Seat chief executive Erich Schmitt is planning to expand maximum capacity at the automaker’s main Martorell plant in Spain to 650,000 cars a year.
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Current installed capacity there is 450,000 units a year, but according to Automobilwoche, an extra 200,000 units could be added when demand is high by reducing production times.
When the new Ibiza goes into production, it will use the new Volkswagen A0 platform, which will take around six hours less to produce than its predecessor – total production time will be reduced to 25 hours. The plant currently operates three shifts, five days a week, but could add another day’s production each week, according to the trade newspaper.
From 2018 Seat is aiming to sell around 800,000 cars a year. Because of cultural links between Spain and Latin America, Schmitt sees strong potential for the brand there. He is also looking for growth in China.
“Entering the Latin American market would make sense if we produced there. We would have to use the existing VW plant network,” said Schmitt.
A decision is due by the middle of this year. Seat is currently testing market acceptance of the brand in China via so-called car clinics. If it does well, Scmitt will look for a local production partner there.
