2021 was a challenging year for SEAT S.A. The ongoing Covid-19 crisis and the semiconductor shortages affected the global automotive industry. The terrible war in Ukraine makes it even more difficult. In this environment, SEAT has managed the economic challenges well while also driving forward the transformation of the company with full power – and I would like to firmly thank the team around Wayne Griffiths for this.
The basis of SEAT S.A.’s success are exciting, desirable brands and products. The SEAT and CUPRA brands currently have the strongest model range in their history. New models like the SEAT Arona, SEAT Ibiza and CUPRA Born have been launched. As a result, demand is back at pre-pandemic level.
CUPRA is a strong, unique and valuable brand – and a key element of SEAT S.A.’s transformation.
CUPRA is an exceptional success story. When I took over as Chairman of the SEAT S.A. Board of Directors in 2021, the CUPRA brand was just starting off. Since then, Wayne Griffiths and his team have pushed forward with the excellent positioning of the brand. The CUPRA Formentor is already one of our bestsellers. And the brand-new CUPRA Born is a clear example of our commitment to electrification. Today, CUPRA is a strong, unique and valuable brand – and a key element of SEAT S.A.’s transformation to e-mobility.
As the second-largest car manufacturing industry in Europe, Spain has a great responsibility to achieve the Green Deal targets by 2030. It is essential to accelerate the creation of the electric vehicle ecosystem, stimulating demand and Spain’s charging infrastructure.
Volkswagen Group and SEAT are fully committed to e-mobility. Our ambition is to transform Spain into a leading European hub for e-mobility. That is why we have launched the Future: Fast Forward. If we are successful in making it reality in cooperation with the Spanish government, the initiative will transform the entire value chain, generate new, future-proof jobs and puts SEAT in the driver’s seat of e-mobility.
Our ambition is to transform Spain into a leading European hub for e-mobility.
The coming years will be marked by disruption and uncertainty, which is why, now more than ever, we must have clear direction. With its four strategic priorities, SEAT is ready to create a robust and sustainable future: the electrification of the company; the growth of CUPRA; the strengthening of the business model and the transformation of the organisation. This is a plan in which we firmly believe and which we are sure will help us bring the future closer to the present.
