Japan’s JTEKT Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for First Power Steering Plant in Morocco

Japanese automotive supplier JTEKT has launched the construction works of a plant to produce electric power steering systems.

The plant, the Japanese group’s first in the MENA region, is located in Tangier.

With an initial investment of $22 million, the factory aims to reach an initial production capacity of 300,000 units a year when it starts production in 2020.

It will provide a direct supply for the growing automobile in-dustry in Morocco as well as export to other markets.

JTEKT’s president, Tetsuo Agata, who co-chaired the groundbreaking ceremony Monday with Morocco’s Minister of Industry Moulay Hafid Elalamy, said the company’s new plant will allow the group to support the accelerated developments in the automotive sector over the next 15 years. He noted that the automotive industry is moving towards the construction of electric cars and autonomous vehicles.

Moulay Hafid Elalamy on his part said the Japanese company invested around €20 million for the construction of its new plant and will employ 100 people in the advanced technology sector. The number will rise up to 200 people in the long term.

The plant of 11,300 square meters is located over an area of 6.5 hectares in the Tangier Automotive City free zone. It will supply Morocco-based automotive manufacturers, such as PSA and Renault.