By Lawrence Speer, Automotive News Europe
Paris - French supplier Faurecia will invest Euro 10 million in its first factory in Morocco.
The factory, to be located in Kenitra, 40 km north of the Moroccan capital of Rabat, will supply seating trim covers to Renault-Nissan and Volkswagen group manufacturing sites in Europe, the company said in a statement.
Morocco's high-quality, low-cost labour force and the rapid development of the country's automotive industry were leading factors in Faurecia's decision to locate the new factory in the North African country, according to executive vice president for automotive seating Patrick Koller.
"With this new plant, Faurecia is pursuing the deployment of its manufacturing footprint in a country where passenger vehicles are playing an increasingly important role in the national economy," Koller said.
The planned 8300-sq.m factory will make fabric trim covers for car seats, and is expected to employ more than 650 people when all planned product lines are operating, Faurecia said.
Faurecia already operates a similar factory in neighboring Tunisia, where 480 employees produce seat trim covers for export to various European car manufacturers.
Automotive News Europe is a sister publication to Urethanes Technology International, both part of Crain Communications.
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