Photo: SEAT
If you think the Volkswagen Golf is a bit boring, then you are probably going to consider the SEAT Leon. It's got the same features and engines, but costs considerably less when you haggle with the dealer. Some say the Mk3 model is not as vicious as the older generation, and that hurts the whole brand, but SEAT says the opposite is true.
In a recent interview, the CEO of the company hinted that SEAT is no longer Volkswagen's version of Alfa Romeo. In fact, the Spanish brand is now focusing exclusively on attracting more family customers with its lineup.
Talking with Automotive News, CEO Juergen Stackmann mentioned two "magic decisions" that helped them recover. One was the introduction of an estate Leon version and the other assembling the Audi Q3 at an underutilized factory near Barcelona. He says the Q3 dramatically increased quality at the Martorell plant and help them achieve profits.
Over the past seven years, SEAT posted nothing but losses, yet recorded its first quarter of gains in the period from January to March 2015.
“I’m glad we are far beyond Alfa in terms of volume and market relevance,” Stackmann told reporters at a press event in London.
How much further? Well, that depends on who you ask. SEAT ended 2014 with a new increase in sales, which grew by 10% to 390,500 vehicles, achieving its best result since 2007.
SEAT accumulates 21.7% growth in the last two years, almost 70,000 vehicles more than in 2012 (321,000). Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo wants to push its global sales numbers past the 400,000-unit mark by 2018. However, they only sold 74,000 cars in 2013. The new Giulia sedan should help, but we've already seen Fiat's CEO being over-ambitious with his numbers when they concerned the Maserati revival.
Both Alfa Romeo and SEAT are now aggressively targeting the SUV market, but the Spanish will get there first. Previewed by the 20v20 concept, their first 4x4 will be a compact model and be followed by two more by the end of the decade.
Talking with Automotive News, CEO Juergen Stackmann mentioned two "magic decisions" that helped them recover. One was the introduction of an estate Leon version and the other assembling the Audi Q3 at an underutilized factory near Barcelona. He says the Q3 dramatically increased quality at the Martorell plant and help them achieve profits.
Over the past seven years, SEAT posted nothing but losses, yet recorded its first quarter of gains in the period from January to March 2015.
“I’m glad we are far beyond Alfa in terms of volume and market relevance,” Stackmann told reporters at a press event in London.
How much further? Well, that depends on who you ask. SEAT ended 2014 with a new increase in sales, which grew by 10% to 390,500 vehicles, achieving its best result since 2007.
SEAT accumulates 21.7% growth in the last two years, almost 70,000 vehicles more than in 2012 (321,000). Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo wants to push its global sales numbers past the 400,000-unit mark by 2018. However, they only sold 74,000 cars in 2013. The new Giulia sedan should help, but we've already seen Fiat's CEO being over-ambitious with his numbers when they concerned the Maserati revival.
Both Alfa Romeo and SEAT are now aggressively targeting the SUV market, but the Spanish will get there first. Previewed by the 20v20 concept, their first 4x4 will be a compact model and be followed by two more by the end of the decade.
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