Morocco’s automotive industry continued to strengthen its position as the country’s leading export sector in the first seven months of 2026, with automotive exports reaching MAD 107.14 billion, up 14.9% compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the latest figures from Morocco’s Exchange Office.
The performance confirms the continued expansion of an automotive ecosystem that has increasingly moved beyond vehicle assembly toward higher local integration, components manufacturing and electric-mobility supply chains.
According to the Exchange Office, the increase was driven primarily by the sector’s main activities. Vehicle construction exports rose 19.9% to MAD 42.48 billion, while wiring exports increased 13.8% to MAD 40.62 billion. Exports of automotive exterior components recorded the strongest growth, rising 47.9% to MAD 3.42 billion.
The automotive sector had already posted particularly strong growth during the first half of the year, when exports reached MAD 93.66 billion, representing a 17.4% year-on-year increase.
The latest figures also come as Morocco continues to attract major international investments aimed at expanding production capacity and increasing the share of locally manufactured components.
Stellantis expands Kénitra production
One of the most significant developments has been the expansion of Stellantis’ Kénitra industrial complex, following an investment programme worth around €1.2 billion.
The project is designed to raise the plant’s vehicle production capacity to 400,000 vehicles annually, while total capacity, including micromobility, is expected to reach 535,000 vehicles per year. The facility is also expected to produce 350,000 engines annually.
The Moroccan government said the expansion should create more than 3,000 additional jobs, while purchases from suppliers established in Morocco are expected to exceed €6 billion annually by 2030, alongside a target of 75% local integration.
The expansion is already translating into new production activity, with Stellantis moving forward with vehicles based on its Smart Car platform at Kénitra.
Renault strengthens Morocco’s role in its global production network
Renault is similarly deepening its industrial footprint in Morocco.
According to the French group, its Moroccan operations produced 394,000 vehicles in 2025, making Morocco its second-largest production platform worldwide by volume. Around 82% of production from its Tangier and Casablanca plants is exported to 63 international destinations.
The Renault ecosystem now includes a network of 87 Tier-1 suppliers, reinforcing the integration between vehicle manufacturing, component production and logistics around Tangier Med.
The figures illustrate how Morocco has become increasingly integrated into European automotive supply chains, with its geographical position, port infrastructure and trade agreements helping manufacturers serve European markets from North Africa.
Chinese investment moves into batteries and electric mobility
The next phase of Morocco’s automotive development is increasingly linked to electric vehicles and battery manufacturing, with Chinese companies playing a growing role.
The most prominent project is the planned gigafactory of Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-Tech. The project involves an initial investment of approximately $1.3 billion and is expected to have an initial production capacity of 20 GWh, with plans allowing it to eventually reach 100 GWh. The African Development Bank approved a €100 million loan in July 2026 to support the project, which is expected to produce lithium-iron-phosphate batteries and components primarily for export to Europe.
Other Chinese companies have also been building positions in Morocco’s emerging EV supply chain. Hailiang and Shinzoom have announced investments of around $450 million and $460 million, respectively, in copper and anode production, while BTR New Material Group and CNGR Advanced Materials have been developing projects related to battery cathode materials.
More recently, Chinese automotive supplier Ningbo Gaofa Automotive Control System announced plans for its first production facility outside Asia in Morocco, further illustrating the growing interest of Chinese component manufacturers in locating close to Renault and Stellantis’ production bases and European markets.
French newspaper Le Monde reported in March 2026 that Morocco had attracted nearly half of Chinese investments in automotive production in the region over the previous two years, highlighting the country's growing importance as a bridge between Chinese industrial capabilities and European automotive markets.
Automotive industry increasingly central to investment strategy
The sector’s importance is also reflected in Morocco’s broader investment pipeline.
In April 2026, Morocco’s National Investment Commission approved 44 investment projects and amendments worth MAD 86.36 billion, expected to create nearly 20,500 jobs. The automotive industry was the largest contributor to employment among the approved projects, accounting for 38% of the total expected jobs. Two additional strategic projects worth MAD 12 billion also included automotive industry investments.
At the component level, international suppliers continue to expand their Moroccan operations. German automotive supplier BENTELER, for example, inaugurated a new plant in Kénitra in 2026, with production of components such as bumpers, axles and suspension parts and more than 300 jobs created.
The trend is significant because it points to a gradual transformation of Morocco’s automotive model: from a platform primarily focused on assembly and wiring toward a more diversified industrial base encompassing engines, components, electronics, batteries and electric vehicles.
Exports continue to outperform several other sectors
The automotive expansion comes against a broader increase in Moroccan exports. Total goods exports reached MAD 299.34 billion by the end of July 2026, up 8.4% year-on-year.
The aerospace sector also maintained strong momentum, with exports rising 19.7% to MAD 20.56 billion, while agriculture and agri-food exports increased 7%.
By contrast, exports of phosphates and derivatives fell 7.8%, textiles and leather declined 5.5%, and electronics and electrical products decreased 2.9%.
The latest automotive figures therefore reinforce the sector’s position as a central pillar of Morocco’s export-oriented industrial strategy, while the succession of investments by European, American, Japanese and increasingly Chinese companies suggests that the Kingdom is seeking to consolidate its role as a competitive manufacturing and export hub between Europe, Africa and global automotive supply chains.
