Morocco’s Automotive Boom Challenges Spain’s Industry Dominance

Spain sees Morocco as a threat in the automotive industry sector. In 2024, the kingdom produced some 700,000 vehicles and should reach 2 million units by 2030. An objective it could achieve thanks to the three factories of European automotive giants installed on its territory.

The first is Renault’s in Casablanca. The French manufacturer bought the SOMACA plant in 2003, which has a production capacity of 100,000 vehicles. In 2012, it set up a second plant in Tanger. At a cost of 1 billion euros, this unit produces 400,000 vehicles per year, mainly the Dacia Jogger.

In 2019, Stellantis (formerly PSA) settled in the city of Kenitra. This factory with a capacity of 400,000 vehicles produces models such as the Peugeot 208, the Citroën AMI and the Opel Rocks-e. The manufacturer plans to transfer the production of the Citroën C4 and C4 X, until now carried out by the Stellantis plant in Spain, to this factory by 2027.

Morocco has a vehicle parking space for export, with a capacity of 500,000 cars, in the port area. Work is underway to double the capacity of this site. With these major investments, Morocco is one of the largest exporters of cars to Europe, ahead of Japan.