Morocco secures €100 million funding to build Africa's first EV battery hub. The African Development Bank said the financing will back a Gotion Power Morocco project that aims to establish the continent's first integrated lithium iron phosphate battery gigafactory. Reading Time: 2 mins read Morocco secured a €100 million ($116 million) loan from the African Development Bank Group to help finance Africa's first integrated lithium iron phosphate battery plant, strengthening the North African country's push to become a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing. The funding, approved for Gotion Power Morocco, will support the construction of a cathode-to-cell battery gigafactory in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Free Trade Zone, according to the lender. The bank also plans to mobilize as much as €141 million from other financial institutions for the project. The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced the financing on July 24, saying the facility will be the first integrated battery manufacturing plant in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa region. The project's initial phase is expected to produce 10 gigawatt-hours of battery cells and packs annually, with plans to expand capacity to 100 gigawatt-hours. The factory is being developed by Gotion High-Tech Co., a Chinese battery maker listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company is seeking to capitalize on growing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage technologies as governments accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. Kevin Kariuki, the bank's vice president for power, energy, climate and green growth, said battery storage remains the "missing link" in Africa's clean-energy transition. He said a facility powered largely by renewable energy would help integrate more solar and wind power into electricity grids while creating jobs and strengthening industrial supply chains. Morocco has emerged as one of Africa's leading automotive manufacturing centers, attracting investment from global carmakers and suppliers. The government is betting that battery production will deepen the country's role in electric mobility and green technology value chains. Achraf Tarsim, the bank's country manager for Morocco, called the project a "major catalyst" for the country's industrial competitiveness and said it would accelerate Morocco's rise as a manufacturing base for sustainable mobility industries. The project is expected to create more than 600 direct jobs in its first phase and achieve a local integration rate of 70%, according to the bank. According to the AfDB, the project is expected to support regional battery and electric-vehicle supply chains while promoting the local processing of minerals needed for the energy transition. Gotion High-Tech, based in Hefei, China, develops lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems and battery materials and operates research and manufacturing facilities across multiple continents. Get the inside story. Get in touch for more: Editorial Director, Bantu Gazette

Morocco secures $114 million in funding for Africa's first EV battery factory. Updated 8:15 AM PDT, July 24, 2026 NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $110 million loan to support the construction of Africa's first gigafactory in Morocco, backing the continent's push to build a domestic electric vehicle battery industry. The loan to Gotion Power Morocco will finance the development of an integrated lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Free Trade Zone, the bank said Friday. The bank said it also plans to mobilize up to $162.6 million in additional financing from development partners for the project under the New African Financial Architecture for Development initiative, where it is serving as mandated lead arranger. Morocco's EV sector is booming. The country hosts more than 250 companies that manufacture cars or their components, including Stellantis and Renault, as well as Chinese, Japanese, American and Korean factories. Across Africa, the use of electric vehicles is surging as soaring prices and fuel shortages compel countries to opt for cleaner and cheaper transport. Led by China's Gotion High-Tech Co. Ltd., the Moroccan project will establish the first integrated battery manufacturing plant in Africa, the Middle East and North Africa region. The factory is expected to produce 10 gigawatt-hours of battery cells and packs annually for electric vehicles during its first phase, with plans to expand capacity to 100 GWh. "Battery storage is the missing link in Africa's clean energy transition," Kevin Kariuki, the bank's vice president for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, said in a statement.

News roundup: jun 8, 2026. Audi's surprise supercar. The Audi Nuvolari is envisioned as an unexpected new halo supercar for the brand, effectively reviving the spirit of the R8 with inspiration from the recent Concept C and a name that recalls both prewar racing legend Tazio Nuvolari and Audi's 2003 concept heritage. Developed in just 14 months and timed to coincide with Audi's first Formula 1 season, it would be powered by a 987-hp plug-in hybrid system using three axial-flux motors derived from the Lamborghini Temerario, making it Audi's fastest and most powerful production car. Beyond its dramatic new front-end design, carbon-fiber bodywork, active aerodynamics, brake-by-wire system, and advanced torque-vectoring chassis, the Nuvolari would blend supercar performance with cutting-edge engineering. Inside, it adopts a driver-focused cabin trimmed in premium materials and anodized aluminum details, while its exclusivity is underscored by a €600,000 price and a production cap of 499 units. WHY IT MATTERS: Audi is beginning to show how the new design language defined by the Concept C could be applied to other product segments - and the Nuvolari gives Audi a halo vehicle that some brands (like VW) lack. If Audi has learned anything from Lamborghini, this is likely a high-margin vehicle that will contribute to Audi's bottom line. THE BOTTOM LINE: A stunning and sophisticated supercar that gives Ferrari's F80 a run for its money. Hummer gets smaller. The Hummer X is a pair of new concepts from GM's Pasadena advanced design studio that reimagine the Hummer brand for hands-on enthusiasts who want to build, modify, and personalize their vehicles. Smaller than today's Hummer EVs, the concepts introduce a tougher new design language with radiused edges, laser-welded seams, visible fasteners, and extensive use of FLEX FAB metal printing for low-volume production. Their engineering emphasizes design-for-disassembly, making upgrades and part swaps easier, while serious off-road hardware such as removable fenders, Multimatic shocks, large tires, high ground clearance, and even a deployable scout drone reinforce their adventurous mission. Inside, they combine stacked digital displays with recycled materials. WHY IT MATTERS: These concepts raise broader questions about whether these ideas could point toward a more relevant future for Hummer or even inspire a premium midsize off-road SUV elsewhere in GM's lineup. The current Hummer EV was launched over six years ago and it's unclear what the future of the nameplate is - or if it even has one. THE BOTTOM LINE: Plenty of clever ideas here that could take advantage of a market that Ford, Jeep, Nissan and Toyota already play in - if GM takes a chance. China invades Japan. EMTA #01 is the first model from a new Chery-backed brand aiming to become only the second Chinese entrant in Japan's distinctive kei-car segment after the BYD Racco. Scheduled to launch in 2027, the vehicle could eventually be produced in Japan after 2030 if sales targets are met, signaling a long-term commitment to the market. The EMTA name stands for "Easy, Made To All," and the project is supported by a five-way joint venture that brings together Chery, Jiangsu Yueda Automobile Group, battery supplier Gotion, Japanese retailer Autobacs Seven, and industrial painting firm Anest Iwata. The #01 is also intended to be just the beginning, with three additional EVs - likely a hatchback, an SUV, and a microvan - planned by 2029. WHY IT MATTERS: Exports are a key part of China's auto business, and China's willingness to enter a segment traditionally populated only by Japanese brands shows considerable courage. Chery's EV experience suggests the EMTA #01 and its siblings will be highly competitive entries for the traditional Japanese nameplates. THE BOTTOM LINE: Stylish - and likely aggressively priced - with enough features and tech to match the best the Japanese have to offer. Fiat's bigger bear. The Fiat Grizzly is a new compact SUV family, including a fastback derivative, that grows out of concepts first shown in early 2024 and shares its platform with the Grande Panda. Its design carries over recognizable cues such as the light signature and chunky wheel arches, giving it a rugged but approachable character. Fiat plans to offer the model with internal-combustion, mild-hybrid, and fully electric powertrains across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, reflecting a broad, flexible market strategy. In the United States, the same vehicle line is expected to arrive in 2028 under Chrysler branding as the Arrow and Arrow Cross SUVs. WHY IT MATTERS: Fiat, long a global volume brand, has been struggling in recent years, but the new Grande Panda and this SUV followup suggest a turnaround is coming. Bringing them to North America as Chryslers - not Fiats - might allow a pricing premium while offering new affordable entries for first-time buyers. The challenge is how to change these value-oriented products into something appropriate for the Chrysler brand. THE BOTTOM LINE: If they are as competitive as the Grande Panda, volume brands like Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Nissan will face a serious challenge. The new cheap Jeep. Jeep's new entry-level model appears to be a separate program from the next-generation Renegade and is positioned as a globally focused product for 50 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America beginning in 2028. It is expected to ride on Tata's ARGOS platform and use a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, though not the EV hardware seen in the Tata Sierra, suggesting a more conventional launch strategy. While Tata will license the platform and powertrain, Jeep will handle the vehicle's development work itself, with the Tata architecture chosen specifically for its all-wheel-drive capability and updated electrical architecture - advantages Stellantis' own Citroën C-Cubed platform could not provide. Production is expected at the Tata-Stellantis joint-venture plant near Pune. WHY IT MATTERS: Stellantis' "crown jewels" have been mismanaged over the past several years, and this new affordable entry should boost Jeep volumes in global markets to bring in more first-time buyers. It also may lay the groundwork for additional Stellantis-Tata cooperation. THE BOTTOM LINE: A smart idea that should yield a fun, entry-level offroader with a legendary badge. Airflow v2.0. Although Chrysler showed an Airflow concept several years ago, they shortly thereafter decided they were going in a different direction, but didn't offer any more specifics. Now, in a new video released by Stellantis last week that previewed a number of future products, one vehicle stood out. Most sources believe this is the new Airflow that was announced at Stellantis' Investor Day presentation, that would join the upcoming Arrow and Arrow cross. They would likely use the new STLA One architecture, which means it could offer ICE, mild hybrid, plug in hybrid, full hybrid, or electric power, or some combination thereof. It's likely to be around the same size as the Jeep Cherokee and come in at under $40,000 when it launches in 2028. WHY IT MATTERS: Chrysler's new CEO promised "more soccer, less balls", and an Airflow should put the brand right in the middle of the highly competitive compact SUV segment. THE BOTTOM LINE: If STLA One does everything Stellantis claims, it should prove to be a considerable challenge for existing players.