Benteler Group begins construction of new automotive factory in Kénitra creating 400 jobs
The facility, located in the Atlantic Free Zone of Kénitra, is expected to be operational by next year. It will include a 17,000-square-meter building on a nearly 50,000-square-meter plot, offering direct highway access and strong logistical connections to the Port of Tangier.
Once production begins, Benteler plans to create approximately 400 jobs at the site, offering promising career opportunities for skilled and motivated candidates. The company is committed to equipping all employees for success through comprehensive training and continuous professional development.
The Kénitra plant will manufacture a range of components, including front and rear bumpers, rear torsion beam axles, bumper cross-members, and suspension arms for a major automotive equipment manufacturer.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the factory will feature a 3,200-ton cold stamping press, multiple welding systems, a cathodic dip coating (CDP) line, and a 3D laser for precision component manufacturing.
As part of its SMART FACTORIES initiative, Benteler will also integrate advanced Industry 4.0 technologies to accelerate its digital transformation. These include big data analytics, its smart production data platform, and various connectivity solutions enabling intelligent, data-driven operations.
Benteler is a global enterprise serving clients in the automotive, energy, and mechanical engineering sectors. A specialist in metal processing, the group develops, manufactures, and distributes products, systems, and services focused on safety and innovation worldwide.
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- Morocco World
Morocco's Aeronautics Exports Hit MAD 14.13 Billion in First Half of 2025
Marrakech – Morocco's aerospace sector continues its upward trajectory, with exports reaching MAD 14.13 billion ($1.41 billion) during the first six months of 2025, an 8.8% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Office des Changes. This expansion flows primarily from increased sales in the Assembly segment, which jumped by MAD 728 million ($72.8 million), and the Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) segment, which advanced by MAD 427 million ($42.7 million). The positive performance extends the sector's remarkable decade-long transformation. Between 2014 and 2024, Morocco's aeronautical exports more than tripled, skyrocketing from MAD 7.69 billion ($769 million) to MAD 26.44 billion ($2.64 billion) – representing a 244% increase over ten years and an average annual growth rate of approximately 13%. Read also: Boeing, Alphavest Capital to Establish Five Aerospace Centers in Morocco The Assembly segment has proven particularly robust, with exports soaring from MAD 3.73 billion ($373 million) in 2014 to MAD 17.2 billion ($1.72 billion) in 2024, a 360% increase. Meanwhile, the EWIS segment witnessed exports climb from MAD 3.89 billion ($389 million) to MAD 9.1 billion ($910 million) during the same period, despite a temporary setback during the COVID-19 pandemic. Morocco's aerospace industry currently encompasses 150 companies generating an annual revenue of €2.5 billion. These firms, concentrated in Casablanca, Tangier, Rabat, and Fez, employ 26,000 workers full-time, specializing in fuselages, structural components, interior furnishings, and wiring systems. Speaking at the Paris Air Show last month, Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour revealed Morocco's competitive advantages, including lower production costs – €25 per hour compared to €100-120 in Europe or the US. He also stressed a steady supply of engineering talent, with 400 of the country's 23,000 annual engineering graduates entering the aeronautics sector. Looking ahead, Mezzour outlined ambitious plans to expand the industry's capabilities to include cabin fittings and landing gear manufacturing, with the goal of establishing aircraft assembly lines within the next decade. He projected doubling the sector's turnover by 2030. The aeronautics industry thrives on Morocco's strategic location near Europe, free trade agreements, political stability, competitive costs, and skilled workforce. The country has poured investments into infrastructure and training, including the Institut des Métiers de l'Aéronautique (IMA), to propel the sector's growth. The local integration rate has strengthened significantly, rising from 18% in 2010 to over 40% in certain segments today. Major international players including Boeing, Airbus, Safran, Stelia, and Bombardier have integrated Morocco as a strategic link in their global value chains, further cementing the country's position as an emerging aeronautical powerhouse in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Tags: aeronautics industry in moroccoaerospace industry in morocco
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Marrakech – Morocco's Industry and Trade Minister, Ryad Mezzour, sparked controversy in mid-July when he presented the significant wage gap between Moroccan and European engineers as a strategic advantage during an official meeting at the German ambassador's residence in Rabat. Mezzour revealed that the same highly skilled Moroccan engineer who would cost a company in Germany about €6,500 monthly can be hired in Morocco for just €1,000 to €1,500. The minister described this stark disparity as an opportunity for foreign companies while suggesting engineers would be 'much happier' living in their home country with these wages. 'An engineer who graduates with distinction and goes to work in Munich will cost the company about €6,500 per month between salary and social contributions,' Mezzour stated. 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Firano linked the salary differential to productivity gaps, remarking that 'in European and developed countries, [highly qualified human capital] remains a bit more important than what we find here in Morocco.' To reduce this gap, he argued Morocco must raise both the level of human capital and its contribution to added value, especially in industrial and service sectors. Comparing minimum wages across countries, Firano stated: 'If we take a minimum wage, we will simply compare it with Spain, it's around 300 euros in Morocco compared to more than 1,084 in Spain,' adding that the minimum found in countries with relatively low minimum wages in Europe, 'like Croatia, Poland, etc., is double, triple what we find, triple the minimum wage in Morocco.' On the sustainability question, Firano gave a firm 'probably not' to whether the wage differential can persist long-term. 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'I believe that the minister's statement is simply to support the movement observed for some time, the return of Moroccan talents who even resided in France,' Chiguer said. He pointed to many Moroccan professionals born and educated in France who have chosen to settle in Morocco, with Casablanca serving as a vital platform for those wishing to work with Africa. Chiguer placed the situation in its international context, particularly considering Europe's employment challenges. 'France is experiencing problems in this area. In fact, the unemployment rate for graduates is beginning to worry them,' he asserted. According to Chiguer, young talents seek self-fulfillment through multiple channels. 'The main reason for brain drain or the return of brains is that young people seek to realize themselves not only through a more or less high salary but also through other conditions,' he clarified, referencing Morocco's efforts to establish itself as a true African hub. 'It's a question that really needs to be placed in its context and take into consideration the international situation, take into consideration the situation in Europe in particular and in France more particularly,' Chiguer concluded. Read also: Morocco's Auto Labor Cost: Just $106 Per Vehicle Tags: Moroccan EngineersRyad Mezzourwages
