Overview
- At the Paris motor show on Monday, Seat CEO Markus Haupt linked the long-term survival of the Seat brand to pending EU emissions rules and warned that regulation will decide whether combustion models remain viable.
- Seat Group reported a 1.4% drop in vehicle sales through September with the Seat brand down about 6% to roughly 182,800 units and Cupra up about 2% to 250,600 units.
- Electrified vehicles remain a small share of Seat Group sales at about 57,300 units or 13% of the 439,500 total reported, and company leaders say there are currently no plans to electrify the Seat brand.
- Cupra is driving the group's electrification push: the Cupra Raval has about 51,000 orders and 14,800 deliveries so far and is central to plans to raise Martorell's electric output.
- Volkswagen Group sales are weaker overall, unions at Martorell warn that phasing out Seat combustion models could put jobs at risk, and the company is evaluating a second electric platform for Martorell with a decision expected in roughly two years.