China’s Gotion High-Tech Group is preparing to launch the construction of the first and largest factory for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy storage in Africa, with an allocated budget exceeding $5 billion, according to a report published Monday by Business Insider.
According to the same source, Gotion’s Morocco Director, Khalid Qalam, revealed that preparatory work on the site has already been completed, noting that construction will begin soon, with production expected to start in the third quarter of 2026.
Business Insider Africa added that the factory will be built in Kenitra, northwestern Morocco, and will transform the Kingdom into a major supplier of batteries primarily destined for the European market, in a move that highlights Morocco’s growing economic role as a bridge between Africa and Europe.
The report noted that the plant will include production lines for batteries, cathodes, and anodes, with Europe as the main export destination, while the local market will also benefit, especially given the presence of Renault and Stellantis in Morocco.
The first phase of the project, according to the outlet, will create 2,300 direct jobs, with the project expanding over five integrated stages to reach 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The factory’s initial production capacity is expected to reach 20 GWh per year, enough to equip hundreds of thousands of EVs with batteries, before gradually rising to 100 GWh per year, consolidating Morocco’s position as a major global supplier in this field.
This vertical industrial integration, Business Insider said, will reduce Morocco’s reliance on imports and strengthen regional supply chain security, giving the country a strong competitive edge amid the rapid surge in global battery demand.
The first phase alone is valued at around $1.3 billion, with projections of creating about 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, while the total investment is expected to reach $5.6 billion, the report added.
Through this project, Morocco aims to diversify its economy beyond traditional sectors such as agriculture and textiles, and to enter high-tech industries by manufacturing key battery components rather than limiting itself to assembly operations.
This step comes as Morocco’s automotive sector recorded record exports of MAD 157 billion ($15.7 billion) in 2024, up 6.3% compared to the previous year, after the Kingdom surpassed major EU suppliers such as China, Japan, and India in 2023.
According to Business Insider, these exports carry strategic weight, as around 85% of production is destined for the European Union, which is moving steadily toward banning the sale of combustion-engine cars by 2035.
For China, the report stressed, this investment represents an extension of its plan to boost its industrial footprint in Africa. Several Chinese companies, including BTR, CNGR, Hailiang, and Shinzoom, have already expanded their battery-related activities in Morocco, further consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for green technology.
