Stellantis to Produce New Fiat Koala at Morocco’s Kenitra Plant
Marrakech – Stellantis has registered a new model under the Fiat brand called the Koala, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The multinational automotive manufacturing corporation filed the trademark last week in Turin through Fca Marketing Group. The vehicle is expected to be produced at the company’s plant in Kenitra, Morocco.
The Koala is reportedly derived from the Panda platform. It shares the same smart car architecture used for the Grande Panda but will feature a distinct exterior and interior design. Pre-series units are already said to be in preparation ahead of the production phase.
More details could emerge on May 21, when Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa presents the group’s new industrial plan at Auburn Hills in the United States.
The Kenitra plant is already set to produce two other Fiat models based on the same platform. The Giga Panda, a seven-seat version, and the Panda Fastback are both scheduled to enter production in 2026. The addition of the Koala would make it the third Panda-derived model allocated to the Moroccan site.
Stellantis expanded its Kenitra facility in July 2025 through a €1.2 billion investment. The project includes €702 million directed at developing local suppliers. It aims to double the plant’s production capacity and raise the local integration rate to 75% by 2030. The expansion is also expected to create 3,100 direct jobs.
At the inauguration ceremony, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch described the project as part of Morocco’s long-term industrial ambitions. Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour indicated the country now ranks among the few nations with an annual automotive production capacity exceeding one million vehicles.
Samir Cherfan, Stellantis’ Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East and Africa, said the Kenitra project had exceeded expectations. Since its launch in 2016, the factory reached 200,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2020, three years ahead of schedule. The company also plans to produce 350,000 engines annually at the site.
Beyond standard vehicles, Stellantis has scaled its micromobility operations in Kenitra. Annual production of the Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino increased from 20,000 to 70,000 units starting in January 2025. The site also began producing electric charging stations with a projected output of 204,000 units.
Morocco’s automotive sector is the country’s top exporting industry and the largest in Africa. Different sources suggest production currently stands between 700,000 and one million vehicles annually. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the automotive sector created more than 180,761 jobs between 2014 and 2021.
The Koala registration signals Stellantis’ growing reliance on Morocco as a manufacturing base for its European and global markets.
Read also: Morocco Automotive Sector Set to Grow Almost 80% to $8.44 Billion by 2031
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