De Meo also announced that, following the launch of the new SEAT Leon in 2019, a plug-in hybrid version with an electric range of around 50km would follow in 2020.
SEAT's model offensive comes on the back of a huge increase in investment. Last year, the company allocated €962 million to investments and R&D, which is 11.6 per cent more than in 2016 (€862 million). Of this amount, €464 million was earmarked entirely for R&D. The strategy appears to be paying-off too - SEAT turned over €9.6 billion last year, up by just over 11 per cent on 2016.
The first two models to emerge as part of the company's new strategy will be the SEAT Tarraco, a Skoda Kodiaq-sized SUV and the Cupra Ateca, a sportier version of the current SEAT Ateca to be launched under the firm's recently-announced performance brand.
So how does SEAT plan to continue its growth spurt? According to de Meo: "more brands, more markets, more cars and more energies", also mentioning the need to further expand beyond Europe (only 15 per cent of the company's sales take-place outside Europe despite operating in 80 countries) and further invest in "connected car" technology and Compressed Natural Gas powered cars.
"2017 was a new year of records for SEAT", said Mr. de Meo. From a sales standpoint, "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." He added that "in just a few years we have turned SEAT into a relevant brand for a vast majority of European customers."
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