Luca De Meo, Head of Renault Group arrives in Morocco with new goals

As part of the industrial acceleration plan, Renault Group Morocco and the Ministry of Industry, On Tuesday, July 27, a convention setting new objectives for the development of the company’s diamond ecosystem was signed by Commerce and Green and Digital Economy. The occasion also for the staff of the latter to unveil with great pomp the new Dacia Sandero produced locally at the Somaca.

A new agreement that, according to Renault staff, attests to the Group’s ambitions regarding the ramp-up of its development in the Kingdom. With the unwavering support of Morocco, it will also stimulate a new dynamic in the local automotive industry. It should be noted that the automobile industry, the leading exporting sector in the Kingdom, continued fully on its momentum at the end of 2020, gaining even more in terms of competitiveness and awareness throughout the region.

A signing ceremony was held in the presence of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy, Moulay Hafid Elalamy and the Managing Director of Renault Group, Luca de Meo, who made the trip for the occasion.

Under the Enlightened Conduct of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the automotive industry in Morocco is beginning, today, a new turning point in its evolution. The development of our partnership with Renault opens its ecosystem to new horizons with high technological value, in perfect harmony with the objectives of our industrial recovery aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s industrial competitiveness on a global scale», made it clear during his speech Moulay Hafid Elalamy.

And the Minister of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy added: «the expansion of the Renault ecosystem responds to two major challenges of the sector, namely the positioning of Morocco in electric mobility and the strengthening of local sourcing».

For his part, Luca de Meo was satisfied with this new impulse in the long-standing partnership between Morocco and the firm he is currently the boss. ‘This agreement will strengthen the competitiveness and attractiveness of Moroccan industry while preparing it for the future. ‘And M. de Meo to refine his statement: «the strategy of «decarbonization» initiated by the Kingdom is totally in line with our vision and will constitute a structuring element in the years to come».

Despite the health crisis and that of electronic components that impact all global economic players, Renault Group Morocco has confirmed its last commitment signed on 8 April 2016 with the Kingdom and consisting of the achievement of 1,5 billion euros in revenue, and 65% of local integration by 2023.

Having exceeded the 60% local integration rate at the beginning of 2021, the diamond firm intends to raise the local sourcing target to 2.5 billion euros by 2025, with a target of 3 billion euros. It is also committed to raising its integration rate to a target of around 80% over time.

Note that the number of Tier 1 suppliers in the Kingdom has already been tripled from 26 to 76. According to the minister and Renault staff, this agreement will support the installation of new suppliers and strengthen existing sites.

In any case, and in the opinion of the protagonists, the new objectives of Renault will support the development of the Moroccan industrial sector and the industrialization of the new vehicle projects of the Renault Group brands with high technological value.

Moreover, in line with the «Renaulution» strategy unveiled earlier this year and given the global orientation of the automotive industry towards the production of more environmentally friendly vehicles, Renault Group Morocco is preparing to industrialize new vehicles in its two Moroccan industrial platforms. Vehicles that will gradually include the latest Renault electrification technologies.

Note that the Moroccan subsidiary of Renault and its ecosystem benefit from the impetus given by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Green and Digital Economy with regard to «decarbonization» industry and the creation of a green energy sector at competitive prices. This initiative by the Kingdom will, according to Renault, contribute to strengthening Morocco’s industrial competitiveness on a global scale.

A partnership agreement that was also an opportunity for Somaca to unveil the first Dacia Sandero and Sandero Stepway for the local market. They will be marketed in both gasoline and diesel starting next September.