Company Estimates Hiring 500 Employees in the Kenitra Atlantic Free Zone
KENITRA, Morocco – March 22, 2018 – Nexteer Automotive hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on March 22, 2018 to celebrate construction of its new plant in Kenitra, Morocco. Initially, Nexteer will use the facility to manufacture Electric Power Steering (EPS) systems and plans to extend manufacturing to driveline products. The company expects to hire approximately 500 people by 2020.
Out of the targeted 500 new-hires, approximately 70 will be hired in 2018. Nexteer is actively recruiting specialists to support start of production and is searching for quality manufacturing and product engineers, quality technicians, machine operators as well as finance, HR, logistics and IT specialists. Interested candidates should apply to Nexteer by visiting nexteer.com/careers. The Company anticipates the employee count to reach 220 in 2019 and then 500 by 2020.
Nexteer’s new 18,000 m2 facility will be its first in Africa. Company representatives signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Moroccan Government to confirm its investment plans in July 2017. This was followed by the signing of the official agreement by His Majesty King Mohammed VI as well as Moroccan government officials and Nexteer Automotive representatives on December 11, 2017 in Casablanca, Morocco. These milestones culminated with today’s groundbreaking ceremony that was attended by many notable guests including Moroccan Secretary of State in charge of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy, Othman El Ferdaous.
“Nexteer is a global supplier of power steering and transmission shafts, and Kenitra’s plant will be its 25th factory in the world. This new project expands the automotive value chain and the sector gains both in depth and technological density,” said Mr. El Ferdaous, adding that the activity will also contribute to the development of the region.
“Nexteer’s key differentiators include our global manufacturing footprint and our in-house capabilities in producing high-quality, safety-critical steering and driveline systems. By establishing a new facility in Morocco, we are strategically aligned with our global customers’ needs. This location will also allow us to expand our geographic operations’ reach in both Africa and Europe,” said Hervé Boyer, vice-president and chief operating officer Europe and South America Division at Nexteer Automotive.
“We are appreciative of the Moroccan authorities’ cooperative approach and their plans for infrastructure development,” Boyer continued.
