Auto Supplier Marelli to Relocate GPS Production from Morocco to France

Marelli’s factory located in Tangier, where integrated GPS navigation multimedia systems (Aida R1 and Aida R2, for "Affective intelligent driving agent") are manufactured, will be relocated to the Châtellerault site. This is the announcement made by the prefect of the Vienne, Jean-Marie Girier, during his wishes to the economic world in Châtellerault, in January 2023. "A large group is announcing the relocation of Moroccan chains (200 employees) to Châtellerault..."

"This chain will be relocated to the Châtellerault site very soon, which will manufacture the same products," confirms Denis Chrétien of the CFDT to the newspaper La Nouvelle République. It will be integrated into the current Châtellerault plant. On the ground, the Châtellerault site is preparing to welcome the implementation of this new chain. The factory is "in the process of making room to be able to set up this new chain. [...] EOL (End of line or final line tests, in French) test machines are being installed," say Marelli Châtellerault workers.

The reasons behind this relocation? "Originally, this relocation is a customer decision. Initially, the contract had been signed with the PSA group. Then the Stellantis group was formed, which did not have the same strategy and preferred to have everything manufactured on the same site for cost reasons. Particularly transport costs. And the overall manufacturing quantities have decreased with a slightly more sluggish automotive market," explains the union representative Denis Chrétien.