Morocco now worries Italy’s automotive industry

The warning was issued this Wednesday, September 9, by Roberto Vavassori, president of the Italian Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA), interviewed by Reuters. He criticizes the current version of the Industrial Accelerator Act prepared by Brussels.

According to him, the measure could favor components and vehicles produced in Morocco or Turkey rather than genuinely strengthening production within the European Union. This is a particularly sensitive issue as Morocco has become a major industrial base for several European automotive groups.

On Bladi.net : article 122239

This concern comes as European manufacturers themselves had asked for their factories located in Morocco to be taken into account in future “Made in Europe” rules. The issue puts Brussels before a delicate choice between protecting European industry and maintaining the production chains developed over several years in Morocco.

Italy also calls for massive tariffs against China

ANFIA is even more offensive toward China. Roberto Vavassori is calling on the European Union to impose 80% tariffs on Chinese vehicles and components beyond a certain level of penetration of the European market. Chinese brands had already exceeded 9% of the Union’s market at the beginning of 2026.

The Italian official believes that European equipment manufacturers are particularly exposed, with components accounting for around 80% of a car’s value. Without additional protective measures, he fears a 40% to 50% drop in Italian exports of automotive parts by 2028.

On Bladi.net : Stellantis Shifts Production: Italian Jobs at Risk as Morocco Plant Expands

Morocco thus finds itself in a unique position: an industrial partner of major European manufacturers, it is simultaneously becoming a competitor for certain factories and equipment manufacturers established in the Union. This development is already visible in Italy, where the expansion of Stellantis’ capacities in Morocco had raised concerns in recent years.