RABAT (Reuters) -Carmaker Stellantis plans to more than double production capacity at its plant in Kenitra, Morocco, in the coming months to 535,000 vehicles annually, its chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa said on Wednesday. The plant aims to step up production of supermini electric cars – including the Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino – to 70,000 from 20,000, Samir Cherfan said at the inauguration of the plant’s expansion.
The 1.2 billion euro ($1.4 billion) expansion is expected to raise the local sourcing rate to 75% by 2030, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said at the event. That compares with a rate of around 69% currently. Stellantis also plans to produce hybrid engines and three-wheeled vehicles at the plant. The Kenitra facility, which opened in 2019, reached a production capacity of 200,000 vehicles in 2020.
In addition to Stellantis, Morocco is home to French carmaker Renault and parts suppliers.
Stellantis’s expansion will help Morocco exceed 1 million vehicles in production capacity, industry minister Ryad Mezzour said at the inauguration. The country’s automotive industry exports rose 6.3% to a record 157 billion dirhams ($17 billion) in 2024, according to official figures. Morocco has been preparing its automotive sector for the electric mobility transition, attracting investments in recent years from Chinese EV battery makers.
($1 = 0.8621 euros)
(Reporting by Tala Ramadan and Ahmed El Jechtimi. Editing by Mark Potter)
