ZF LIFETEC strengthens its global presence with a new location in Morocco

Tangier, Morocco / Alfdorf, Germany, 03/07/2025 +++ ZF LIFETEC, a leading specialist in passive safety technology for vehicle occupants, has opened a new plant in Morocco for the production of steering wheel systems. The state-of-the-art production site currently covers an area of 8,000 square meters and represents a milestone for the expansion of the ZF LIFETEC Group in this automotive growth region at the intersection of Europe and Africa. The official opening of the site took place on July 2, 2025. 

Production has already started successfully, and the plant currently employs around 350 people. ZF LIFETEC's new location is located in the automotive ecosystem of the Tange Med Zone (TMZ) industrial park, the Tangier Automotive City. The new ZF LIFETEC site produces steering wheels for the local and European markets. For the first time, the company now has more than 50 locations around the globe – each close to the most important markets and customers. With this new location, ZF LIFETEC is strengthening its presence as one of the leading system providers for passive safety technologies in the automotive sector. "With our customers and our sustainability principles in mind, we are pursuing the goal of keeping supply chains short and, whenever possible, producing directly in the local market. In this way, we are also keeping the risks low," said Rudolf Stark, CEO of ZF LIFETEC, at the grand opening ceremony. 

The company in Morocco benefits from its close proximity to major automotive manufacturers, state-of-the-art infrastructure and robust transport networks within the TMZ industrial platform. As a fully integrated project that dates back to the Moroccan King's "Plan Emergence" in 2003, the industrial park and port facility operator TMZ supports economic development and drives sustainable industrialization in the region. 

According to current production figures, Morocco has already established itself as one of the most important automotive locations on the African continent. By 2030, more than one million vehicles are to be built there. Several international and local car manufacturers produce combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles there for the growing African and the European market.

The official opening ceremony took place with numerous guests of honour from politics and authorities as well as in the presence of guests from business and representatives of customers and suppliers. The great importance for German Moroccan economic relations was reflected in the presence of the Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour and the envoy of the German Embassy in Morocco: "XXX quote to be provided by the ministry via TMZ until June 23," Mezzour said, pleased   about the new business settlement. 

Ahmed Bennis, CEO and Managing Director of Tangier Med Zones, also was positive: "We have the first logistics center in Africa and the Mediterranean that is directly connected to a competitive industrial platform of 1,200 companies representing more than USD 13 billion in export turnover annually. This international gateway also provides direct access to more than 180 ports and 70 plus countries. We have thus created promising framework conditions for companies like ZF LIFETEC and want to continue to do so in the future."

ZF LIFETEC CEO Rudolf Stark commented: "The very well-developed infrastructure here in the Automotive Cluster of the Tangier Med Zone, a well-trained talent pool and the proximity to our customers make Morocco an ideal location for us for long-term investments and growth." And Stark added with a view to the locally manufactured product portfolio: "The steering wheel, as a tangible interface between man and vehicle, has a very special experience and comfort function. That's why we attach great importance to it. Especially in the production of high-quality steering wheels, it is important to have the perfect interplay between the fine craftsmanship typical of Morocco and state-of-the-art art technology. They go hand in hand.”
The new plant is not only symbolic of the company's planned further growth with steering wheel systems, but also of the overarching cooperation of the ZF LIFETEC locations in the production triangle of O Porriño, Spain, Vila Nova Portugal and Jouamaa, Automotive City, Tangier. In the future, they will make a significant contribution to ZF LIFETEC's strong position in the automotive sector.