It’s a matter of waiting. We have to wait and see until the major car brands only build emission-free cars. We have to wait and see until combustion engines are banned. We have to wait until batteries become better and cheaper, and therefore wait until there are cheap EVs with an acceptable range. Seat is extra interested in that last moment.
The Spanish car brand seemed to be on the verge of death and seemed to be overtaken by its brother Cupra. But Seat’s future could look bright. This is possible, because the brand is dependent on developments in the market. Seat boss Wayne Griffiths wants the brand to be there as soon as Seat can build an electric car that costs 20,000 euros and is still profitable.
Seat previously had its own Up derivative called Mii. An electric version was also released, but the little car was discontinued in 2021. At the end of its life, that EV cost at least 23,400 euros. Perhaps that name can make a return when Seat starts building the 20,000 euro electric car. Its brother Cupra also comes with a small EV.
Cupra will no longer convert Seats
Cupra de Raval ahead. This car will be on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.2 and should cost between 25,000 and 30,000 euros. Production of this car should start in 2026. According to Griffiths, Cupra and Seat work side by side ‘in perfect harmony because they do not interfere with each other’. The two brands will share technology, but look less and less alike.
Now the focus is on Cupra
It will be a bit quieter in the near future with Seat Ibizas, Aronas and Tarracos. Until the cheap EV is profitable, the Seat group will focus on Cupra. “My priority is profitability,” Griffiths counters Coach. The figures make the choice for Cupra logical. A larger share of the profit of more than 600 million euros came from Cupra than from Seat. More Cupra-badged cars were also sold than Seat-badged cars.
