Middle East, Africa Hosts First Supplier Convention In Morocco

By Deidre du Plessis; Frank Ulom

• Middle East and Africa Region is a growth region for Stellantis, in terms of Market Share & competitiveness.
• Stellantis shared Purchasing and Supply Chain strategy to the 80 suppliers from 11 countries in attendance from.
• Suppliers toured Kenitra Plant and met with Regional and Global Stellantis Purchasing leadership to embrace growth opportunities from the region.

Stellantis Middle East and Africa (MEA) hosted its first-ever supplier convention, in Morocco, on November 9 and 10. This convention chaired by Maxime Picat, Chief Purchasing & Supply Chain Officer, was highlighted by the attendance of Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco, Ali Seddiki, Managing Director of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE) and other prestigious guests from Public Administration.

This momentous event marked a significant step forward in the automotive industry for the region and was attended by over 180 participants, representing 80 suppliers from 11 countries (Morocco, China, India, Turkey, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and Japan).

The supplier convention was held in the context of Stellantis’s ambitious “Dare Forward” 2030 strategy, a bold strategic plan for the coming decade that will drive Stellantis to be ‘second to none’ in value creation for all stakeholders. The plan also commits Stellantis to becoming a carbon net zero corporation by 2038.

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Samir Cherfan, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis Middle East and Africa, emphasised the significance of the supplier convention by stating, “This convention is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the MEA region’s growth and prosperity. We are dedicated to transforming the automotive landscape, and our vision is firmly aligned with the “Dare Forward 2030” strategy. We believe in building a sustainable future by fostering local talent and sourcing strategies that empower our region and its automotive sector.”

Purchasing and sourcing play a pivotal role in Stellantis’ commitment to the region’s automotive development. The Company aspires to establish a competitive, sustainable and complete automotive ecosystem with a low carbon footprint, ensuring that its supplier base can efficiently cater to the MEA region and the broader Company requirements.

At the event, Stellantis shared its comprehensive purchasing and supply chain strategy based on three main pillars:

1. Stellantis plans to expand its sourcing base from 4 to 7 countries within the MEA region, with a particular emphasis on strengthening supplier networks in Morocco and Turkey. New bases will also be established in Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa.

2. The Company is committed to deepening localisation efforts, aiming to increase local content, including raw materials and sub-components. This focus on local sourcing fosters stronger connections with the communities in which it operates.

3. Stellantis is dedicated to actively promoting and harnessing national strategies for energy transition, aligning with its broader commitment to sustainability and environmentally responsible practices.

Middle East and Africa represent a vast and promising market with substantial growth potential. Stellantis is dedicated to nurturing the automotive industry in the region and has made strategic investments to address the evolving mobility needs of its customers.

Stellantis MEA aspires to be the foremost local player in the automotive sector and is deeply committed to developing a robust ecosystem of partners in sourcing.