Automobile: for 630 million dirhams, LEONI Cable Solutions launches its first African factory in Kenitra

LEONI Cable Solutions (LCS) laid the foundation stone for its future industrial unit in Kenitra’s Atlantic Free Zone on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Backed by an investment of 630 million dirhams (€60 million), the project marks the establishment of LCS’s first production facility on the African continent.

Spread across 48,000 m², the new unit will comprise 18,000 m² of industrial and office space. A 9,000 m² land reserve has also been allocated to support the site’s future expansion.

The factory will specialize in manufacturing single-core and multi-core automotive cables, as well as data-transmission cables for next-generation vehicles. These components will be supplied to leading automotive equipment manufacturers serving international markets.

The launch ceremony brought together representatives of the Moroccan government, regional and local authorities, as well as key stakeholders from the industrial ecosystem.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ryad Mezzour, emphasized that this new facility reflects Morocco’s ability to anticipate future mobility trends and develop local expertise in advanced industrial sectors.

The project comes at a time of rapid transformation in the global automotive industry, driven by the rise of connected and automated vehicles increasingly reliant on data management. It is expected to strengthen Morocco’s industrial capabilities in producing high-tech components for international markets.

The factory will feature a dedicated laboratory for material and product quality control, ensuring compliance with international automotive standards. Its development will also benefit from a knowledge-transfer program led by teams from the group’s operations in Turkey and Germany, aimed at gradually equipping Moroccan staff with the technical and industrial skills required for the site’s growth.

"This first industrial unit of LEONI Cable Solutions in Africa represents a major milestone in the international expansion of our activities," said Hicham Hannioui, President of LEONI LCS. He noted that the project will capitalize on the quality of Moroccan human capital and foster the development of local expertise in mobility-related technologies.

The future factory will also incorporate several features promoting energy efficiency and sustainability, including photovoltaic installations and the use of predominantly mineral and recyclable materials.

For Markus Thoma, CEO of LEONI Cable Solutions, the project goes well beyond the construction of a new industrial site. He sees it as a testament to the group’s commitment to innovation, partnership, and sustainable growth, while highlighting Morocco’s emergence as a strategic hub for automotive equipment manufacturers.