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Seat's Martorell Plant Will Make the Audi A1 Starting 2018

Audi has decided to invest further in the Seat factory in Martorell and will build the A1 there starting 2018.
Seat's Martorell factory 1 photo
Photo: Seat
The German brand is already using the Martorell works to build its Q3 SUV, and the introduction of the A1 strengthens the corporation’s trust in the Spanish facility. Currently, Audi manufactures its smallest model in its lineup in Belgium.

Meanwhile, the Audi Q3 SUV is only being made in Spain, but production will be moved to the German carmaker’s plant in Gyor, Hungary. The Gyor facility also makes the Audi A3 in all of its versions, along with the TT in both of its body versions. The production shift of the Audi Q3 and A1 will be made in 2018.

Audi is pleased with its Spanish partner, as the Martorell facility initially had a forecast of 100,000 units a year, but eventually exceeded that figure and made 478,000 units. The production of the Q3 marked an important milestone for Spain’s automotive industry, being the first premium vehicle to be made in that country.

The shift in production at the Martorell facility will also bring new investments in the plant, which should translate in improvements in the country’s economy with further employment. Thanks to the Audi A1, the Martorell factory will achieve its full production capacity, an impressive feat for a modern car factory in Europe’s recently troubled automotive industry.

The change in Audi’s production plans is being made to accommodate the manufacture of the company’s first electric SUV. Audi has decided to produce its own batteries and to build its future Q6 e-tron SUV in its Belgian factory. Therefore, the company had to make some changes in its network to accommodate the shift.

Audi’s latest investments in car production show that the automobile industry is in full-on rebound mode and that things are shaping up for the years to come. The importance of the decision is reinforced by the fact that the German parent company of Audi has decided to cut down on investments because of its Dieselgate situation.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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