Renault is considering setting up an electric car factory in the western Mediterranean port of Nador

Economy of the East

New developments in the electric vehicle industry are on the horizon in the east, after Africa Intelligence revealed that French group Renault is considering launching a new production phase in Morocco, with the Nador West Med port being considered as a candidate site for a factory dedicated to this type of vehicle. This comes in the context of preparations for the opening of the port in 2026, as confirmed by the Minister of Equipment, Nizar Baraka, in previous statements about the progress of work and operational preparations.

The move is linked to a path that Renault Morocco has been on since it announced, a few years ago, a “new phase” within its industrial ecosystem from 2021 to 2030. This path is based on the gradual integration of electrification into production chains, reflecting broader shifts in the global automotive sector. The company is strengthening its local presence with a commitment to achieve €2.5 billion in local sourcing turnover by 2025, with an eventual target of €3 billion, as well as 80% of local integration into the industrial ecosystem.

This trend comes at a time when there is significant competition from other international groups, especially from China, which is showing a growing interest in producing electric vehicles abroad. In this context, China's Jinxiu Shanhe signed an agreement with a Moroccan company to establish an assembly plant in the Kingdom, signaling a new dynamic in the local market where European and Asian investments intersect.

The move is part of a broader context in which Morocco is seeking to strengthen its industrial position, especially with projects in the north and east. Since 2012, Renault has had a production unit in Tangier dedicated to automotive manufacturing, which gives it an established operational experience that can be built upon if it moves into the development of electric vehicle manufacturing units.

The choice of the Nador West Med port, if officially confirmed, raises a number of economic indicators related to the port's location and its future prospects. The new logistics structure and its proximity to the European shore provide practical conditions for supply and export chains, and are in line with the global shift towards clean energies and products for rapidly expanding markets.

However, the project is still in the study phase, and the Renault Group has yet to make any official announcement regarding its final decision or the location of the potential factory. This is expected to become clearer in the coming months as the evaluation of options progresses and the selection criteria are determined, whether at the port level or at the level of industrial incentives that may support the investment decision.

Thus, the eastern region continues to attract the attention of international actors, pending the outcome of these negotiations, which may reshape the map of the industry in Morocco, especially in the field of electric vehicles, which is experiencing rapid growth globally