The Boom of the Automotive Sector
22 May 2006
Read by 3697 persons
The automotive market shows good progress during the year 2005. Growth reached 18.5% with 63,965 registered units. Sales of imported and assembled passenger vehicles are increasing significantly and constantly, despite the cessation of Fiat's activities. This performance is due to the assembly carried out by Renault, Peugeot and Citroën who took over from Fiat since 2004. The boom in sales is also linked to the policy of opening up and lowering customs duties on new cars.
As part of the association agreement signed with the European Union, imported cars are subject to a gradual dismantling which began in March 2003 and will end in March 2012 to eliminate customs duties. On March 1, 2006, they went from 28.8% and 24% for light commercial vehicles, in addition to 20% VAT and a parafiscal tax of 0.3% on the value of the vehicles. In addition to this, there is a financing policy that encourages the acquisition of new cars: aggressive communication, promotional operations and above all financing facilities (credit leasing).
Passenger cars are leading the way with 56,183 units, or 88% of the total, up 25% compared to 2004. Commercial vehicles, on the other hand, are declining with only 7,782 units registered in 2005 compared to 9,358 the previous year. Locally assembled vehicles (CKD) recorded 17,182 registrations, compared to nearly 47,000 for imported assembled vehicles (CBU).
"This edition reflects the real potential of the market," explains Mohammed Larhouati, president of the Association of Importers of Assembled Motor Vehicles (Aivam). For him, this performance is expected to improve in the coming years, especially with the launch, at the beginning of 2006, of the Logan diesel version. "The Logan is arriving in a niche that is not totally covered at present," he indicates.
In 2005, the market remains dominated by the same French brands (Renault, Peugeot and Citroën). Renault and Peugeot, the two main customers of Somaca, retain their historical positions. The Logan effect is beginning to be felt, whose only model is the Dacia. In a little less than a year (July 2005), sales reached nearly 3,000 units. The launch of the diesel version this month promises new performance. The lion brand occupies second place with 10,269 units, closely followed by the Japanese Toyota. Citroën (6,207 units) and Volkswagen follow with 4,790 cars.
However, competition has increased with the strong progress of Japanese and Korean manufacturers. Japanese and German brands continue their rise. Alone, these brands represent some 36,000 units sold, about half of the global registrations. On the other hand, Toyota has positioned itself well in the CBU category, with 7,279 units sold (6,156 passenger cars and 1,093 commercial vehicles).
For its part, the German brand BMW achieved a historic record on the Moroccan market in 2005, since its sales exceeded, for the first time, the 500 unit mark. Thus, in Morocco, 501 BMW cars were sold, an increase of more than 90% in three years, since in 2002, the total number of BMW vehicles sold amounted to 263. As for the MINI brand, which also belongs to the group, it achieved sales of 28 units.
Another noteworthy performance for the Bavarian brand on the Moroccan market, "the flagship of the range", the BMW 7 Series, was the best-selling car in its segment for the second consecutive year.
This strategy should allow BMW Group to raise BMW and MINI to the rank of leaders of premium brands in Morocco. "There is still a long way to go, but the group is confident in its ability to achieve its objective," he affirms, specifying that Smeia, the exclusive importer of the group's brands, will set up a solid network of branches and independent partners. After the good performance of last year, BMW Group is expecting a further increase in sales in Morocco in 2006.
le Matin
May 12, 2006
As part of the association agreement signed with the European Union, imported cars are subject to a gradual dismantling which began in March 2003 and will end in March 2012 to eliminate customs duties. On March 1, 2006, they went from 28.8% and 24% for light commercial vehicles, in addition to 20% VAT and a parafiscal tax of 0.3% on the value of the vehicles. In addition to this, there is a financing policy that encourages the acquisition of new cars: aggressive communication, promotional operations and above all financing facilities (credit leasing).
Passenger cars are leading the way with 56,183 units, or 88% of the total, up 25% compared to 2004. Commercial vehicles, on the other hand, are declining with only 7,782 units registered in 2005 compared to 9,358 the previous year. Locally assembled vehicles (CKD) recorded 17,182 registrations, compared to nearly 47,000 for imported assembled vehicles (CBU).
"This edition reflects the real potential of the market," explains Mohammed Larhouati, president of the Association of Importers of Assembled Motor Vehicles (Aivam). For him, this performance is expected to improve in the coming years, especially with the launch, at the beginning of 2006, of the Logan diesel version. "The Logan is arriving in a niche that is not totally covered at present," he indicates.
In 2005, the market remains dominated by the same French brands (Renault, Peugeot and Citroën). Renault and Peugeot, the two main customers of Somaca, retain their historical positions. The Logan effect is beginning to be felt, whose only model is the Dacia. In a little less than a year (July 2005), sales reached nearly 3,000 units. The launch of the diesel version this month promises new performance. The lion brand occupies second place with 10,269 units, closely followed by the Japanese Toyota. Citroën (6,207 units) and Volkswagen follow with 4,790 cars.
However, competition has increased with the strong progress of Japanese and Korean manufacturers. Japanese and German brands continue their rise. Alone, these brands represent some 36,000 units sold, about half of the global registrations. On the other hand, Toyota has positioned itself well in the CBU category, with 7,279 units sold (6,156 passenger cars and 1,093 commercial vehicles).
For its part, the German brand BMW achieved a historic record on the Moroccan market in 2005, since its sales exceeded, for the first time, the 500 unit mark. Thus, in Morocco, 501 BMW cars were sold, an increase of more than 90% in three years, since in 2002, the total number of BMW vehicles sold amounted to 263. As for the MINI brand, which also belongs to the group, it achieved sales of 28 units.
Another noteworthy performance for the Bavarian brand on the Moroccan market, "the flagship of the range", the BMW 7 Series, was the best-selling car in its segment for the second consecutive year.
This strategy should allow BMW Group to raise BMW and MINI to the rank of leaders of premium brands in Morocco. "There is still a long way to go, but the group is confident in its ability to achieve its objective," he affirms, specifying that Smeia, the exclusive importer of the group's brands, will set up a solid network of branches and independent partners. After the good performance of last year, BMW Group is expecting a further increase in sales in Morocco in 2006.
le Matin
May 12, 2006
