Seat boss Wayne Griffiths says the model “is in great health”, with its whole mannequin line-up set to be refreshed within the near-future – and it’s persevering with to analyze choices for a future entry-level electrical automotive.
In current years, the Barcelona agency has put its give attention to performance-oriented sibling model Cupra, which has led to studies that the Seat model might in the end be retired.
But talking at Seat SA’s annual media convention, Griffiths insisted that the model nonetheless has a key position to play. “For us, it was always clear that the brand was not going to disappear,” he stated. “Why would you let a brand that has existed for 70 years disappear? The question is: when is the right time to do more?”
Griffiths stated that the current give attention to Cupra was needed to enhance the corporate’s margins and profitability, and that the flexibility to extend Seat’s volumes was impacted lately by the semiconductor scarcity.
But the agency offered round 290,000 Seat fashions final 12 months, an increase of 24% 12 months on 12 months. Griffiths added: “The message is clear: the Seat brand is in great health and will continue to play a key role in meeting our profitable growth in the future.”
He stated that it’s “important to get the Seat brand back where it belongs”, which is able to contain “new investments in the brand and its models”.
The Seat Leon will obtain a facelift this 12 months, with revamped variations of the Seat Arona crossover – the model’s best-seller – and Seat Ibiza hatch as a consequence of observe in 2025. The agency gave a primary take a look at the styling of these fashions in a video through the media convention. The Ateca may also be “upgraded and have its life extended” sooner or later.
Griffiths hinted that the up to date fashions will obtain revised plug-in hybrid and fuel-efficient powertrains, which is able to likely match these of different lately up to date Volkswagen Group fashions that sit on the MQB platform.
