Chinese tire manufacturer Yongsheng Rubber has begun construction of its first factory outside China, located in the Betoya free zone in Morocco’s Driouch province. The $675 million (6.2 billion dirhams) investment marks a strategic shift for the company toward localized production rather than exporting exclusively from China.
The plant will focus on research, development, and production of passenger car and light truck tires using advanced industrial technology. Initial annual output is expected to reach six million tires, with plans to double capacity to twelve million within three years.
Yongsheng said Morocco was chosen for its strategic location at the crossroads of trade routes linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The proximity to Nador West Med Port offers key logistical advantages for global exports and competitiveness.
The new plant follows the company’s December 2024 agreement to build a $10.4 billion tire complex in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, with a capacity of 17 million tires per year. Together, the two projects lay the groundwork for a transcontinental industrial network connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
To support the Moroccan project, Yongsheng has launched a recruitment program for Arabic-speaking translators, who will undergo six months of training at the company’s headquarters in Dongying, Shandong province, before relocating to Morocco. Their role will include technical translation, cultural mediation, and trade facilitation.
Founded nearly four decades ago, Yongsheng Rubber produces about 20 million semi-steel tires and six million all-steel tires annually under the Yongsheng, Jixiang, and Lutailai brands. The Moroccan factory marks a key step in its global expansion strategy, reinforcing the growing presence of Chinese tire manufacturers on the international stage.
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