A POPULAR car brand is set to make a dramatic comeback in the form of a low-cost EV just months after its CEO indicated that the entire company might be axed.
A new boss has taken the reigns and was quick to dismiss speculation that the marque’s days were numbered.
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It was only in October that VW Group chairman Thomas Schafer indicated that Seat would be absorbed into Cupra, which was previously its high-performance arm.
Speaking at the 2023 Munich Motor Show, he said that the “future of Seat is Cupra”.
It was suggested that Seat would continue to sell the current lineup of models with some minor styling tweaks until the end of the decade, before transitioning into a mobility brand producing e-scooters and electric mopeds.
The decision was justified on the basis that the cost of investing in both brands was “prohibitive”, while Cupra represented the “far greater” earnings potential.
However, new Seat and Cupra chief Marcus Gossen suggested that the brand may not be done for after all and sees a way forward in the budget-friendly EV space.
Speaking to The Sun’s own Rob Gill he explained that Cupra’s stonking success could potentially leave enough cash in the pot for wider investment in the Spanish brand.
Gossen said: “If the business case allows, there is always room for dreamers.
“We are really proud that the Cupra Raval and some of our sister brands will be produced in Spain.
“So let’s ramp up production and see what happens.
“We are working, if we maintain our profitability level, to find a solution to have the right entry products – you can maybe call it Seat, hopefully.”
He went on to remark on Seat’s “huge” potential but caveated his optimism with the fact that any new model would have to have the right production cost relative to the sale price.
This could potentially come in the form of a short-range version of the VW ID 1 to act as a low-cost alternative based on the same platform, which has been hinted at by company bosses.
It comes after Brits were handed relief by the scrapping of major proposed changes to MOTs.
