U.S. PPG opens in Morocco its 1st African automotive sealants plant

American company PPG has opened lately in Tangier, northern Morocco, its first automotive sealants production facility in Africa. The new facility confirms Morocco’s attractiveness to foreign investors and global automotive players.

“This facility is an important step in providing local supply for automotive original equipment (OEM) vehicle manufacturers in Morocco,” said Roald Johannsen, PPG vice president, automotive coatings, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The North African Kingdom is “already one of the largest and fastest-growing vehicle producers in Africa. Vehicle output is projected to increase significantly, with two more production facilities expected to be added by 2030”, added Johannsen.

Morocco’s automotive output rose from 100,000 vehicles in 2000 to around 400,000 vehicles in 2019. The production is expected to increase to 700,000 vehicles by 2023.

PPG’s Tangier facility will produce sealants that allow more flexibility in vehicle design and manufacturing. The company is assessing the local production of additional adhesive, sealant and coatings technologies to supply vehicle manufacturers that are expanding production in Morocco.

Based in Pittsburgh, PPG operate in more than 75 countries and reported net sales of $13.8 billion in 2020.