Morocco Aims to Double Electric Car Production, Targeting European Market by 2035

The automotive industry is the second most important sector in Morocco, with a turnover of around $5.6 billion recorded at the end of July. Morocco also has the advantage of hosting Renault and Stellantis factories with a production capacity of 700,000 cars per year, including 50,000 electric cars. Another factor that argues in favor of increasing the production of electric cars is the fact that the sales market exists and remains Europe. Especially since from 2035, only electric cars will be allowed, reports Altayar.

To maintain its position in the European market, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced last July that it was negotiating with battery manufacturers to build a factory before the end of 2022, in order to avoid a shortage of this essential element in the manufacture of electric cars. The establishment of this factory will allow Morocco to derive the most benefits from it. Morocco has one of the largest cobalt reserves and is ranked in the Top 5 of the world’s largest producers, according to data from the company Managem collected by Asharq Business.

Morocco can also count on STMicroelectronics, a Franco-Italian company specializing in the manufacture of electronic products and semiconductors. It recently inaugurated a new production line dedicated to the elements used in electric cars, particularly the new generation of chips, in its factory located in Bouskoura.

However, Morocco will have to make tremendous efforts if it wants to increase its production capacity of electric cars and stimulate their use within the population, because for the moment, they only represent 4% of total car sales in Morocco. According to Mezzour, this is due to the weakness of the charging infrastructure. Adel Bennani, director of the Moroccan Association of Car Importers, adds that in addition to strengthening the charging points in order to stimulate the demand for electric vehicles, the government must multiply awareness-raising sessions.