Marrakech, Morocco — Stellantis has unveiled plans to introduce a new Fiat model, the Koala, which is set to be produced at its Kenitra plant in Morocco. The announcement comes from Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, which reported that the multinational corporation has filed the trademark for the vehicle last week in Turin through Fca Marketing Group. The Koala, based on the Panda platform, is poised to share the smart car architecture used for the Grande Panda, yet it will boast a unique exterior and interior design.
Pre — series units of the Koala are currently being prepared for the production phase. Further details regarding the vehicle are anticipated on May 21, when Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa will present the group’s new industrial plan at an event in Auburn Hills, United States. The Kenitra plant, which is already scheduled to produce the Giga Panda, a seven-seat version of the Panda, and the Panda Fastback, is expected to see the addition of the Koala as the third Panda-derived model for the Moroccan site.
In a significant expansion, Stellantis invested €1.2 billion in the Kenitra facility in July 2025, with €702 million dedicated to developing local suppliers. The goal of this investment is to double the plant’s production capacity and elevate the local integration rate to 75% by 2030, creating 3,100 direct jobs in the process. At the inauguration ceremony, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch emphasized that the project aligns with Morocco’s long-term industrial ambitions.
Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour highlighted that Morocco now ranks among the select few nations with an annual automotive production capacity surpassing one million vehicles. Samir Cherfan, Stellantis’ Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East and Africa, praised the Kenitra project for exceeding expectations, noting that the factory has reached 200,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2020, three years ahead of schedule.
The Kenitra plant has also expanded its micromobility operations, increasing annual production of the Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino from 20,000 to 70,000 units starting in January 2025. The site has also ventured into producing electric charging stations, with a projected output of 204,000 units. The automotive sector in Morocco is the country’s leading exporter and the largest in Africa, with sources indicating current production to be between 700,000 and one million vehicles annually.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the sector has generated over 180,761 jobs between 2014 and 2021. The registration of the Koala further underscores Stellantis’ increasing reliance on Morocco as a key manufacturing hub for its European and global markets.
