- The Middle East and Africa region is a growth driver for the PSA Group with a new record rise of 61.4% and sales amounting to 618,800 vehicles. - The PSA Group is the only manufacturer covering the entire value chain in Morocco and Africa: regional control center, innovation, research and development, production and trade. - The group in Morocco is made of men and women serving a region of 81 countries and 4 brands with 100 importers, 7 production plants, two industrial JV, 4 commercial subsidiaries. - The Kenitra plant will be producing vehicles starting from 2018 and is expected to reach a rate of 15 vehicles per hour that is to say 100,000 vehicles in 2019

The Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy, Mr. Moulay Hafid Elalamy, held this Thursday, April 5, 2018, in Casablanca, alongside Mr.Jean Christophe Quemard, Executive Vice President for the Middle East and Africa region at the PSA Group, a press conference to present a progress report of the PSA project in Morocco.

Middle East & Africa: 2017, a record year for the PSA Group

In 2017, PSA Group's worldwide sales reached a record 3.63 million vehicles vs. 3.15 million, representing a growth of + 15.4%. The Group's sales in the region rose by 61.4% compared to 2016 with 618,800 units, including 26,800 units for the OPEL brand. The Group's overall market share in the region stands at 11.6%, which has been steadily increasing since 2015, in line with the objective of the Push to Pass plan (700,000 vehicles by 2021).

PSA Group and Morocco, an outstanding partnership in the automotive industry

The PSA Group is part of a unique strategy and an extended partnership vision with Morocco and covers the entire automotive value chain.

In January 2017, the group set up the regional pilot center in Casablanca covering 81 countries and the commercial activities and support for 100 importers and for the 4 brands of the group namely: PEUGEOT, CITROËN, DS and OPEL.

In July 2017, the PSA Group inaugurated the Morocco Technical Center (MTC). A Moroccan research and development center totally included in the group's global R & D system. In 2018, MTC will have 500 technicians and engineers in addition to the existing local subcontracting network.

These teams work on supporting the group's industrial sites in the region, developing R & D activities associated with the regional product plan, and developing local integration.

Also, in July 2017, the PSA Group signed an advanced research agreement with 9 universities and schools, Moroccan or based in Morocco. The OpenLab "Sustainable Mobility for Africa" has launched a research program, over four years, in the exploration of sustainable mobility systems around three main axes: • Electric mobility • Renewable energies • The logistics of the future

The industrial project of Kenitra is en route to success!

The PSA Group plant in Kenitra will help allow sales growth in the region and make Middle East & Africa a major base for profitable growth for the group. The construction site was launched at the beginning of 2017, the first recruitments were made, and the future suppliers are in line with the group's expectations.

All commitments are being met and the PSA Group is proud to announce that the first engine made in Kenitra was assembled in April 2018 and that during the month of July of the same year, the first pre-production items will be produced.

It should be emphasized that the production capacity in 2019 is expected to reach100,000 vehicles and 200,000 term vehicles.

The PSA Group's industrial project in the Kingdom of Morocco is based on the creation of a complete automotive ecosystem.

The PSA Group anticipates achieving by 2022 a local purchase volume exceeding 1 billion euros and a local integration rate of 60% at start-up and 80% in the long term.

The automotive ecosystem developed and supported by the arrival of the PSA Group in Morocco, has grown to include 62 supplier sites, including 27 greenfield. Of these sites, 54 will supply the group's plant in Kenitra.

Men and women serving a common goal.

The PSA Group is above all made of individual talents at the service of the collective good. They are men and women who represent our values and who are our best ambassadors. At the end of 2017, PSA Group's workforce in Morocco was made of about 350 people. These workforce in set to reach 1,000 before the end of 2018, and will double again in 2019, reaching 2,200 people.

The PSA Group in Morocco will eventually generate more than 2,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs.

During this press conference, Jean Christophe QUEMARD, Executive Vice President for the Middle East and Africa region at Groupe PSA, declares: "The PSA Group is setting up a complete ecosystem in Morocco covering the entire value chain. This has no equivalent on the African continent. ".

"The ecosystem of the PSA Group in Morocco is the symbol of a new transformation of the automotive sector as it is clearly migrating to a new era of production and initiating a significant move upmarket," said Moulay Hafid ELALAMY, Minister of Industry, Investment, Commerce and the Digital Economy, adding that "The ecosystem has made substantial achievements as it already channelling high value-added investments, with a supplier pool valued at 90%. It improves the integration rate and strongly boosts local sourcing. "

In addition to local integration and boosting the exports of the automotive sectors, the PSA Group project is helping to create a new industrial pole of excellence in the Gharb region, vector of territorial development and sustainable regional growth. .

About PSA Group The PSA Group designs unique automotive experiences and provides innovative mobility solutions to meet everyone's expectations. With its five automotive brands - Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall - and a diverse range of connected and mobility services offered by the Free2Move brand, the PSA Group aims to be a leading automotive manufacturer and the preferred mobility provider. client. He is one of the pioneers of the autonomous car and the connected vehicle. Its activities also extend to automobile financing with Banque PSA Finance and automotive equipment with Faurecia. More information on groupe-psa.com/fr.

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