Stellantis to Produce Fiat Giga Panda, Panda Fastback at Morocco's Kenitra Plant
Automotive-focused news outlet Motori.it said that the company's strategy is clear, noting that the two models 'represent more than just a model.'
'Its official debut is expected in the coming months, with production set to begin in February 2026,' the report said, recalling Morocco's assets as a new industrial hub promising to 'reshape the game for the automotive group and, more broadly, the entire sector.'
Earlier this week, Moroccan officials and Stellantis celebrated the expansion of the Stellantis plant in Kenitra.
The €1.2 billion investment includes €702 million dedicated to developing local suppliers.
With the expansion, the company aims to double its production capacity, raising the local integration rate to 75% by 2030.
The expansion also aims to create 3,100 direct jobs, reinforcing Morocco's position as a key player in the automotive sector.
Morocco's automotive production stands at 700,000 vehicles, and by the end of the year, the North African country is expected to produce one million vehicles.
The approach also seeks to enhance electric vehicle production capacity by 53%.
Morocco's goal is to increase the production of electric vehicles to 107,000 electric vehicles by the end of this year.
The automotive sector is Morocco's first exporting industry, which created at least 116,000 jobs between 2014 and 2018.
Morocco is also the first automotive manufacturer in Africa. Tags: Automotive Sectorfiat modelsMoroccoStellantis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
2 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Morocco and Algeria rivalry expands into energy and trade spheres, says U.S. think tanks
The long-standing rivalry between Morocco and Algeria has moved beyond traditional political and military spheres, extending into tarde economic and diplomatic domains, according to a new analysis by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The two neighbors are increasingly using «trade and the energy sector to project power, forge new alliances, and engage in strong-arm tactics against European countries», explains Hamza Meddeb, a fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center. Strategic Statecraft Through Energy and Trade According to the U.S.-based think tank, Algeria has «reshaped its position in regional and international geopolitics by aligning its food imports and energy exports with its strategic interests». This shift became apparent in 2021 when Algeria halted gas exports to Spain via Morocco amid rising tensions over the Western Sahara. Algiers has also used trade policy as a diplomatic tool, most notably when it reduced wheat imports from France following Paris's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. Morocco, by contrast, has leaned into renewable energy as a cornerstone of its geopolitical strategy. «Rabat has capitalized on Europe's energy transition and shifting alliances to present itself as a stable partner, a renewable energy leader, and a potential transit hub for West African gas», the paper states. Central to this strategy is the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, which competes with «Algeria's Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, an agreement for whose launch was signed in 2002 and which was intended to carry gas from Nigeria to Europe via Algeria and Niger». Migration policy has also become a key pillar of Morocco's statecraft. Rabat has used migration control and infrastructure investments to gain diplomatic leverage. Spain backed Morocco's autonomy plan in 2022, followed by France in 2024, moves tied to Morocco's cooperation on border security and access to its growing markets. «The reason for this about-face was Madrid's desire to secure Rabat's cooperation in curbing the flow of irregular migrants to the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as the Canary Islands, in 2020 and 2021», the think tank notes. Escalating Rivalry in the Sahel As their rivalry spreads southward, both countries are seeking greater influence in the fragile Sahel region. Algeria, feeling increasingly isolated, has sought to establish a Maghreb bloc that excludes Morocco. In April 2024, it hosted a high-level summit in Tunis with Libya and Tunisia, framed as a response to regional instability but seen as an attempt to assert regional leadership and marginalize Rabat. Morocco, meanwhile, launched the Atlantic Initiative in 2023, aimed at providing landlocked Sahel countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso with direct access to Atlantic trade routes via Moroccan ports. However, the think tank cautions that «Morocco needs to show that its plan is not only economically feasible, but also has significant long-term political value, as opposed to being driven by its rivalry with Algeria». The report concludes that both Morocco and Algeria are «pursuing distinct, calculated strategies to position themselves as dominant powers». But in doing so, they risk exporting their rivalry to already volatile regions like the Sahel, escalating tensions and threatening broader regional stability.
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Justice Minister Ouahbi Proposes Judicial Document Delivery via Glovo
Marrakech – Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has proposed an unconventional solution to reduce crowding in Moroccan courts: using delivery platforms like Glovo to transport official judicial documents directly to citizens' homes. During an oral question session at the Chamber of Councilors on Tuesday, Ouahbi suggested that delivery services could bring court-issued documents such as criminal records, commercial registries, and nationality certificates straight to applicants' doorsteps. 'People will laugh at first, but they will end up benefiting from it,' Ouahbi stated confidently, acknowledging that even directors within his own ministry have mocked the idea. The minister, who is at the center of recent allegations of tax fraud following documents leaked by the Algerian hacker group Jabaroot, cited the overwhelming volume of document requests as justification for his proposal. 'Recently, we received more than 10,000 requests for criminal records in Casablanca alone,' he explained. Ouahbi drew inspiration from European models, particularly Portugal, where passports are delivered directly to citizens. He envisions motorcycle couriers ensuring secure distribution of documents to applicants' homes. Beyond administrative simplification, the minister sees this initiative as an employment opportunity for young people in urban logistics. 'This service, if well organized, could create numerous jobs while reducing queues in courts,' he said. While Ouahbi did not specify a timeline or concrete details for the project, he confirmed that partnering with a private company like Glovo remains a possibility, suggesting that discussions could be initiated soon. Glovo under fire This proposal comes amid ongoing issues surrounding Glovo in Morocco. On Monday, Glovo delivery workers protested in Casablanca against what they called a 'truncated' map of Morocco on the company's application that allegedly omitted the Sahara region. The protesters also expressed general dissatisfaction with their working conditions, including concerns about bearing all operational costs themselves while earning insufficient income. The demonstrations in Casablanca are part of several spontaneous gatherings that have occurred in different Moroccan cities since early July. Glovo Morocco responded the following day, explaining that the map issue was a 'technical anomaly' that occurred 'following a recent external update.' The company assured that the error had been addressed upon detection and that 'the map displays correctly on the application.' The company stated it operates 'across the entire national territory, from Tangier to Laayoune, with full respect for the Kingdom's territorial integrity.' Regarding the workers' concerns about lack of dialogue, Glovo Morocco contradicted this perception, stating it has 'always maintained an open dialogue policy with the courier community, provided it takes place in a respectful, constructive and transparent framework.' The company detailed that 'in recent weeks, exchange sessions were held with a hundred couriers in Casablanca in a constructive spirit.' During these meetings, Glovo claims to have 'presented and communicated concrete proposals aimed at improving the couriers' experience.' Founded in Barcelona in 2014, Glovo has rapidly expanded to become a major player in on-demand delivery. Now owned nearly 94% by German firm Delivery Hero, the company has established itself in several countries through massive fundraising, notably from Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund. Its economic model, based on the precarious status of delivery workers, faces mounting criticism. In June, European authorities fined Glovo €106 million for anti-competitive practices, including no-poaching agreements. Read also: Glovo Faces Antitrust Allegations in Morocco's Food Delivery Market Tags: Abdellatif Ouahbidelivery serviceGlovo in MoroccoMinister of Justice
Morocco World
4 hours ago
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches $5.6 Billion Wastewater Treatment Program
Rabat — Morocco's Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has announced a massive new national program worth MAD 56 billion ($5.6 billion) to accelerate wastewater treatment and liquid sanitation projects across the country. Speaking during an oral question session at the House of Councilors on Tuesday, Laftit outlined the ambitious 2025-2034 program that will tackle one of Morocco's most pressing environmental challenges. The minister indicated that the program includes 389 projects already underway or starting soon, plus 694 new projects focusing on sewage networks and treatment plants. The government is set to fast-track urban projects, completing them by 2029 instead of the original 2034 deadline, with the goal to free up resources to focus on rural areas afterward. 'We aim to connect 90% of urban areas and 80% of rural areas to liquid sanitation networks,' Laftit said. The program also has ambitious targets of reducing pollution by more than 80%. The North African country's strategy has already allocated over MAD 48 billion ($ 5.33 billion) for wastewater projects through the end of 2024, completing MAD 25 billion ($ 2.78 billion) worth of projects, while the remaining MAD 23 billion ($ 2.55 billion) is still in progress or starting. The state contributed more than MAD 17 billion ($ 1.89 billion) through the Liquid and Solid Sanitation Fund, with MAD 11 billion ($ 1.22 billion) already mobilized. The Interior Ministry added over MAD 3 billion ($ 333.58 million) through territorial communities' share of value-added tax. Laftit outlined that the program has already equipped 223 cities and urban centers out of 385 with sanitation networks and wastewater treatment plants. The already established facilities serve 21 million people, bringing Morocco to an 84% national connection rate. Meanwhile, work continues in 72 additional cities and centers, while the government has scheduled 90 new cities and centers for the 2025-2034 period. In rural areas, Morocco's ambitious program has equipped 43 rural centers with sewage networks and treatment plants, benefiting 105,000 people. Construction started in 170 centers serving 442,000 people, with plans to reach 1,207 rural centers by 2040. Morocco's water reuse has seen significant improvement, with 53 million cubic meters of treated wastewater in 2024, which was used to irrigate 30 golf courses and green spaces in 16 communities, in addition to supporting six industrial projects. New projects under construction will add 18 golf courses and serve 40 territorial communities. By 2040, Morocco plans to reuse 537 million cubic meters of treated wastewater annually. Laftit described the efforts as part of a comprehensive development vision that considers environmental and social dimensions, aiming to achieve territorial justice and better water resource management amid growing pressing climate challenges. The massive investment reflects Morocco's commitment to addressing water scarcity and environmental protection while supporting economic development across urban and rural areas. Tags: wastewater managementwastewater treatmentWater challenges
