SEAT springs a surprise with new electric scooter

BERLIN: Volkswagen-owned Spanish car company SEAT has come up with a nifty new electric scooter in a move that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.

SEAT said the fully-electric motorcycle equivalent to a 125 cc scooter will be unveiled together with technical details at the Barcelona Smart City Expo World Congress on Nov 19.

It is all part of a new urban micro-mobility strategy by Spain's sole car maker, which is now focusing on offering various sustainable solutions for cities while still making cars.

Past electrics from SEAT includes the SEAT Minimo concept car as well as the SEAT eXS Kickscooter powered by Segway, which was presented at the 2018 Smart City Expo.

SEAT has never built a motorcycle before and it will develop the model together with Barcelona-based electric motorcycle maker Silence. The scooter will then go on sale to both private customers and sharing fleets.

"We are taking a further step in our urban micro-mobility strategy by confirming the launch of the first eScooter in the history of the brand," said SEAT president Luca de Meo.

Barcelona has the most motorcycles per capita in Europe and also has a long-standing affinity with two-wheeled vehicles, said SEAT which is based at Martorel in Barcelona province.