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Seat to launch series of new cars ahead of first EV
Date: 22 March 2018 | Author: Sean Keywood
Seat is to launch one new car every six months until 2020, when it will bring out its first fully electric model.
The firm announced the programme of launches along with its annual results for 2017, which saw profit after tax rise by 21.3% to £245 million, and turnover rise by 11.1% to £8.3 billion.
The first new vehicles will be the Tarraco large SUV and the sporty Cupra Ateca, which are going on sale at the end of 2018.
Next year will see the arrival of the new-generation Leon in two variants - the five-door hatchback and ST estate.
In 2020 the electric vehicle will arrive, with a planned range of 311 miles, along with a crossover utility vehicle.
A plug-in hybrid version of the new Leon will also arrive in 2020.
Seat says it will remain committed to vehicles powered with compressed natural gas as well as conventional internal combustion engines, with a gas-powered version of the Arona small SUV set to launch this year.
Seat president Luca de Meo said: "The 2017 results are the outcome of a balanced development of all our models. Today we have one of the youngest ranges on the market, a little more than three years on average, which covers all the relevant segments in Europe with class leading products."
"In just a few years we have turned Seat into a relevant brand for a vast majority of European customers.
"We can be happy with the 2017 results, but we shouldn't be satisfied. Together we've closed a period of consolidation and now it's time to look to the future with the ambition to grow."
Seat vice-president for finance, IT and organisation Holger Kintscher said: "In 2017 we improved all our main financial indicators. Seat continues to invest in its future and this is generating excellent results.
"We completed the largest investment in 25 years, and thanks to this effort in renewing and extending our product range, we have established all-time records for net sales, profit after tax before extraordinary effects, and operating cash flow."
