Renault Revives Classic Models at Moroccan Plants to Boost Global Sales

Renault has assigned its Tangier plant the production of these two historical models of the group, redesigned by the brand’s designers. The Express Van will be marketed in Europe, the main export market for the Moroccan automotive industry, and the Express will be marketed in the other markets of the manufacturer. In addition, the Tangier plant will also continue to produce the Dacia Dokker and the Dacia Lodgy, while the "Sandero", "Sandero Stepway" and Logan models will be produced from the Somaca industrial site in Casablanca, reports Jeune Afrique.

The manufacturer’s objective is to be able to produce 440,000 vehicles from its lines in 2021, 340,000 in Tangier and 100,000 in Casablanca. A level planned for 2020, but which could not be reached. However, "the trend in July and August showed an improvement in indicators in our international markets and exports have resumed almost at the same level as in July and August 2019," said the management of Renault Morocco.

According to the statistics of the Office des Changes, between January and October 2020, automotive exports reached 66.8 billion dirhams, a decline of 13.5% and a drop of 9 billion dirhams year-on-year. Renault, which exports from Morocco to 74 destinations, recorded a decline in sales, especially in Europe with -25.3%. And yet, it maintains its leading position.

To recall, between 1985 and 2000, the first Renault Express had been sold in over 1.7 million units. Thus, the renovation of these products will allow Renault to increase its purchases from its suppliers established in Morocco, which are currently around 76 compared to 26 in 2016. They should reach more than 225 by 2023, according to Marc Nassif and his teams, who plan to solve through this improvement the supply difficulties that affected Renault’s production in Morocco in 2020.