Chinese cars are making a big push around the world, and Morocco is quickly becoming a key hub for reaching Europe and North Africa.
Russian car expert Sergey Yuryevich says Chinese cars now make up about 8% of Morocco’s market. Last year, China exported over 7 million vehicles, up 21% from 2024. But the story isn’t just about shipping cars. These companies are now building factories abroad and exporting their technology, not just finished vehicles.
The reach of Chinese brands varies a lot depending on the country. In Russia, they control 52% of the market after Western brands left. In Belarus it’s 46%, Egypt 37%, and the UAE 17%. In Saudi Arabia, they have 12%. Europe overall is 6%, mostly electric vehicles, while countries like Germany and India remain tough markets with just 2% share.
Chinese carmakers are now building local assembly plants, research centres, and supply chains. Producing cars closer to where they’re sold helps them follow local rules and avoid tariffs.
Morocco is a big part of this strategy. Gotion High-Tech is investing $5.6 billion in a battery gigafactory in Kenitra. When fully running, it will produce 100 GWh of batteries and create about 10,000 jobs. Because it’s in Morocco, these batteries can count as “local” under free trade deals with the EU, helping companies avoid heavy European tariffs.
Brands like BYD are growing fast in Morocco’s electric car market. They now hold 46% of plug-in hybrid sales and 34% of fully electric models. Other Chinese companies are investing in semiconductors, smart dashboards, and advanced safety systems – making Morocco a real hub for high-tech car production.
The push is being driven by two things: extra production capacity in China and Europe’s growing appetite for electric vehicles. That gives Chinese brands an edge with smart features and fast-charging technology at competitive prices.
China still struggles in the US, Japan, and South Korea, where government rules and trade restrictions keep market share tiny.
Analysts say this expansion isn’t slowing down. Morocco’s factories and free trade deals make it a perfect launchpad for Chinese cars heading to Europe and beyond.
