RABAT: King Mohammed VI of Morocco unveiled the nation’s first car brand along with a prototype of a hydrogen-powered vehicle. During a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Monday, According to Morocco’s MAP news agency, the recently unveiled car, known as the Hydrogen Utility Vehicle (HUV), was developed by Neo Motors, the first Moroccan-owned car company, and NamX, an automobile company based in Turin.

The president of NamX played a key role in creating the world’s first car with a patented removable hydrogen tank system. Additionally, the renowned Italian coachbuilder, Pininfarina, provided assistance in designing the hydrogen prototype.

Nassim Belkhayat, the CEO of Neo Motors, and Faouzi Annajah, the president of NamX, presented the project aiming to enhance Morocco’s automotive production competitiveness. Morocco is currently the largest car manufacturer in Africa, and in September of the previous year, the government made a commitment to double its electric car production capacity within a two-year timeframe.

Scheduled for release in 2025, the HUV addresses the increasing worldwide demand for eco-friendly automobiles. Unlike electric vehicles that require hours to charge, hydrogen vehicles can be refueled within minutes. In addition to providing longer driving ranges compared to electric cars, hydrogen vehicles also tend to be more environmentally friendly. —Agencies