Morocco gears up for the EV revolution amid potential headwinds

Morocco is Africa’s largest automotive hub. The industry accounts for 22% of the country’s GDP and $14 billion in exports. With an annual capacity of 700,000 vehicles, it currently exports more cars to Europe than China, India or Japan. 

“We didn’t export one car 15 years ago. Now it’s the first exporting sector in the country,” Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour said in an interview with The Associated Press. 

This feat has been accomplished by a combination of business incentives and infrastructure investments.

As demand for electric vehicles grows, Morocco hopes to transition into a major supplier of affordable EVs. The North African kingdom has invested in public-private partnerships to develop training academies for technicians.  It is also courting investments from China, Europe and the United States.

Morocco is well-positioned to be a supplier of EVs. Its proximity to Europe facilitates exports and its free trade agreements with western nations give it an edge over cars produced in China. 

But when it comes to EV’s the era of free trade may be ending. Countries like the United States and France recently enacted policies that incentivize consumers to purchase EVs manufactured within their own borders. How this might impact Morocco’s push into the EV market is an open question.