Renault to start making electric vehicles in Morocco plant in 2023

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the launch of its Tangier factory, Renault said it will start making super-mini electric vehicles there by 2023.

The two-seat small urban car will be produced by Renault’s affiliate Mobilize in a bid to tap into a growing market of electric vehicles.

The new car will be made in Tangier given the competitiveness and the investment that Renault has made to reduce production costs, Mobilize director general said.

The company did not specify which parts will be made in Morocco, where Citroen and Opel rivals are already producing similar cars.

In a bid to enhance its attractiveness to electric car makers, Moroccan industry minister said the country is in talks with investors for the setting up of a factory to produce up to 300,000 batteries annually, local media reported in July.

Last year, Morocco exported some 700,000 vehicles, while the production capacity of EV cars stood at 50,000, a figure that is set to double in the next two years, the minister said.

In a push to achieve zero emission quest by 2050, the EU imposed a ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2035. This means car makers have to adapt to EV or leave the EU market.

In March, Morocco’s industry ministry signed deals with five wire harness suppliers to set up plants in Morocco for investments worth 180 million dollars as demand grows from EV manufacturers at home and abroad.

Morocco is also trying to foster its position in the global semiconductor supply chains. The country is already home to suppliers such as ST Microelectronics which expanded its solar-powered Casablanca plant.