- The ban on internal combustion engines from 2035 has caused a shift to electric vehicles.
- The country would have to raise its electric vehicle production to 100,000 in two years.
Morocco’s automotive industry accounts for a yield of around $ 5.6 billion, making it the second-largest economic sector. The Renault and Stallantis factories produce about 700,000 vehicles. Most vehicles produced are exported to European countries. Following the ban on internal combustion engines from 2035 by the EU, there is now a shift to electric vehicles.
The Minister for trade and industry, Ryad Mezzour, announced that the country would have to raise its electric vehicle production to 100,000 every two years against its current 50,000 electric cars production. He added that the goal was to position the country for future foreign investment. The ministry has also negotiated to have battery manufacturers build factories in the country, adding that the country has one of the highest cobalt reserves. Cobalt is a crucial element in battery manufacturing.
As part of the progress to achieve its goal in the electric vehicle space in June, Renault signed an agreement to buy cobalt sulfate for battery production. Also, STMicroelectronics inaugurated a production line dedicated to next-generation chips and elements used in producing electric vehicles. Amidst the drive to increase electric vehicle production, the turnover has been as low as 4% in the country due to the poor state of charging stations. The minister has proposed to improve charging infrastructure to boost the demand and utilization of electric vehicles