Morocco Builds Africa's First EV Battery Gigafactory

Africa is taking a giant leap into the electric vehicle revolution with its very first battery gigafactory, backed by $114 million in new funding.

The African Development Bank approved the loan to support construction of the massive facility in Morocco's Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Free Trade Zone. Led by Chinese company Gotion High-Tech, the plant will be the first integrated battery manufacturing facility in Africa and the entire Middle East and North Africa region.

The factory will produce 10 gigawatt-hours of battery cells and packs annually during its first phase. Plans are already in motion to expand capacity to an impressive 100 GWh as demand grows.

Morocco is quickly becoming an automotive powerhouse, hosting more than 250 companies that manufacture cars or car components. Major players like Stellantis and Renault already operate there, alongside Chinese, Japanese, American, and Korean factories.

The timing couldn't be better. Electric vehicle use is surging across Africa as soaring fuel prices and shortages push countries toward cleaner, cheaper transportation options.

The project will create more than 600 direct jobs in its first phase and achieve a 70% local industrial integration rate. That means most components will be made locally, supporting skills development and strengthening domestic manufacturing supply chains.

The factory will run primarily on renewable energy, addressing what experts call "the missing link" in Africa's clean energy transition. Kevin Kariuki, the bank's vice president for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, explains that battery storage is crucial for integrating solar and wind power into electrical grids.

The Ripple Effect

This investment reaches far beyond Morocco's borders. The facility will help build an entire African industrial ecosystem for batteries and electric vehicles, promoting local use of critical minerals essential to the energy transition.

The project strengthens Africa's ability to control more of its own clean energy supply chain rather than relying entirely on imports. As the continent races to meet its energy needs while fighting climate change, domestic battery production becomes a game changer.

The factory positions Morocco as a regional hub for electric mobility and green technology manufacturing. With additional financing of up to $162.6 million expected from development partners, the project demonstrates growing international confidence in Africa's clean energy future.

Africa is building the foundation for its own electric vehicle revolution, one battery at a time.