The automotive sector in Morocco has experienced significant growth in recent years. The country has implemented an ambitious industrial policy aimed at developing the automotive sector and making it one of the main drivers of its economy.
On this point Ryad Mezzour, during the delicate session of oral questions in Parliament on Monday, indicated that the automotive sector in Morocco is experiencing dynamic growth thanks to foreign investment, government incentives and local integration. The country continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for the automotive industry and is committed to the transition to greener vehicles.
” The sector employs 230,000 people and its exports totaled 111 billion dirhams last year and should reach 138 billion during the current year, an increase of 20%. “The sector ofautomobile industry will soon be enriched with new factories. About 60 units, at different stages of their construction, will soon be in operation and will be added to the 260 factories already operational, he said in response to PI MP Mohamed El Hafed of the Istiqlalian Group of the unity and egalitarianism”.
The latter, an elected official from Sidi Kacem, while congratulating the policy adopted, asked the minister to develop this sector in cities and regions and in a small burst of humor had this expression ” a factory in Sidi Kacem would be welcome, if only for the production of calendars would do a lot of good for the city “.
What the Minister of Industry and Trade replied that there was nothing to worry about, the automotive sector is spreading to other areas of the Kingdom than those known. It’s growing in cities like Oujda, Tiflet, Agadir…, and it approaches Sidi Kacem in its second phase. That said, Ryad Mezzour indicated that Local integration is on the right track, in the automotive sector which is undoubtedly the most promising area in terms of job creation.
In response to a question from an RNist deputy concerning “the situation of the textile industry”, the minister affirmed that there were more than 1,600 companies operating in the sector, generating a total turnover of 60 billion DH. According to the minister, the textile sector recorded 44 billion dirhams of exports in 2022 against 36 billion dirhams in 2018, which is a record in this area, an increase of 8 billion despite the impacts of “Dame Covid”. Ryad Mezzour further indicated that 173 investment projects are currently under consideration to upgrade to the international market.
These prospects, whether for one or the other, respond to the dynamic desired by the supervision for these sectors of industry and particularly that of the automobile. This is illustrated by the car assembly plants that Morocco is home to and owned by major international brands. Manufacturers such as Renault, PSA (Peugeot-Citroën), Ford and Volkswagen have established partnerships with Moroccan companies to produce vehicles in the Kingdom.
The Automobile Free Zone is not to be outdone, it also stimulates foreign investment, Morocco having created automobile free zones, in particular the “Tangier Automotive City” and the “Atlantic Free Zone”. These zones grant attractive tax and logistics incentives to companies in the automotive sector.
It will hardly be overlooked that the Kingdom has become a regional hub for automotive subcontracting. Many international companies have established partnerships with Moroccan suppliers for the production of automotive parts and components. In addition, Morocco exports a large part of the vehicle products on its territory to Europe, especially France and Spain.
Exports of Moroccan cars have experienced significant growth in recent years, moreover Ryad Mezzour did not fail to proudly remind the House of Representatives on Monday. We will conclude with green energy, the Kingdom is also committed to the transition to more environmentally friendly vehicles. Morocco is ahead of competitors in this area, encouraging the adoption of electric cars and setting up charging infrastructure to support this transition.