Morocco to Open First Automotive Test Center, Boosting Auto Industry

The future automotive test center will be built in Oued Zem, in the province of Khouribga in central Morocco, 150 kilometers from Casablanca and 170 kilometers from Rabat, reports Econostrum . It will offer services divided into several activities. This center will recruit about a hundred employees within five years, who will benefit from a dedicated training program. "The construction of this new center is part of the group’s development and growth strategy, to meet the demands of its clients," said Laurent Benoit, president of UTAC CERAM, before justifying the choice made on Morocco.

"The choice of Morocco was obvious due to its many advantages and the dynamic policy pursued by the Kingdom to make its country a global automotive hub. First of all, favorable weather conditions that allow tests to be carried out optimally. Then, due to favorable local wage costs, UTAC CERAM will be able to benefit from better competitiveness on certain types of services and thus complement its offer," he explained.

In April 2014, Morocco had launched its Industrial Acceleration Plan (PAI), and is striving to promote investments in the automotive sector in particular. "The Moroccan state, supported by the manufacturers and equipment manufacturers present in the country, wanted to develop an automotive test center, this activity representing a major step in the construction of its automotive industry," says a joint statement from the two groups.

"The FEV group has been present in Morocco for a few years now and it seemed important to us to partner with a recognized player like UTAC CERAM to develop this new center. This country offers an interesting influence with Europe and Spain in particular, which allows us to achieve real synergies," said Nadim Andraos, President France, Spain and North Africa of the