By Ahmed Eljechtimi
RABAT (Reuters) -Gotion Power Morocco, a subsidiary of Sino-European electric vehicle battery maker Gotion High Tech, will begin building its gigafactory in the north African country “within days,” the company’s Morrocan head Khalid Qalam said on Wednesday.
Gotion High Tech signed an investment deal with the Moroccan government in June last year to set up the first gigafactory in Africa near Kenitra, northwestern Morocco, for a total investment $6.5 billion.
The company’s investment, spurred by government incentives, is in line with Morocco’s aim to expand and adapt its automotive sector.
Qalam told an industry conference in Rabat the groundwork for the factory had been completed and the first production was expected in the third quarter of 2026.
In a first phase, at a cost of $1.3 billion, the plant would have 20 gigawatt capacity, he said, adding the company had agreed with the Moroccan government to increase capacity to 40GW in a second phase. He did not give a timeline.
In addition to batteries, the plant will also produce cathodes and anodes, with a view to exporting the bulk to Europe, he said.
“We have already received orders from many European car manufacturers,” he said.
Morocco’s geographic location close to Europe and its existing automotive industry make it attractive to Chinese EV battery makers.
The country is is home to Stellantis and Renault vehicle production plants, and reported a 6.3% increase in automotive sector exports to a record 157 billion dirhams ($17 bln) in 2024, according to official figures.
(Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; editing by Barbara Lewis)
