French carmaker Renault is examining plans to build a new electric vehicle (EV) plant in Morocco, with the future Nador West Med port emerging as a likely location, according to reporting by Africa Intelligence.
The move aligns with the expected launch of the deepwater port in late 2026 a timeline recently reaffirmed by Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka, who said the facility would become one of Morocco’s main industrial and logistics hubs.
Renault Maroc had previously outlined what it described as “a new stage” for its industrial ecosystem for the 2021–2030 period, centred on gradually introducing electrification technologies across its supply chain.
The group aims to reach €2.5 billion (US$2.7 billion) in local sourcing by 2025 and increase this to €3 billion (US$3.2 billion) in the longer term, equivalent to nearly MAD 32 billion. Renault also targets an 80 percent local integration rate meaning four-fifths of components used in its Moroccan production would come from domestic suppliers.
Growing competition among global manufacturers
If confirmed, the EV plant would reinforce Morocco’s standing as one of Africa’s largest automotive manufacturing platforms and the kingdom’s top export sector. Renault already operates a massive factory in Tangier, which began production in 2012 and has become one of the company’s most competitive sites globally due to low labour costs, integrated logistics and proximity to Europe.
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Morocco continues to attract rising interest from international automotive groups seeking competitive production bases with strong export links. Earlier this year, Chinese manufacturer Jinxiu Shanhe signed an agreement with a local partner to build an assembly plant in the country, signalling wider momentum in the EV and new-energy vehicle segment.
Strategic link to Nador West Med
A decision to locate the new Renault facility near Nador West Med would reflect the port’s ambition to replicate the success of Tanger Med by combining transshipment capacity with industrial free-zones. The port will sit directly on major East-West shipping lanes and is being positioned as a future logistics hub for automotive, energy and manufacturing supply chains.
Renault has not yet confirmed a project timeline, but exploration of a second Moroccan facility dedicated to electric models underscores the country’s growing role in the global transition to cleaner transport technologies.
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More background on Renault
Renault is one of Europe’s oldest and largest car manufacturers, founded in 1899 and headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris. The company forms part of the Renault Group, which includes the Renault, Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize brands. It is also a long-standing partner in the global Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, one of the world’s biggest automotive groupings.
Over the past decade, Renault has undergone a major restructuring as the global industry shifts toward electrification, digitalisation and lightweight platforms. Under its latest corporate plan known as “Renaulution,” launched in 2021 by CEO Luca de Meo, the group has sharpened its focus on profitability, scaled back unprofitable models and increased investment in electric vehicles (EVs) and software-defined cars.
