China-Morocco EV Battery Plant Launches with Capacity to Power One Million Vehicles Annually
Jorf Lasfar, Morocco – In a landmark move for Africa’s green industrial future, China and Morocco have officially launched a joint electric vehicle battery components plant, marking the first such facility in North Africa. The project was inaugurated on June 25, 2025, and is being hailed as a key step in bolstering the continent’s role in global EV supply chains.
The factory, operated by COBCO—a joint venture between China’s CNGR Advanced Materials and Morocco’s Al Mada, a holding company linked to the Moroccan royal family—is located in Jorf Lasfar, roughly 125 kilometers south of Casablanca.
The plant is projected to achieve an annual production capacity of 70 GWh, enough to equip nearly one million electric vehicles per year, according to company representatives.
Strategic Green Manufacturing for Africa
This venture aligns with Morocco’s growing status as a manufacturing and renewable energy hub. It also deepens China’s green technology footprint in Africa, positioning the continent as a pivotal player in the electric mobility revolution.
With battery supply chains becoming increasingly important to global carmakers, Morocco’s strategic location—along with its trade agreements with both the EU and U.S.—makes it a valuable partner for both production and export.
“This is more than a factory. It’s a regional industrial transformation project,” said an executive familiar with the plant’s development.
Building on a Growing Trend
This launch follows several other Chinese-led investments in Africa’s EV and heavy vehicle sectors:
- Gotion High-Tech, a Sino-German battery company, is planning Africa’s first EV gigafactory in Morocco.
- Uganda Automotive Group recently rolled out its first locally assembled truck from a Chinese-backed facility in Namanve.
- Sinotruck is setting up a $20 million plant in Tanzania, expected to create 500 jobs.
These developments suggest a regional EV ecosystem is taking shape, powered by China’s capital, technology, and long-term industrial strategyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o67hta0irk
