Automotive industry in Morocco: the betrayal of consumers

In the face of a crippling economic crisis and the erosion of purchasing power, a disturbing trend has emerged among automotive companies in Morocco. Prominent players such as Auto Hall Maroc, Renault Maroc, Dacia, and Peugeot have adopted pricing strategies that can only be described as cynically exploitative.

These corporations, which are ostensibly part of the solution to the economic woes, have instead become central to the problem. They have repeatedly raised prices unjustifiably, prioritizing financial profitability over social responsibility.

A recent study by the Institute of Mobility in Transition reveals that half of the record price increases for new cars since 2020 cannot be attributed to health crises, geopolitical tensions, or rising production costs. Rather, these hikes are the result of deliberate strategic choices made by manufacturers to inflate their profit margins.

Take Dacia, once celebrated as "the people's car." This brand, largely manufactured in Morocco, has betrayed its identity by abruptly moving upmarket and drastically increasing prices, making it inaccessible to the modest households it once aimed to serve. Ironically, even with local production, these vehicles remain out of reach for Moroccan consumers, who see neither economic benefits nor social advantages.

Renault Maroc, proud of its Tanger factory as a model of industrial success in Africa and beyond, shows little virtue in its approach. Instead of leveraging "Made in Morocco" to enhance accessibility, the brand follows the same speculative model, overlooking local market realities in favor of elitist pricing policies.

We are discussing cars produced just hundreds of kilometers from Moroccan consumers, yet sold at European prices. The dissonance is striking.

Auto Hall Maroc, a key player in the automotive distribution landscape of the Kingdom, plays a pivotal role in normalizing price surges. Beneath the facade of promotions and credit facilities lies a different reality: overwhelming financing options, opaque margins, and a market-capturing strategy that marginalizes the vast majority of Moroccans.

What we are witnessing is not merely a price increase; it is a widespread social betrayal. The automotive sector has ceased to meet the needs of citizens, evolving into a profit-driven machine disconnected from reality. The rhetoric surrounding innovation, energy transition, or "upmarket" positioning serves only as a smokescreen for a blatant disregard for consumers, particularly the middle class.

Acquiring a new car in Morocco has become a luxury reserved for a privileged few. Unless the government implements strict regulations and these strategies are publicly denounced, the market will remain under the control of private interests focused solely on dividends.

It is time to break the silence. These companies, which manufacture in Morocco but sell to Moroccans as if they were foreigners in their own land, must be held accountable. Their economic, social, and even moral responsibilities can no longer be ignored.