Morocco confirms its attractiveness in the global automotive industry, particularly in the strategic sector of electric vehicles. In recent years, the Kingdom has managed to capture a significant share of Chinese investments destined for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly in the manufacturing of batteries and automotive components.
According to several sectoral analyses, almost half of the Chinese automobile projects announced in the region between 2023 and 2025 have chosen to set up in Morocco. This dynamic illustrates the rise of the country as an industrial platform focused on exports to Europe.
Among the most notable projects is that of the Chinese manufacturer Gotion High-Tech, which is developing a major battery factory for electric vehicles in Kenitra. The initial investment announced in 2024 reaches around 12.8 billion dirhams, with prospects of extension which could bring the project to several billion euros.
At the same time, the development of an industrial sector dedicated to battery materials is accelerating. In Jorf Lasfar, a partnership between the Al Mada holding company and the Chinese group CNGR Advanced Materials gave birth to the industrial entity Cobco, specialized in the production of chemical components intended for electric batteries, in particular active cathode materials.
The implementation of these projects can be explained by several structural advantages. The Kingdom benefits from an already well-established automotive ecosystem, efficient logistics infrastructure, particularly around the port of Tanger Med, as well as free trade agreements facilitating access to European and American markets.
The availability of large phosphate reserves also constitutes a strategic advantage. This resource is essential for the production of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, a technology increasingly used in electric vehicles due to its competitive cost and reliability.
In a context of trade tensions and an increase in customs duties targeting certain Chinese products, the establishment of factories in Morocco will also allow Asian manufacturers to secure their access to Western markets. This dynamic represents a major opportunity to strengthen the automotive industry and develop a new value chain around electric mobility, provided that high local content and real technology transfer are promoted.
