The transformation of the unit, which makes the Leon hatchback and Ibiza compact car, will expand a range of electric scooters and rental services called SEAT Mo, SEAT chief executive officer Wayne Griffiths said in an interview here.
"I see an alternative in the cities to cars and also, perhaps, an alternative to privately-owned cars and more subscription and sharing,” he said.
The plans for SEAT indicate how VW is reshaping its 10-brand offering spanning affordable models to Bentleys and Lamborghinis in the age of battery driving and tech gadgets.
Last year, VW listed Porsche AG with the maker of the 911 sports car now Europe’s most valuable carmaker.
Parent VW is investing €10 billion (RM48bil) to transform SEAT’s facilities in Spain, including the Martorell and Pamplona plants, into a European hub that will make a range of EVs. SEAT will also lead the development of VW group’s small battery cars, where turning a profit is set to be challenging.
SEAT, like other carmakers, is under pressure from new European Union pollution standards for combustion-engine vehicles, saying they would cost about €2,000 per car to implement. This may make a range of models obsolete as the cost of complying with the regulation will be too high, Griffiths said.
The unit last year made just shy of 480,000 vehicles with an operating profit of €179 million.
Its Cupra brand, founded in 2018 with models including the Formentor, in 2022 doubled sales to nearly 153,000 cars with plans for more growth with new all-electric models next year and in 2025 with a mid-term goal to sell 500,000 cars annually.
Cupra is planning to sell a range of electric vehicles in the US and compete with the likes of Tesla Inc. and Nio Inc., Griffiths said. Entering the market would require a manufacturing facility in the region, he said.
"We could be a successful niche brand because we see other brands who are our competitors in Europe also making steps toward the US,” he said, referring to Renault SA’s plans to launch its Alpine sports car.
"If we want to be looking at the US before the end of the decade then we need to make decisions on product now.”
