Africa's Underrepresentation in Global Automotive Production
Africa continues to struggle with its representation in the global automotive production sector, with figures from 2025 indicating a total output of only 1.23 million vehicles. This number reflects a slight decline of 0.3% compared to the previous year, standing in stark contrast to the global automotive production, which reached an impressive 96.4 million units, marking a 3.9% increase from the previous year. This means that Africa accounts for a mere 1.3% of the global production, which is predominantly led by China (34.5 million units), followed by the United States (10.2 million), Japan (8.4 million), and India (6.5 million). Moreover, the continent's production is excessively concentrated in just two countries: South Africa and Morocco, which together dominate over 91.10% of the continent's automotive production. In 2025, South Africa produced 618,077 vehicles while Morocco contributed 501,965 units, translating to market shares of 50.3% and 40.8%, respectively, according to the NAAMSA Automotive Trade Manual 2026.
These two nations stand out as the only ones on the continent with significant automotive ecosystems, characterized by favorable business environments, skilled human resources, and relatively substantial domestic markets. Additionally, both countries possess considerable logistical capabilities and have established a strategic vision for the development of their automotive industries. The remaining production is shared among several other countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and Tunisia, collectively contributing a total of 108,970 units to Africa's automotive output.
South Africa and Morocco: Automotive Titans of Africa
South Africa emerges as the undisputed champion in automotive production, achieving a total of 618,077 units in 2025, a 2.9% increase from 600,473 units in 2024. This impressive output ensures that South Africa holds a 50.3% share of the continent's automotive production and ranks 21st globally. The nation boasts around 20 manufacturers, including renowned brands such as Ford, Nissan (now replaced by Chery), BMW, Toyota, Mercedes, Isuzu, and Volkswagen. Additionally, commercial vehicle manufacturers like Iveco, UD Trucks, and Volvo contribute to a robust ecosystem, supported by over 500 suppliers and manufacturers, including 175 first-tier suppliers, 75% of whom are multinational companies. This local ecosystem facilitates the manufacturing of numerous vehicle components, achieving an average local content of 40% for vehicles produced in South Africa.
Despite these promising figures, the overall integration rate of South Africa's automotive sector reached only 23.80% in 2025, a slight increase from 22.6% in 2024. In the passenger vehicle segment, however, South Africa fell short, producing only 329,600 units compared to Morocco’s 493,004 units. This disparity can be attributed to the limited production capacities of local facilities. In contrast, Morocco's automotive industry, led by Renault Group Morocco, produced a staggering 394,474 units in 2025, accounting for more than 32% of the continent's total automotive production across all categories.
The Moroccan automotive sector is primarily focused on passenger vehicles, with a total production of 501,965 units in 2025, representing a significant 40.8% of the continent's automotive output. The country has consistently maintained its lead in passenger vehicle production since 2019, producing 163,404 more passenger vehicles than South Africa in 2025. The production is predominantly driven by two major players: Renault Group Morocco and Stellantis Morocco, which are supported by a network of over 260 suppliers. Renault's facility in Tangier, inaugurated in 2012, produced 394,474 vehicles in 2025, while Stellantis Morocco produced around 98,530 units, focusing on models such as the Peugeot 208 and electric quadricycles.
As Africa’s automotive landscape evolves, both South Africa and Morocco face numerous challenges, including structural issues within their respective economies, competition from Chinese manufacturers, and the pressing need to transition to electric vehicle production. According to Fitch Group, African automotive production is projected to reach 1.5 million units by 2026, with an ambitious goal of 2.2 million units by 2035. However, manufacturers must swiftly adapt to the shifting dynamics of the automotive industry to remain competitive, particularly in the burgeoning electric vehicle market.
As reported by afrique.le360.ma.
