sheer grit and determination, anything is possible.

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A former automotive engineering student

The man we’re referring to is Jerry Mallo – a former automotive engineering student.

While it would’ve made complete sense for Mallo to have stayed in Europe following his studies in London, instead he decided to head back to his native Nigeria to pursue his dream.

There he has started knocking up supercar prototypes in a facility which isn’t nearly as nice as where he could have worked.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not happy with this alternative trajectory for his life.

Making something all of his own, instead of being a cog in a giant corporate machine, is presumably the driving force behind his decision.

What supercar is he developing?

The supercar Mallo is working on is called the Bennie Sternum.

Unusual name to say the least, but Mallo said the supercar’s name derives from the human sternum and stands for a commitment to safety.

The high-performance car’s being engineered to ensure the rough roads and other conditions found in Nigeria.

How so? Well, for starters it’s got air suspension with push-button controls, so the driver can go from little ground clearance to plenty, allowing the sleek supercar to traverse anywhere.

What’s more, it’s got some pretty impressive performance stats to boot, like a 4.2-liter engine with 340 horsepower.

That being said, it’s reported 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) of 6.2 seconds isn’t going to set any records, unlike like this custom-built racer that smashed the world record for acceleration.

What’s next for Mallo?

The supercar may look intriguing, but Mallo is struggling financially to get launched.

Since February 2024, he’s been working to secure funds to go to market with the Sternum, however, he’s not quite achieved that goal yet.

That hasn’t stopped him, though, and he seems happy and determined to continue with his plan to produce Nigeria’s first supercar.

While that sounds slightly strange, it’s worth remembering Afghanistan is making its very own high-performance car called the ENTOP ‘Mada 9’.

It’s be easy to dismiss the Bennie Group as a startup automaker, but it’s important to remember its humble beginnings aren’t too dissimilar to those of some automotive giants.

We’ve all got to start somewhere, right?