The VW Group owned Seat brand says it delivered 39,900 vehicles in February, 25.9% more than in the same month of 2017. In the first two months of 2018, Seat sold 78,800 cars (+23.1%).
In January and February, Spain spearheaded deliveries with 17,100 vehicles sold (+18.1%), closely followed by Germany, which posted a 15.0% increase to stand at 13,700 units. Other exceptional markets were Switzerland (2,100; +27.8%), France (4,300; +26.8%), Austria (3,500; +18.5%), the United Kingdom (6,500; +17.2%) and Italy (3,700; +12.1%). Seat is also growing strongly outside Europe. Algeria remains the brand’s fourth biggest market at the beginning of the year after selling 4,700 cars, and sales in Israel went up by 34.9% to stand at 2,100 cars.
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Seat Vice-President for Sales and Marketing Wayne Griffiths highlighted that “there has been an outstanding increase in sales in the first two months of the year. We are one the fastest growing car brands in the industry and are gaining market share in strategic markets.” Griffiths added that “the Seat Arona is widely popular in the market, as are the Leon, Ibiza and Ateca. In addition, the launch of the new Cupra brand will have a positive effect in order to conquer new customers in the future.”
Seat President Luca de Meo said in Geneva that “Cupra is an example of Seat’s organisational restructuring with the aim of enhancing its position as a solid company that can encompass not only its own core business, but new spin-offs as well.
“Two further examples are the digital laboratory Seat Metropolis:Lab Barcelona and XMOBA, the new company we presented last week at the Mobile World Congress to identify and invest in business models related with future mobility.”
De Meo added that “SEAT is diversifying its business and developing new models that can be profitable, while continuing to strengthen its financial position.”
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By GlobalDataSeat also showed its Cupra e-Racer in Geneva, which it says is the world’s first 100% electric racing touring car.
“The Cupra e-Racer is a true motorsport car, delivering 300 kW of continuous power and up to 500 kW of peak power,” said Dr. Matthias Rabe, Executive Vice-President for R&D. “The Cupra e-Racer’s intention is to exceed the performance of the conventional version, to demonstrate Cupra’s technological capabilities at all levels.”
CNG models coming
Seat also showed a compressed natural gas (CNG) model, the Ibiza 1.0 TGI FR, which Seat said “reaffirms the brand’s commitment to Compressed Natural Gas as a clean, efficient alternative fuel”. Seat says it has one of the “most comprehensive CNG vehicle offers on the market, covering the urban, compact, and just a few months from now, the SUV segments with the upcoming launch of the Arona TGI.” Arona will be the first SUV worldwide equipped with a CNG engine. Furthermore, with its launch, Seat will become the Volkswagen Group brand with the widest range of CNG vehicles, offering less contaminating alternatives. Seat points out that CNG vehicles emit 85% less nitrogen oxide compared to diesel engines and 25% less CO2 than petrol engines, as well as eliminate nearly all suspended particulate matter.
See also: GENEVA INTERVIEW – Cupra strategy director Antonino Labate
