Renault has begun construction of a plant in Algeria that will produce the New Symbol, a low-cost model based on its Dacia platform, as the French carmaker seeks to expand its presence in North Africa.

The 50 million euro plant will have an annual capacity of 25,000 units. It will begin completely knocked down production (CKD) of New Symbol in November 2014 for the local market.

Renault Algeria Production, a joint venture between Renault and the Algerian government, will operate the plant, which will employ 350 workers.

Renault expects to expand the plant’s capacity to 75,000 units per year and to build other models there, but the company did not provide details.

The plant will be Renault’s first in the country since it exited the market after Algeria gained independence from France in 1962.

A Renault spokeswoman could not confirm reports that the New Symbol will be a rebadged Dacia Logan, but said it will be based on the Renault MO platform, on which the Logan is based. Renault previously said the New Symbol would be a rebadged Clio subcompact.

Renault hopes to take advantage of fast growth in the North African markets of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia, where new-car sales are expected to increase to 880,000 units in 2015 from 759,000 units in 2012, according to IHS Automotive.