SEAT to manufacture SUVs

Soon there will be another SUV (sports utility vehicle) in the market place.

Confirmation of the production of a SEAT SUV is a clear sign of the Volkswagen Group's commitment to the Spanish brand.

The new model will achieve a foothold in a growing segment that represents close to one million cars per year in Europe alone - a segment that has increased more than 40% over the past five years, and will continue to grow in the future.

The new SUV will further broaden SEAT's product range, enabling the brand to maintain its current growth momentum following the launch of the Leon family, now receiving numerous accolades and awards across Europe.

Development of the SUV will continue at the SEAT Technical Centre in Martorell, a unique hub of excellence in southern Europe with more than 900 engineers dedicated to innovation.

SEAT claims to be the only company in its sector with the full-range capacity to design, develop, manufacture and market cars in Spain.

A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona). It exports more than 80 per cent of its vehicles, and is present in more than 75 countries.

In 2012 SEAT had a total turnover exceeding six billion euros, with overall deliveries amounting to 321,000 units.

SEAT Group employs 14,000 professionals at its three production centres in Barcelona - Zona Franca, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the Ibiza and Leon, amongst other models. Additionally, the company produces the Alhambra in Palmela (Portugal), the Mii in Bratislava (Slovakia) and the Toledo in Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic) at Volkswagen Group plants.

The Spanish multinational also has a Technical Centre, a 'knowledge hub', bringing together close to 1,000 engineers whose goal is to be the driving force behind innovation for the number one industrial investor in R&D in Spain.

In line with its declared commitment to environmental protection, SEAT undertakes and bases its core activity on sustainability, namely reduction of CO2 emissions, energy efficiency, as well as recycling and re-use of resources. ∎