SEAT (part of the Volkswagen Group) announced that between 2020 and 202 five, its investments in studies and progression projects to expand new models and new equipment / facilities, adding up to the electrification of the range, would amount to five billion euros ($five.7 billion). This is a giant budget, especially at more than 3 billion euros in the last period.
The Spanish company recently announced the Cupra el-Born style (a successful brother of SEAT el-Born and the Volkswagen ID.3), which will be produced in Zwickau, Germany and will be marketed from 2021.
Specifications of Cupra el-Born:
With SEAT Mii electric, it will be the third all-electric style of the Spanish brands SEAT / Cupra.
The company is also expanding its plug-in hybrid with SUVs and sedans:
Having several models of add-ons of virtually none just a few years ago, turns out to be a big step forward. In the coming years, SEAT/Cupra is expected to electrify most of its range, after Volkswagen’s push toward electrification.
SEAT will invest five billion euros from 2020 to 202 five. The investment will go towards new studies and progression projects for vehicle progression in the SEAT technical centre, in particular to electrify the range, as well as to the services and amenities of the Martorell, Barcelona and Components plants. With this investment, SEAT is preparing to expand new models and evaluate the production of new projects to secure employment and bring the company to life in the long term.
SEAT President Carsten Isensee said: “This investment plan is our way of advancing long-term with determination and optimism, so that we have a stronger, more innovative and more sustainable company. Our goal is for Martorell to manufacture electric cars from 2025, when the electric car market has increased.
The president of SEAT also noted that “our purpose is to drive the transformation of the automotive sector in Spain. To ensure the long term of the automotive industry in Spain, we want the cooperation of central, regional and local administrations. We cannot make The plan presented through the Spanish government is a step in the right direction to continue expanding the automotive sector ».
One company, two brands
At a press conference held at the recently opened CASA SEAT to provide the company’s long-term strategy, SEAT’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing and CUPRA CEO Wayne Griffiths pushed that “SEAT and CUPRA are essential for business progress.” Each has a transparent role, personality and attributes and is aimed at other visitor profiles. They are completely complemented and cannot be replaced. SEAT is the gateway to the Volkswagen Group: we have the youngest consumers, on average 10 years younger, and many buyers for the first time. CUPRA, on the other hand, is targeting a new marketplaceplace segment that sits between the massive marketplaceplace and the classic premium marketplace. We are convinced that there is a wonderful prospect of expansion among consumers who are seeking CUPRA’s uniqueness. »
According to Carsten Isensee, “SEAT is, and will be even more so in the long term, a company with two well-defined brands within its structure: SEAT and CUPRA. SEAT and CUPRA are two sides of the same coin. SEAT offers CUPRA is the basis for expansion in terms of production, studies and progression and human resources, and CUPRA allows SEAT to shift its center of gravity to more emotional cars with superior positioning.” Isensee added that “unions and corporate percentage control are an unusual view and we are running hand in hand with the company and its brands.”
The investment capacity of the two brands lies in the design of SEAT, as well as assets such as more than 15,000 workers and 3 production sites: SEAT Martorell, SEAT Barcelona and SEAT Components. The company’s headquarters and the artistic and technological perspectives accumulated in the technical environment and design medium are also found in Martorell under the design of the corporate SEAT. And nearby, in Barcelona, are CASA SEAT and SEAT: CODE, the means of software progression of SEAT.
Even today, the company announced that SEAT: CODE will have a new one in the center of Barcelona’s Rambla, with a team of more than 150 software developers committed to driving the company’s virtual transformation and creating virtual products and responses to bring SEAT and CUPRA to life, as well as the definition of virtual responses for the Volkswagen Group. SEAT has already added 20 new professionals to SEAT: CODE and from now on and in the coming months it will rent another 100.
CUPRA gains momentum with the new el-Born
Since the birth of CUPRA in February 2018, the logo has grown exponentially, exceeding all expectations. After the opening of the CUPRA garage and the presentation of cupRA Leon and CUPRA Formentor, which began its previous reservation today, the corporate concept of the el-Born car would be presented as a CUPRA model.
“CupRA el-Born presents all the genes of CUPRA lopass and is living evidence that functionality and electrification go hand in hand. This will allow us to take a step in the era of electrification, increase sales and increase the contribution margin,” Wayne Griffiths said.
The CUPRA el-Born is fully designed and evolved in Barcelona, and as expected, will be manufactured in Zwickau, Germany, on the MEB platform. El-Born will hit the market in 2021.
Griffiths noted that “the launch of the CUPRA logo two years ago was a wonderful success. The disruption that is taking place in the automotive industry is an ideal opportunity for the emergence of new logos like CUPRA. We, CUPRA’s perspective is so wonderful that we can succeed in sales of one billion euros when we have in the market the complete diversity of products.
Speaking of Formentor, CUPRA CEO says that “it represents the next step in the expansion of CUPRA’s portfolio and marks a new phase in brand progression, and is a gateway to a new customer market. This is a turning point in our purpose to win over car enthusiasts around the world.
Moderate optimism for the time being part of the year
SEAT President Carsten Isensee also gave an update on the first six months of the year, an era marked by coronavirus. Isensee said that “the first part of the year was probably one of the hardest in the history of seats. Fiscal year 2020 and 2021 were intended to be challenging and the very serious ones would have an effect on COVID-19 in the automotive industry. In any case, Isensee expressed moderate optimism about the expansion of activity in the coming months: “In recent weeks we have begun to see a slight improvement as we begin to resume activity. We are confident of a recovery, at least partial, by the time of 2020. »
From a commercial point of view, Martorell’s SEAT plant has almost absolutely returned to its pre coronavirus production rate and now produces around 1900 cars consistent with the day, and plants in Barcelona and Components are also close to returning to pre-coronavirus volumes. The Martorell plant is now entering the moment part of the year, which will be marked through the start of production of the new Formentor, the first CUPRA model of hundreds consistent and the new hybrid leon plug-in. Both cars will be manufactured in line 2 at the Martorell plant, which this year introduced the fourth generation of the Lion.
Tomorrow, SEAT M. launches new subscription in Barcelona
In addition to having four-wheeled vehicles, the SEAT logo will also offer two-wheeled responses through SEAT M, a new logo committed to micromobility that has been incorporated into the seat logo structure. Three weeks ago, SEAT introduced two new products: the 120% electric SEAT M eScooter and the SEAT M-eKickScooter 65.
Starting tomorrow, SEAT M offers a new style of subscription in Barcelona, an all-inclusive mobility service that allows access to the scooter 100 percent electric shared during days, weeks or months (including maintenance, insurance, recharging) without the legal responsibility to be permanent. for 150 euros / month from 3 months rent. The exchange service will also start in Barcelona in the coming weeks.