Upon arriving in Morocco, I was immediately struck by the unique experience of driving along its winding roads, surrounded by an array of old, rusted cars and trucks laden with various items. My journey began in Ouarzazate at 9 AM, and despite the fatigue from an early morning flight, I felt as if I had stepped back in time by fifty years. The vehicles on the roads here are not just different from the modern cars we see in Europe; they almost seem to rejuvenate the older models that we do use, despite our complaints about an average vehicle age exceeding 14 years.
As I continued my drive, I passed by an Isuzu pickup that I suspected was from the 1980s. Initially unsure of its exact model, I later identified it as likely being an Isuzu Faster, a vehicle that has undoubtedly been in service for around 45 years. Shortly after, I encountered a motocarro with a trailer—a bizarre sight not even seen in the most remote areas of my home country. This was followed by a small truck, which would barely qualify as such, overflowing with sheep in the cargo area. It is also common to see larger trucks brimming with hay, mattresses, and all sorts of miscellaneous goods.
However, it’s not all about vintage vehicles; there are also modern French cars like the Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio, along with an overwhelming presence of Dacias in various colors, types, and models. The dominance of this Romanian brand in Morocco is notable, largely due to their manufacturing plants located in Tangier and Casablanca. One can hardly go a minute without encountering a Logan, Sandero, Dokker, or Duster—both for private use and as taxis.
This brings me to a thought: could Spain ever experience a similar automotive landscape if the EU regulations remain ambiguous? I would wager against it, as the transition towards electrification is already underway. The influx of new Chinese car brands is enhancing competition and driving down prices, which will undoubtedly lead to a gradual renewal of the vehicle fleet.
At this point, I realize I haven't yet shared the true purpose of my visit to Morocco. I'm here on vacation, albeit as the type of person who prefers to tire themselves out during their downtime. My trip is centered around participating in the Skoda Titan Desert Morocco, the toughest mountain biking stage race in existence, which comprises six stages covering nearly 600 kilometers and 5,000 meters of accumulated elevation, including two marathon days, reminiscent of the Dakar Rally.
And since we’re on the topic of cycling, let me remind you of the best systems for transporting your bike in your car. Ensuring safe travel is crucial not just for you, but for all other road users. Given my profession and Skoda's involvement in this event, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to test one of their vehicles on the dunes.
Specifically, I took the Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4 for a spin. I won’t disclose too many details here, as I’m preparing a special review for the upcoming issue of our magazine, which will hit the stands on May 29. Rest assured, I had a blast, akin to a child playing in a ball pit.
Enrique Trillo has been the editor-in-chief of Auto Bild since 2005. You can find him writing car reviews, producing videos, and covering news and analyses within the automotive sector.
As reported by autobild.es.
