RABAT, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Italian auto parts manufacturer Magneti Marelli has begun the construction of a shock-absorber factory in the northern Moroccan city of Tangier, local media reported Wednesday.

According to Le360.ma news site, the factory will cover an area of approximately 20,000 square meters, with the start of production within 2019.

The production capacity will be about six million pieces with about 500 jobs created.

The deal for building the factory was signed by the Moroccan government and Magneti Marelli in September 2017, requiring about 42.7 million U.S. dollars in investment.

Magneti Marelli, a subsidiary of Fiat since 1967, designs and produces advanced systems and components for the automotive industry.