Morocco has not adopted mandatory fuel economy standards or fuel economy labeling for vehicles, according to a recent study under the IMPROVE project. The study, implemented in Morocco by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), highlights a gap in the country's shift toward low-carbon road transport. The assessment was produced in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA).
The study reveals that transport accounted for 28% of Morocco's total CO₂ emissions and 36% of final energy consumption in 2023. Road transport ranked as the second-largest source of CO₂ emissions in 2022, at 17.5% of the total. Passenger vehicles alone were responsible for 51% of greenhouse gas emissions from land transport that year. The sector remains more than 99% dependent on oil.
Morocco's vehicle fleet has been expanding rapidly, with registered vehicles rising from about 2.68 million to 4.47 million between 2015 and 2023. This represents an average annual increase of 6.5%. The motorization rate climbed from 55 to 88 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants over the same period. In 2022, the average passenger car was 13 years old.
The automotive industry is a significant sector in Morocco, representing 23% of industrial value added and supporting 280,000 jobs across 230 suppliers in 2024. The sector generated MAD 154.49 billion ($15.45 billion) in exports in 2025, equal to 33% of the country's total. Morocco produced more than 500,000 vehicles in 2025 and aims to reach a production capacity of 2 million by 2030.
Despite its industrial ambitions, Morocco has not implemented vehicle efficiency policies such as fuel-consumption labeling, a bonus-malus system, CO₂ emission standards, or a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Existing measures are limited, including a scrappage premium for taxis and a ban on importing used vehicles older than five years. Electric and hybrid vehicles benefit from reduced import duties and tax exemptions.
Morocco's climate commitments are more ambitious than its current rules, with a 2025 Nationally Determined Contribution targeting a 53% cut in total emissions by 2035. The transport sector is projected to contribute 9% of that effort through 13 measures, including a bonus-malus system and CO₂ standards. The study sets out priority actions to close the gap, including deploying a system to improve vehicle and fuel-consumption data.
The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has stated its intention to introduce a bonus-malus system and is working on its design. The study emphasizes the need for early coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to ensure success. The implementation of vehicle efficiency policies is crucial for Morocco to meet its climate commitments and reduce its carbon footprint.
Key points
- Morocco lacks mandatory vehicle efficiency rules despite its climate commitments.
- The country's transport sector accounts for a significant portion of its total CO₂ emissions.
- The implementation of vehicle efficiency policies is crucial for Morocco to meet its climate commitments.
