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As the world is grappling with climate change and urbanization challenges, Morocco is keen to prove itself as an unexpected pioneer in sustainable and green mobility.
The North African country isn’t only adapting to the green mobility transition but also positioning itself to lead it, with ambitious plans that could reshape the African continent’s transportation landscape.
At the recent Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025 (GIES2025) in Casablanca, Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour unveiled a bold vision that would place Morocco among an elite group of nations with complete electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing capabilities.
No longer a distant goal, but an attainable unfolding reality. Morocco is set to join the top elite of just six countries worldwide capable of processing every aspect of EV production, from raw materials to finished vehicles.
Looking at it from the big picture, Morocco’s approach is particularly noteworthy, as the country is building an end-to-end ecosystem, a distinction that could have far-reaching economic and environmental implications.
As the world is grappling with climate change and urbanization challenges, Morocco is keen to prove itself as an unexpected pioneer in sustainable and green mobility.
The North African country isn’t only adapting to the green mobility transition but also positioning itself to lead it, with ambitious plans that could reshape the African continent’s transportation landscape.
At the recent Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025 (GIES2025) in Casablanca, Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour unveiled a bold vision that would place Morocco among an elite group of nations with complete electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing capabilities.
No longer a distant goal, but an attainable unfolding reality. Morocco is set to join the top elite of just six countries worldwide capable of processing every aspect of EV production, from raw materials to finished vehicles.
Looking at it from the big picture, Morocco’s approach is particularly noteworthy, as the country is building an end-to-end ecosystem, a distinction that could have far-reaching economic and environmental implications.
The secret to the North African country’s strategic advantage? Its natural resources, particularly its phosphate and cobalt, which are crucial components in battery production.
Building on these resources and developing manufacturing capabilities for every battery component – from anodes to electrolytes – Morocco is aiming to establish a cornerwise integrated supply chain that could triple its exports by early 2030.
Morocco’s sustainable outlooks, from manufacturing to mobility
But Morocco’s sustainable mobility ambitions extend far beyond manufacturing. A revolutionary transformation is underway in the country’s public transportation system, with plans to procure 7,000 electric buses.
This initiative, aptly clocked to coincide with the 2030 FIFA World Cup, reflects the country’s drive to implement practical, sustainable mobility solutions.
Morocco has already made strides in such pioneering initiatives.
Casablanca’s tramway system has become a model for sustainable urban transit in the African continent.
Having transported over 357 million passengers over the past decade, the system proves that clean public transport can be both efficient and popular.
The tramway’s impact extends beyond mobility. The eco-friendly transport system has manifested into a catalyst for urban green regeneration in Casablanca. Over the past 10 years, Morocco’s economic capital has planted over 2,200 trees, proving greener objectives being realized on-ground.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s railway sector is equally ambitious. The National Railways Office (ONCF) has announced a substantial investment plan of nearly $939 million for 2025-2027, focusing on infrastructure modernization and new rolling stock acquisition.
This investment, coupled with plans for extending high-speed rail services and establishing regional express networks in major metropolitan areas, shows Morocco’s commitment to comprehensive transport solutions.
The numbers tell a compelling story. ONCF’s Al Boraq high-speed trains carried 5.2 million passengers in 2023, a 25% increase from the previous year. Overall railway ridership reached 53 million passengers, with projections targeting further growth.
These figures reflect not just statistical success but a fundamental shift in how Moroccans view and use public transportation – and with ONCF’s green railway technologies, they can continue with a sound climate conscience.
Nearly all of Morocco’s trains are operating using green energy, according to a recent announcement by the railway company.
In 2018, ONCF launched Al Boraq as the first fully electric high-speed railway system in Africa, aiming to shift away from carbon-intensive carbon alternatives and promote more eco-friendly rail transport.
The timing of these initiatives is crucial. As the world races to meet climate goals and African cities face growing mobility challenges, Morocco’s model could provide a blueprint for sustainable development across the continent.
Climate change challenges
Morocco’s approach to green and sustainable transportation comes at a time when the international community is scrambling to meet climate change targets, as the countdown clock of irreversible damage continues to tick.
The vision strongly reflects that environmental sustainability and economic growth aren’t mutually exclusive, but are fundamentally mutually reinforcing.
As temperatures and tensions heat up, Morocco is determined to position itself as a major player in the fight against global warming and climate change-related challenges.
While the country’s innovative sustainable mobility initiatives are transforming domestic transportation, they are simultaneously setting a powerful example of how countries can align development goals with climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On the world stage, Morocco’s commitment to climate action is not recent.
The country was one of the first nations to ratify the Paris Agreement and host COP22 in Marrakech and has consistently demonstrated leadership in climate policy.
The North African country is showing commitment to SDGs, including but not limited to the Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9). Morocco’s revolutionary approach to green and sustainable mobility is in line with these goals.
Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025
Morocco’s green achievements are no secret. Not only does the North African country continue to share its expertise at different continental and global functions, but hosts gatherings of leaders, innovators, and like-minded thinkers who are also eager to reduce humanity’s footprint.
One of the most notable recent examples was Casaablanca’s hosting of the inaugural edition of Green Impact Expo & Summit 2025, which provided an opportunity for Morocco to cement its green and sustainable mobility transition initiatives.
GIES2025 was a platform that brought industry leaders, government officials, and international experts to convene around the current challenges of green mobility and chart the path toward a sustainable transportation industry.
Over the course of the three-day summit, discussions took place surrounding key topics in green mobility and decarbonization of transport.
On the agenda was a strategic agora-style meeting on transport decarbonization, and a specialized workshop on skills transition for sustainable mobility, which focused on preparing businesses and talent for future challenges.
More than just passive talk, the event not only brought these innovative ideas in sustainable mobility transitions to the table, but also how to pay for their implementation.
Panelists also covered the logistics of this public transportation shift, including the changes to infrastructure and services across territories. One standout workshop was led by Ayvens automobile agency, which shared global insights on the transition to electric mobility thus providing an expanded vision of how to move to more eco-friendly transportation systems.
GIES2025 further cemented Morocco’s position as an industrial hub and the central leader of Africa’s green mobility transformation, an ambitious initiative to help fellow African countries in their journey towards a more sustainable transportation system.
Today, many parts of the world continue to turn their eyes away from the pressing responsibilities to combat the damaging effects of climate change, opting for quick fix, money-hungry fossil fuel solutions. In this heated climate, Morocco stands out not only as an unlikely leader but an emerging model, facing these challenges head-on.
Source: Morocco word news
