Faced with the relocation of their production to Morocco , the 131 employees of the French Lisi automotive plant are on strike. As the final closure approaches, these workers denounce the dismissal compensation deemed derisory.
In its race for critical minerals, China has invested more than $120 billion abroad since 2023. This massive offensive extends to Morocco, where a mega-project for a battery factory consolidates Beijing’s dominance.
Faced with the stagnation of the South African model, the German manufacturer Volkswagen is studying a reorientation of its industrial capacities towards Africa. Morocco is now emerging as the most credible alternative to support the group’s export ambitions and electric transition.
Morocco is emerging as China’s preferred industrial platform to circumvent Western trade barriers. According to BMI-Fitch Solutions, the Kingdom has attracted nearly 50% of Chinese automotive investments recorded in the MENA region between 2023 and 2025.
While Nissan has just packed up and left South Africa, Volkswagen is warning Pretoria: Improving local infrastructure is no longer enough. To secure investments for the next decade, South Africa is no longer competing against itself, but against ultra-competitive hubs like Morocco .
Shanghai Ingin Auto Technology will establish a production unit for smart closure systems at Tanger Tech. An investment of more than 200 million dirhams confirming Morocco’s attractiveness for the electric vehicle value chain.
The Spanish group Airtificial is strengthening its foothold in Morocco by developing high-performance power steering systems. The Kingdom is now positioning itself as a key supplier for Euro-American and Asian automakers.
It is a shock for the 135 employees of Puiseux-Pontoise. After more than sixty years of activity, the Lisi Automotive plant will permanently close its doors next June. Considered "no longer competitive enough" by management, this historic fastener site will not survive the group’s reorganization. The latter has chosen to sacrifice its Ile-de-France establishment to refocus its activities abroad, particularly in Morocco.
Faced with recruitment difficulties in northern France, the car manufacturer Renault is calling on the expertise of its Moroccan employees to support the teams at the production sites.
Morocco finds itself at the heart of an industrial offensive led by the main French automotive equipment manufacturers with the European Commission. Valeo, Forvia and OPmobility are demanding the imposition of a 75% local content threshold for electric vehicles assembled in Europe, while also requesting the exclusion of trade partners such as Morocco from this protective mechanism.
The Moroccan automotive market recorded a historic record in 2025 with 235,372 sales, an increase of 33.43%. This exceptional dynamism is based on a recovery in demand and an unprecedented expansion of the offer. This annual performance, driven by the private and utility segments, confirms the renewed vitality of the sector.
The Moroccan automotive industry is starting the year 2026 on a high note. The Chinese group Jiangsu Yunyi Electric has just announced its establishment in the Kingdom with an envelope of more than 600 million dirhams. The objective: to make Morocco its new rear base to conquer international markets.