Just Auto
By Simon Warburton
Varroc Lighting Systems is establishing a manufacturing and product development base in Morocco.
The operation is located in Tangier Automotive City, a major industrial centre with key connections to southern Europe through Tanger-Med Port, one of the biggest shipping facilities in Africa.
On completion, the plant and development centre is expected to create hundreds of jobs across a variety of functions. The facility was unveiled at a ceremony held on 11 December in Casablanca and presided over by King Mohammed VI.
“This is a landmark moment for our company and underscores the strides we’ve made in the five years since we came under the Varroc Group,” said Varroc Lighting Systems CEO, Stephane Vedie.
“The Morocco facility will support both local Moroccan growth as well as our customers in southern Europe. The combination of technology and geographical proximity to Europe will result in competitive offerings that will help us strengthen our position with both existing and future customers. We are committed to being where our customers need us to be.”
In 2017, Varroc Lighting Systems made it a priority to expand its global footprint in competitive locations. Its expansion into Morocco comes after the recent announcement of the opening of a new product development centre in Krakow, Poland, as well as a new facility in Sorocaba, Brazil.
Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, Varroc has more than 7,200 employees worldwide with operations in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. Varroc Lighting Systems is a member of the Varroc Group family of automotive-components business.
The supplier’s news comes in a week when Morocco has taken centre stage with the government announcing a plethora of automotive agreements with international OEMS and suppliers worth around US$1.5bn and creating more than 11,500 jobs.
The major announcement – presided over by King Mohammed VI in Casablanca – is further proof of the Maghrebian country’s attraction for overseas manufacturers and follows hot on the heels of BYD’s unveiling of plans to construct an initial 15km SkyRail as part of a transportation offer.
A total of 26 significant projects were revealed in the Royal Palace of Casablanca as part of Morocco’s Industrial Acceleration Plan, with King Mohammed, hundreds of guests and senior politicians attesting to the importance of the event.
