Automobiles: A Promising Sector Despite Challenges
1 July 2008
Read by 1746 persons
Despite a decrease in orders for Moroccan auto parts suppliers and Nissan's withdrawal from Renault's large project to build a factory in Tangier, the automotive industry will remain a key sector in the Moroccan economy, also known as a ‘'global profession of Morocco''.
The National Pact for Industrial Emergence, considered as ‘'Emergence II'', whose 2009-2015 public-private partnership program was signed in Fes last February, confirms this sector's importance to the national economy. And for good reason…Even during this time of crisis, companies already established, particularly in the Tangier Free Zone (TFZ), are maintaining their business plans.
It is worth remembering that this zone is currently undergoing expansion, following the launch last January of work on its third development phase, representing a 430 million dirham investment. This makes the TFZ even more attractive to foreign operators.
The investment program for the third phase of the zone's development includes the development and servicing of an area reserved for automotive suppliers (80 hectares). This second phase will encourage the creation of specialized industrial clusters and zones, particularly in high value-added sectors, including the automotive industry. The TFZ hosts many international operators whose production is intended for export. These include automotive suppliers, aeronautical companies, and electronics component manufacturers. Among the companies recently attracted by the TFZ's advantages is the "Premo Méditerranée" group, which is expanding its factory by an additional 5,000 m2.
The Spanish operator is counting on this expansion to achieve its business plan, which will allow it to increase its production capacity and, consequently, achieve a turnover of nearly 4 million euros by 2010. The company, which operates in the field of inductive electronic components and employs 100 workers, has already started. In fact, we are told, it recently launched a series of new products for the automotive industry. Similarly, Delphi Morocco officially inaugurated its second factory in the TFZ in March to manufacture high-tech components for the automotive industry. According to Delphi Morocco officials, the new factory, which started operations last August, maintains its development forecasts.
"Delphi Group management in Morocco announces the successful start-up of its second factory specializing in the manufacture of wiring harnesses for the automotive industry. With excellent results in terms of quality and highly efficient manufacturing processes, the new factory, located in the Tangier Export Free Zone, is now fully operational just a few months after production started in August 2008," it was announced. This factory, located on a total area of 60,000 m2, includes a 23,400 m2 production area and supplies wiring harnesses for various models of European car manufacturers. According to company management, Delphi's new factory should reach its cruising speed in the coming years. Today, the first factory, which started operations on April 1, 1999, employs around 4,500 people, and the second factory, which already employs 800 people, should reach a workforce of 2,500 people, "given the current market information and future customer demand," they explain.
The Tangier Free Zone has previously attracted other investments. This is the case with the French automotive supplier "Marvest," which launched the construction of a production unit in the TFZ a little over two months ago, for a total investment of 150 million DH. The TFZ has already hosted several international groups operating in various industrial sectors, including Yazaki specializing in automotive wiring, Volkswagen specializing in electrical wiring, Coficab specializing in automotive wiring, and Polydesign specializing in automotive textiles.
The zone operates as a one-stop shop, welcoming, assisting, and guiding investors in the implementation of their projects. It benefits from a special regime, both customs and tax, and is not subject to foreign trade and exchange control legislation.
Lahcen Oudoud
Published April 9, 2009
Posted online April 15, 2009
Le Matin
The National Pact for Industrial Emergence, considered as ‘'Emergence II'', whose 2009-2015 public-private partnership program was signed in Fes last February, confirms this sector's importance to the national economy. And for good reason…Even during this time of crisis, companies already established, particularly in the Tangier Free Zone (TFZ), are maintaining their business plans.
It is worth remembering that this zone is currently undergoing expansion, following the launch last January of work on its third development phase, representing a 430 million dirham investment. This makes the TFZ even more attractive to foreign operators.
The investment program for the third phase of the zone's development includes the development and servicing of an area reserved for automotive suppliers (80 hectares). This second phase will encourage the creation of specialized industrial clusters and zones, particularly in high value-added sectors, including the automotive industry. The TFZ hosts many international operators whose production is intended for export. These include automotive suppliers, aeronautical companies, and electronics component manufacturers. Among the companies recently attracted by the TFZ's advantages is the "Premo Méditerranée" group, which is expanding its factory by an additional 5,000 m2.
The Spanish operator is counting on this expansion to achieve its business plan, which will allow it to increase its production capacity and, consequently, achieve a turnover of nearly 4 million euros by 2010. The company, which operates in the field of inductive electronic components and employs 100 workers, has already started. In fact, we are told, it recently launched a series of new products for the automotive industry. Similarly, Delphi Morocco officially inaugurated its second factory in the TFZ in March to manufacture high-tech components for the automotive industry. According to Delphi Morocco officials, the new factory, which started operations last August, maintains its development forecasts.
"Delphi Group management in Morocco announces the successful start-up of its second factory specializing in the manufacture of wiring harnesses for the automotive industry. With excellent results in terms of quality and highly efficient manufacturing processes, the new factory, located in the Tangier Export Free Zone, is now fully operational just a few months after production started in August 2008," it was announced. This factory, located on a total area of 60,000 m2, includes a 23,400 m2 production area and supplies wiring harnesses for various models of European car manufacturers. According to company management, Delphi's new factory should reach its cruising speed in the coming years. Today, the first factory, which started operations on April 1, 1999, employs around 4,500 people, and the second factory, which already employs 800 people, should reach a workforce of 2,500 people, "given the current market information and future customer demand," they explain.
The Tangier Free Zone has previously attracted other investments. This is the case with the French automotive supplier "Marvest," which launched the construction of a production unit in the TFZ a little over two months ago, for a total investment of 150 million DH. The TFZ has already hosted several international groups operating in various industrial sectors, including Yazaki specializing in automotive wiring, Volkswagen specializing in electrical wiring, Coficab specializing in automotive wiring, and Polydesign specializing in automotive textiles.
The zone operates as a one-stop shop, welcoming, assisting, and guiding investors in the implementation of their projects. It benefits from a special regime, both customs and tax, and is not subject to foreign trade and exchange control legislation.
Lahcen Oudoud
Published April 9, 2009
Posted online April 15, 2009
Le Matin
