Morocco Vies with Spain for Stellantis Electric Vehicle Plant Investment

Stellantis wants to build these plants to produce its STLA electric cars from 2025, company sources told Cinco Dias. Currently, the automaker is already assembling electric cars in its three Spanish plants (the Corsa in Zaragoza, the Peugeot 2008 and other utility vehicles in Vigo, and the C4 in Madrid). But none of these models are manufactured on STLA platforms. Morocco, France and the United Kingdom are ready to host these plants.

Spanish Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto, as well as the authorities of the autonomous communities where Stellantis has its plants, met with the company’s executives a month ago to discuss potential aid. "Without aid, it will be very difficult to settle in Spain, because other countries like the UK or Morocco are already giving us some. And without STLA, there will be no electric cars and therefore no factories," the same sources added.

This competition with other countries comes in a context of weak sales in Europe which, according to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, is the consequence of the proliferation of automotive plants on the continent. The Spanish company also plans to install a battery factory in Spain. "In 2035, all cars in Europe will have to be electric, because that’s what the European Union has decided [...]. So of course, we will have to manufacture batteries," said Stellantis’ Director of Operations for Europe, Uwe Hochgeschurtz, at the Paris Motor Show this week.