Morocco

Over time almost fulfilled, the European Union pressed the red button: Activate tariffs to Chinese electric car. With variable rates depending on the company, since the last days of October, all cars of this type from China have had to increase their costs (absorbed by the company or impact to the client), including those of European companies. To the measure, the manufacturers themselves have denounced the European Union before the Court of Justice of the European Unionwith the aim of eliminating this economic barrier that they consider unfair. The complaint has been submitted Byd, Saic, Geely and Tesla. The subject of tariffs is nothing more than One of the last chapters in the negotiation between him Chinese government and the European Union. Although these rates are applied, the agency has made clear its intention to maintain its conversations with the Chinese State and, in fact, did not charge the compensatory rights that have been applied from summer to the end of October. In addition, it has not imposed tariffs on plug -in hybrids. Explain you in your newsletter SAI (but auto insights) Weekly that everything indicates that it is a negotiating measure between both entities. The truth is that Chinese companies are offering their cars much cheaper than European manufacturers just when European regulations force this type of technology to skip a thousand millionaire fines. A shortcut called Morocco Since the application of tariff They aspire to gain market share. In that new strategy, Spain has taken a preponderant role. Our country is taking weight in the production of future electric cars for their low labor and energy costs compared to other European powers such as Germany or France. But, in addition, it also seems to be receiving the prize to turn their positions Regarding tariffs. Since they were applied, the Chinese state seems to have pressed to stop all investments in the countries where it was voted in favor of lifting these commercial barriers. In return countries like Spain have unlocked these (like the Catl factory in Zaragoza) and nations with special commercial treaties with the European Union are experiencing the growing interest of that Asian country. Turkey, for example, is one of the countries where Chinese interest has perched, with Byd studying the construction of a plant in a key geostrategic place. The other great country where China has put its eyes is Morocco. And investments leave no doubt. Morocco is a very attractive bridge for the Asian country. It has a Commercial Treaty that would allow you to skip tariffs on your electric manufacturing their cars on African soil. These investments, which first They have arrived in the form of kits That they are finished in Europe, they are still studied by the European Union that has to define whether or not they are enough to save the commercial barrier. It is, in fact, the way of working that has Omoda in Barcelona and the one that Leapmotor has raised for its production in European soil. The production of vehicles in Morocco is not new either. In fact, in 2023 he surpassed China, Japan and India as Main exporter of vehicles to the European Union. His low labor costs has turned Morocco into the perfect environment to produce cars such as Dacia Sandero o Stellantis’s light quadricycles (Citroën Ami, Fiat Topolino…). This appeal It wants to be exploited by China in car production but also with everything that revolves around the electric car. Among those new business opportunities is Battery production. Chinese official media say that producing in Morocco is 50% cheaper than doing so in Europe, they collect in Political. That savings has been the one that has encouraged Chinese companies such as Cngr Advanced Material, through a Moroccan subsidiary called Cngr Morocco New Energy to invest in a gigantic battery production plant. The project was completed with the signing of a investment of 2,000 million dollars For the same. They calculate, from the company, that production will reach a million electric cars every year, which is 70 GWH capacity. To have a better idea, The plant that Catl has designed for Zaragoza plans to provide 50 GWh. It is not, much less, the only project that comes in this regard. Chinese batteries manufacturers Hailiang and Shinzoom They announced An investment of 450 and 460 million dollars, respectively, in the industrial zone Tanger Tech. Although it is officially called “Cité Mohammed VI Tangger Tech”, so much has been the Chinese interest in the area that already call it the “Shanghai of Morocco” . The port of Tangier has become a Key space for the Moroccan government. Its proximity to Europe makes it a doubly attractive place: manufacturing on its ground is cheaper and moving the product to the European continent is also very little expensive. Investments in the electric car in Morocco are already calculated in 10,000 million dollars among which the phosphate exploitationkey minerals for the production of batteries and which Morocco has huge deposits. “For a long time, Europeans invested in Morocco to take advantage of cheap and unknic labor. Today, this workforce is not simply cheap, it is also competitive and is well trained. The Chinese have realized that they Interesting Investing, “said Mehdi Laraki, president of the Morocco-China Business Council in words collected by the medium Telquel. Photo | Audi In Xataka | Toyota has been one of the few firms that has not opted for the electric car. For now it is doing well