Hyundai Rotem wins $1.4 bil. train deal in Morocco

The KTX Cheong-ryong bullet train, manufactured by Hyundai Rotem / Courtesy of KORAIL

Hyundai Rotem has secured a 2.2 trillion won ($1.4 billion) contract to supply advanced trains to Morocco, the company said Wednesday.

Under the deal, Hyundai Rotem, the train manufacturing subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, will supply double-decker electric trains to ONCF, Morocco’s national railway operator, marking its first entry into the Moroccan market. The contract is also Hyundai Rotem’s largest railway supply deal to date.

Hyundai Rotem’s largest past contracts include the Australian NIF double-decker train project worth 1.4 trillion won, the Queensland train supply contract valued at 1.3 trillion won and the Los Angeles Metro train contract worth 900 billion won for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Later in the day, acting President Choi Sang-mok sent a letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco to express gratitude for the trust and interest shown by his government in Hyundai Rotem, according to the finance ministry.

The double-decker trains, which can reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, will connect Casablanca with key regions, enhancing Morocco’s public transportation infrastructure ahead of its co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Some components will be manufactured locally to support the country’s railway industry.

Hyundai Rotem and Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail) will manage maintenance through separate negotiations.

The company credited its success to collaboration with multiple Korean government agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Transport Minister Park Sang-woo visited Morocco last year to promote the country’s railway industry.

Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund, a low-interest loan program for infrastructure projects in developing nations, also played a role in supporting the bid.

Korail's commitment to providing technology transfers, training programs and maintenance expertise further strengthened the proposal.

Hyundai Rotem said the project will benefit more than 200 small and medium-sized Korean rail sector companies, which will supply about 90 percent of the components.

The deal is also expected to expand Korea’s presence in the African railway market. Hyundai Rotem has previously worked on projects in Tunisia, Tanzania and Egypt, and this latest contract is anticipated to bolster its competitiveness in future bids.

“We will ensure the delivery of high-quality trains that provide safe and convenient transportation for both local citizens and international visitors attending the 2030 World Cup,” a Hyundai Rotem official said.