This week was a major turning point for the Moroccan automotive industry, which launches two promising newborns, «NEO», the first consumer brand made in Morocco, as well as a prototype of a Moroccan-initiated hydrogen vehicle called “NamX”. The preview presentation ceremony (Reveal) of the two vehicles was chaired by King Mohammed VI, on Monday, May 15, at the Royal Palace in Rabat.
«These are two innovative projects that will strengthen the promotion of the Made in Morocco label and consolidate the country’s place as a reference competitive platform in automotive production», explain sources at the Ministry of Industry. These two industrial initiatives are in line with the high royal instructions, which aim to include the private sector in a new momentum propelled by productive investment, added value, and job creation in cutting-edge sectors oriented towards the future…
The challenge consists in stimulating the emergence of a new generation of companies bringing added value and innovation. This vision also bets on the development of sectors and locomotive ecosystems in sustainable development, renewable energies, and green hydrogen, among others The first Neo vehicle is developed by a 100% Moroccan manufacturer (Neo Motors SARL Company). This company is supported by Moroccan capital. Neo Motors has set up an automobile assembly plant in Aïn Aouda (Rabat region). The site is based in a plot of land known as “PEnazzo” property. The authorization for this plant was granted in 2020, after the favorable opinion issued the same year by the Commission of the Regional Investment Center (CRI of the Rabat-Salé area. After conclusive static and dynamic tests, the final approval of the Neo vehicle was issued by Narsa (National Road Safety Agency) in February 2023.
For the current phase, manufacturer Neo Motors has just launched pre-production vehicles. The marketing of the very first cars is scheduled for the beginning of next summer (June 2023).
According to our information, the public sale price will be in a range of 170,000 Dirhams (USD 17,000), all costs included. For the sourcing of components, the Neo project obtains its supplies mainly from equipment manufacturers based in Morocco constituting an ecosystem of some 250 renowned companies. It is a guarantee of confidence for the after-sales service (SAV), since most of the spare parts are produced in Morocco.
The manufacturer claims a local integration rate of around 65%. “It is a three-door vehicle developed 100% by Moroccan engineers”, explains one of the founders of Neo Motors. Equipped with a petrol engine (small displacement), the car was developed on the basis of a platform shared by several manufacturers and countries. According to the company’s articles of incorporation, NEO Motors is an industrial unit specializing in the manufacture of motor vehicles for the local market and for export. The annual production capacity is 27,000 units per year. Ultimately, the production unit will create 580 direct jobs. The overall amount of the investment is 156 million dirhams (USD 15 million).
Amin RBOUB
