Many have been wondering about the direction of Seat, the sporty mainstream marque of the Volkswagen Group. At the Munich motor show, it was revealed that Seat will no longer operate as a conventional car maker. Instead, it will focus on electric “mobility solutions” such as e-scooters.

With Seat’s new role, the car focus for Volkswagen’s Spanish arm will shift entirely to Cupra, the brand formerly known as Seat’s sportier sub-brand. Cupra will now take the lead in producing both fun and mainstream cars, which was initially Seat’s intended purpose.

For years, Seat was positioned as the Volkswagen Group’s answer to Alfa Romeo, offering dynamically adept and affordable cars. Cupra now effectively fills that role. Take the Formentor, a model exclusively available from Cupra. Despite its striking appearance and some quick versions, it is not a sports model but a family crossover. It can be leased for £315 a month with a 1.5-litre engine and an automatic gearbox. It’s a car that could easily bear a Seat badge without any noticeable difference.

Outside of Spain, it’s unlikely that the Seat and Cupra names hold such significance that it would affect car buyers. However, it’s possible that Cupra holds a different meaning for everyday car buyers compared to Seat. Alternatively, the distinction between the two brands might simply influence the way people work within the company.