View source for SEAT

{{Short description|Spanish automobile manufacturer}}
{{about|the Spanish automotive company|objects people sit on|Seat|other uses|Seat (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect-distinguish-text|S.E.A.T.|[[Rebour|Sociedad Española de Automóviles y Transportes]]}}
{{Infobox company
| name = SEAT S.A.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Annual Report – 2019 & Past Reports {{!}} SEAT|url=https://www.seat.com/company/annual-report/overview.html|access-date=2020-10-08|website=www.seat.com|language=en}}</ref>
| logo = SEAT S.A. logo.svg
| image = Seat headquarters Martorell Barcelona.jpg
| image_caption = Headquarters in [[Martorell]], Spain
| native_name = Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo (S.E.A.T.)
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[automotive industry|Automotive]]
| founder = [[Instituto Nacional de Industria]]
| area_served = Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America (except Brazil and Argentina) and Singapore
| key_people = {{unbulleted list
  |Wayne Griffiths ([[CEO]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2023/03/seat-delays-evs-until-after-2026-prioritizes-profitable-cupra-brand/|title=Seat Delays EVs Until After 2026, Prioritizes Profitable Cupra Brand|last=Pappas|first=Thanos|work=Carscoops|date=22 March 2023|access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>
}}
| products = Cars, [[electric vehicle]]s, [[List of auto parts|automotive parts]]
| services = Design, manufacture and distribution of SEAT cars and components
| production = {{increase}} 533,608 vehicles (2023)<ref name="AR2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2023 Downloads |url=https://annualreport2023.volkswagen-group.com/services/downloads.html |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=VW Annual Report 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| brands = SEAT<br>[[Cupra (marque)|Cupra]]
| revenue = {{increase}} €14.3 billion (2023)<ref name="AR2023"/>
| operating_income = 
| net_income = {{increase}} €625 million (2023)<ref name="AR2023"/>
| assets = 
| equity = 
| num_employees = 14,751 (2020)
| parent = [[Volkswagen Group]]
| divisions = [[Cupra Racing]]
| subsid = 
| footnotes = 
| caption = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1950|05|09|df=yes}}
| location = [[Martorell]], [[Catalonia]], Spain
| locations = 
| homepage = {{URL|seat.com}}
}}  <!--, and is legally inscribed in the official [[Mercantile Register of Barcelona]], book 23662, folio 1, sheet B-56-855-->
{{Infobox brand
| name           = SEAT
| logo           = SEAT Logo from 2017.svg
| logo_upright   = 
| logo_alt       = 
| logo_caption   = 
| image          = <!-- wikidata : P18 -->   
| image_upright  = 
| alt            = 
| caption        = 
| producttype    = Cars
| currentowner   = [[Volkswagen Group]]
| producedby     = SEAT S.A.
| country        = Spain
| introduced     = {{start date and age|1953}}
| discontinued   = 
| related        = [[Cupra (marque)|Cupra]]
| markets        = 
| previousowners = 
| trademarkregistrations = 
| ambassadors    = 
| tagline        = 
| website        = 
| module         = <!-- or: misc -->
| module1        = <!-- or: misc1 -->
| footnotes      = 
| embed          = 
}}
'''SEAT S.A.''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|s|eɪ|ɑː|t}}; {{IPA|es|ˈseat|lang}}; from Spanish {{lang|es|Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo}}, {{lit|Spanish Passenger Car Company}}) is a Spanish car manufacturer that sells its vehicles under the '''SEAT''' and '''[[Cupra (marque)|Cupra]]''' brands.<ref>"[http://www.seat.com/content/com/com/en/tools/navigation/meta/legal-note/legal-note.html Legal Note] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206165622/http://www.seat.com/content/com/com/en/tools/navigation/meta/legal-note/legal-note.html|date=6 February 2015}}." SEAT. Retrieved on 20 November 2012. "Autovía A-2, Km 585 – 08760 Martorell"</ref> Founded on 9 May 1950, it was created as a joint venture between Spain's government-owned [[Instituto Nacional de Industria]] (INI), which held a majority stake, Spanish private banks, and [[Fiat]]. After being listed as an independent automaker for 36 years, the Spanish government sold SEAT to the [[Volkswagen Group]] in 1986, and it remains a fully owned [[subsidiary]] of the Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.es/archivo/periodicos/abc-madrid-19860714-47.html|title=En 1985 hemos vendido más de 100.000 automóviles en el mercado exterior | trans-title = We sold over 100,000 cars in export markets in 1985 | language = es | journal = [[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] | location = Madrid | date = 1986-07-14 | page = 47 | via = Archivo ABC | access-date=2022-09-22 }}</ref>

The headquarters of SEAT S.A. is located in [[Martorell]], near [[Barcelona]], at the company’s industrial complex. Over 468,000 units were produced in 2020 with more than 427,000 cars exported to over 75 countries worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Annual Report – 2020 & Past Reports {{!}} SEAT|url=https://www.seat.com/company/annual-report/overview.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=www.seat.com|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Establishment {{anchor|Establishment of SEAT}}===
Spain is the world's eighth-largest manufacturer of automobiles. Its car market stands among the largest in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oica.net/wp-content/uploads/all-vehicles-2010-provisional.pdf |title=World motor vehicle production by country and type|access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-auto-india-set-to-be-6th-among-worlds-20-largest-car-producers/20110323.htm |title=World's 20 largest producers of cars; India 6th! - Rediff.com Business |work=Rediff.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> This, however, has not always been the case; in the first half of the 20th century, Spain's economy was relatively underdeveloped compared to most other Western European countries and had a limited automobile market. In this period, car production was limited, with only a few low-volume local manufacturers catering mainly to the luxury end of the market, of which [[Hispano-Suiza]] was the most successful. Spain's limited market for mass-produced vehicles was taken over by foreign companies operating through subsidiaries that either imported cars or assembled cars from imported parts, depriving the country of the technological know-how and large investments needed for mass production. The situation greatly deteriorated with the [[Spanish Civil War]] from 1936 to 1939. Car demand collapsed not only due to the greatly reduced purchasing power of Spaniards caused by war devastation but also because the multinational subsidiaries either ceased operations or were severely stricken by the war and its aftermath.<ref>S. Estapé-Triay. ''State and industry in the '40s: The Spanish automobile industry''. Department of Economics and Business – Universitat Pompeu Fabra – Barcelona, 1999, p. 8-11</ref>

[[File:Classic Seat 1400. Sign.jpg|thumb|left|200px|SEAT's first emblem on a car grill]]
The lack of interest shown by the foreign firms in the weakened post-civil war Spanish market opened an opportunity for local interests.<ref>S. Estapé-Triay. ''State and industry in the '40s: The Spanish automobile industry''. Department of Economics and Business – Universitat Pompeu Fabra – Barcelona, 1999, p. 23</ref> SEAT dates its origins back to 22 June 1940, when the Spanish bank '[[Banco Sabadell|Banco Urquijo]]', with the support of a group of industrial companies, ([[Hispano-Suiza]], Basconia, Duro-Felguera, S.E. de Construcción Naval, [[Euskalduna]], S.E. de Construcciones Metálicas, Fundiciones
Bolueta, Echevarría, etc.) founded the 'Sociedad Ibérica de Automóviles de Turismo' (S.I.A.T.) to establish Spain's own mass production car maker. The initial Banco Urquijo's project aimed at running the S.I.A.T. motor company as a fully private enterprise, but soon after 1941, the interventionist state holding company [[Instituto Nacional de Industria]]   followed a decision taken by the Franco government on 3 January 1942.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autobild.es/reportajes/seat-kil%C3%B3metros-m%C3%A1s-cortos |title=Seat: kilómetros más cortos |publisher=Autobild.es |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> The goal for the new national car brand was not to be only another licensee car maker assembling foreign designs and parts in Spain, but of developing the whole manufacturing process from design to assembly within Spain. Because of the country's lack of expertise in automotive mass-production development, finding a foreign partner that would contribute technically and with its models in the early years in exchange for cash, shares, bonds, and royalties became the course of action. With the rest of Europe having entered [[World War II]], and Spain itself in ruins from its civil war, the project was delayed but not abandoned due to its strategic importance.

[[File:JoseOrtizEchagüePhotoLab.jpg|thumb|right|[[José Ortiz-Echagüe|José Ortiz-Echagüe Puertas]], SEAT's first president, was in 1976 made honorary president for life.]]
SEAT under its current name was founded on 9 May 1950, under the denomination 'Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo, S.A.' (S.E.A.T.) by the Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) with a starting capital of 600 million [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]] – equivalent today of almost 3.6 million euros – in the form of 600,000 shares of 1000 pesetas each, and in a time when the country needed remodeling the fundamental structures in its national economy, just after the end of World War II. The birth of SEAT came almost a year and a half after the Spanish government and six Spanish banks ('Banco Urquijo', '[[Banesto|Banco Español de Crédito (Banesto)]]', '[[Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria|Banco de Bilbao]]', '[[Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria|Banco de Vizcaya]]', 'Banco Hispano-Americano', and 'Banco Central') had signed on 26 October 1948, an alliance contract with the Italian car manufacturer [[Fiat]] to form a partnership with a foreign ally to bring to life Spain's major car manufacturer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/company/we-are-seat/1979-1950.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512141444/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/company/we-are-seat/1979-1950.html|url-status=dead|title=History Of SEAT 1950-1979|archivedate=May 12, 2015}}</ref> The favoured bidders were Germany's Volkswagen and Italy's Fiat. Fiat's bid won for several reasons, including Fiat's prominence in Spain and the fact that the company established the short-lived 'Fiat Hispania' plant in [[Guadalajara, Spain|Guadalajara]], which was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. Fiat's collaboration with the French company [[Simca]] proved Fiat's ability to manage complex international projects. Fiat's experience in the semiprotected car market in Italy was seen as the most easily transferable to the one in Spain, both of which had, at the time, customers of low incomes and limited markets for cars, as well as similar road conditions. In Italy, Fiat dominated the market for vehicles under 12 horsepower, which would initially be the main market segment in Spain. The relative economic isolation of World War II damaged Italy and made Fiat interested in opportunities outside Italy, meaning that the negotiations with the Italian manufacturer could prosper more easily in favour of Spanish interests than those from other countries. In 1947, the Banco Urquijo group revived the S.I.A.T. project. In the next year, the talks ended successfully with the signing of a three-part contract, with the understanding that the INI would hold a 51% controlling interest, as well as a ruling act in the new company preserving a focused approach of the enterprise in the 'national interest'. The Banco Urquijo group, although a minority shareholder, looked forward to assuming a leading role in the future as soon as the company was privatized. Partner carmaker Fiat was offered a 7% share in exchange for its technical assistance. This way, SEAT would not only be able to reinitiate the country's economic recovery as the largest employer in the 1960s and '70s but would also contribute to the industrialisation of a largely rural economy.

[[File:06 SEAT zona franca, amb els laboratoris a la dreta.jpg|thumb|left|SEAT's Barcelona Zona Franca site and laboratories]]
Though initial thoughts were of locating in less-developed inland cities such as [[Valladolid]] and [[Burgos]], the company decided the plant would be constructed in the duty-free zone area of the Port of Barcelona (Barcelona Zona Franca), which would offer better access to the Mediterranean shipping and the rest of Europe through rail and road connections across the nearby French border. Barcelona was, after all, a city with an industrial history that had built up expertise in complex industrial enterprises since the latter part of the 19th century; it was also the host location of many early historical Spanish carmakers, such as Hispano-Suiza and [[Elizalde (automobile)|Elizalde]], and subsidiaries of foreign carmakers, such as Ford Motor Ibérica and General Motors Peninsular. Being an enterprise of vital interest for the national economy and an investment opportunity for Fiat's expansion plans through the Iberian peninsula, SEAT benefitted from state tariff and tax exemptions and technical assistance from its foreign partner Fiat. The company's first president was the industrial and aeronautical engineer, pilot, and photographer [[José Ortiz-Echagüe|José Ortiz-Echagüe Puertas]], who came from the Spanish aircraft manufacturer [[Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA]], where he had held the position of [[CEO]], and who in 1976 was named the Honorary lifetime president of SEAT.<ref>{{cite news|title=Muerte de José Ortiz-Echagüe, pionero de la fotografía artística en España|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/12/cultura/337557606_850215.html|work=El País archivo 12 SEP 1980|date=11 September 1980|publisher=El País|access-date=13 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=El legado fotográfico de Ortiz-Echagüe, donado a la Universidad de Navarra|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1990/11/23/cultura/659314804_850215.html|work=El Pais archivo 23 NOV 1990|date=22 November 1990|publisher=El Pais|access-date=13 December 2012|last1=Muez|first1=Mikel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=¿Para cuándo un museo en la antigua Hispano?|url=http://www.elheraldodelhenares.es/pag/noticia.php?cual=5893|publisher=El Heraldo del Henares|access-date=13 December 2012|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132945/http://www.elheraldodelhenares.es/pag/noticia.php?cual=5893|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Partnership with Fiat ===
[[File:Seat1400.jpg|thumb|upright|[[SEAT 1400]], the first model produced by SEAT in 1953]]
The construction works for SEAT's Zona Franca plant began in 1950, and the opening day came three years later on 5 June 1953, while in the meantime since 1951, the Spanish marque was starting preparations for setting up almost from scratch an entire supplier industry background. The first car in the marque's history to be produced was a [[SEAT 1400]] model that came off the production line on 13 November 1953, with license plate B-87.223. In the following few months, the plant's production output and workforce significantly increased together with the implementation of locally made components in the production process to limit imports from one part and from another part to push the development of the almost nonexistent Spanish supplier industry and meet SEAT's assigned key role as the national carmaker in restoring the Spanish economy of post–World War II Spain. By 1954, the use of Spanish-made parts had risen to 93% of the total, and the factory was officially opened the next year on 5 May 1955. Nevertheless, the impact on Spanish society could not be seen immediately since the first model launched by SEAT was considered a luxury car, so it was highly priced and still not affordable to the average Spanish consumer. Consequently, SEAT needed a second, more economical model to compete against simpler, inexpensive designs that appeared in the local market, like the [[Biscúter]], which seemed to suit better the unwealthy customers looking for a personal means of transport in a suffering economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thinkmilkandhoney.net/?tag=1950s |title=The world was a mess, but we had the Biscúter |publisher=Thinkmilkandhoney.net |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050107/http://thinkmilkandhoney.net/?tag=1950s |archive-date=2016-03-04 }}</ref>

Until the time SEAT had the technical maturity and expertise to present its first self-developed model, the [[SEAT 1200 Sport]] in 1975, in its beginnings, the company had to manufacture either rebadged or restyled models borrowed from the range of its Italian partner [[Fiat Automobiles]] or even redeveloped them according to the needs of its range. However, the first example of a SEAT-exclusive derivative would arrive in September 1963 with the launch of the [[SEAT 800]], a car developed in-house by SEAT with no equivalent model in Fiat's range based on the SEAT 600 as a stretched version with four doors.

[[File:Monumento al Seat 600 . Fuengirola - España.jpg|thumb|left|A monument in Spain for the [[SEAT 600]], a symbol of the [[Spanish miracle]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Fernando Fernández |url=http://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-14-11-2008/abc/Opinion/el-coche-como-simbolo-del-declive_911233353595.html |title=El coche como símbolo del declive |publisher=Abc.es |date=2008-11-14 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Simister |first=John |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/seat-600-764027.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111053959/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/seat-600-764027.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |title=Seat 600 - Features - Motoring |newspaper=The Independent |date=2007-12-11 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>]]
In 1957 SEAT founded the SEAT Training Centre in the greater Zona Franca plant area, an institution covering the training of qualified personnel and serving the needs of the automobile industry in specialized technical human resources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/19.html?g2_language=en_GB |title=El Centro de Formación de SEAT cumple 50 años |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224940/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2007/19.html?g2_language=en_GB |url-status=dead }}</ref> In that same year, the historical [[SEAT 600]] was launched, which proved to be the crucial car that literally motorized Spain, being the first car for many Spanish families and becoming a symbol of the [[Spanish miracle]].

As the annual production growth was hitting one record after another due to the heavy demand, the economies of scale permitted cutting costs and prices, subsequently renewing demand and boosting sales together with profits for SEAT. On 29 June 1964, the brand opened its new headquarters in [[Madrid]], which hosted the firm's sole – up to 1972 – general administration offices. SEAT's plant manager was only in Barcelona until 1973 when SEAT settled another general director in Catalonia.

[[File:Seat 850 Sport Jarama 2006.JPG|thumb|The [[SEAT 850|SEAT 850 Sport]], launched in 1967, was the first [[coupé]] model from SEAT.]]
In 1967, 14 years after producing cars for the domestic market, SEAT's success was signalled by its dominant position in Spain, ahead of its major competitors, i.e. '[[FASA-Renault]]', 'Citroën-Hispania', [[Authi]], and [[Barreiros (manufacturer)|Barreiros]], making SEAT Spain's largest automaker in sales numbers and a wholly localized production. In that year, an agreement between Fiat and the Spanish Ministry of Industry was reached to end the restrictions over exporting SEAT cars from Spain, a term of the original licensee contract agreed with Fiat in 1948. In exchange for that, Fiat would increase its holding in the company from 7% to 36%. At the same time, the share held by the [[Instituto Nacional de Industria|government holding agency]] would be reduced from a controlling 51% to 32%. The six major Spanish banks took the remaining 32%, which decreased from their previous 42% share split equally into 7% parts owned by every single one. Although not a majority owner, Fiat now was seen to control the business: the deal also included various undertakings by Fiat to help in the growth of SEAT, and with the development of a new model (possibly the [[SEAT 133]]).<ref name=Autocar1967>{{cite journal| author = Unsigned| title = News and Views: Fiat control Seat| journal = [[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | volume = 126 (nbr 3702)| page = 46|date = 26 January 1967}}</ref> On 6 December 1967, SEAT also founded its own customer financing company 'Financiera SEAT, S.A.' (Fiseat).

To produce its own research projects independently, on 16 November  1970, SEAT came in accordance with Fiat to start building separate infrastructures aimed at developing new technologies. In 1972, the brand arranged some provisional facilities for the site of the future technical centre in Martorell, and in 1973, it began construction work; this goal would come only until 1975 to be reached with the completion of the first phase in the construction of a facility designed by the Catalan architect [[Josep Antoni Coderch]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/CODERCH/_JOSE_ANTONIO/MADRID/MADRID_/MUNICIPIO/obra/arquitecto/Coderch/expuesta/Madrid/elpepicul/19890218elpepicul_5/Tes?print=0 |title=La obra del arquitecto Coderch, expuesta en Madrid |newspaper=El País |publisher=Elpais.com |date=1989-02-18 |access-date=2012-02-05 }}</ref>

During the same period, the manufacturer continued to dominate the Spanish auto market, producing 282,698 cars – more than 58% of the Spanish production total – in 1971, despite the disruption that year caused by strikes and a serious flood at the coastally sited Barcelona plant.<ref name=Motor197204>{{cite journal| editor-first = Charles | editor-last=Bulmer | title = Motorweek: Car losses hit SEAT| journal = [[The Motor (magazine)|Motor]]| volume = nbr 3640| page = 56 |date = 22 April 1972}}</ref> However, with just 81 cars per 1000 people, Spanish car sales were seen as ripe for further growth, and SEAT faced the prospect of increased competition with other major manufacturers contemplating the establishment or expansion of local production facilities in the still heavily protected Spanish car market.<ref name=Motor197204/>

In 1973, SEAT and Citroën-Hispania jointly contributed equal shares in founding the [[Vigo]]-located factory of Industrias Mecánicas de Galicia, SA (Indugasa) producing [[constant-velocity joint]]s, essential components used in [[front-wheel drive]] cars, ''i.e.'' in a transmission layout the use of which was becoming more and more common at the time. This plant, which in the next years would supply parts not only to SEAT and Citroën-Hispania but also to Ford España, was meant to be transferred later in 1986 to the multinational company [[GKN]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/GALICIA/INDUSTRIAS_MECANICAS_DE_GALICIA/_SA/Indugasa/invierte/780/millones/Galicia/elpepieco/19780623elpepieco_11/Tes |title=Indugasa invierte 780 millones en Galicia |newspaper=El País |publisher=Elpais.com |date=1978-06-23 |access-date=2012-02-05|last1=Martin |first1=Gerardo González }}</ref>

In May 1975, after a request from the Spanish state authorities to ensure the rescue of the jobs for the workers in the Authi-owned factories, SEAT moved on talks with the parent company [[British Leyland|British Leyland Motor Corporation]] (BLMC) of the bankrupt Authi to take over the brand's operations in Spain, leaving aside [[General Motors|GM]]'s interest in it, which would otherwise open the path for the American automaker to enter the Spanish market, thus jeopardizing the relationship with Fiat. The talks ended in July 1975, when an agreement was announced between the two parties under which SEAT would acquire from BLMC the Authi brand along with its assets for 1,250 million pesetas. The imposed acquisition of the Landaben plant would also give up SEAT's plans to build a new facility in [[Saragossa]]. Although the Authi supplier factory in Manresa was transferred to a company called Cometsa for 150 million pesetas, the Landaben plant in Pamplona remained under SEAT's ownership to continue production in February 1976 only of SEAT cars this time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?authiindexf.htm |title=Authi history |publisher=Aronline.co.uk |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003054221/http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?authiindexf.htm |archive-date=2011-10-03 }}</ref><ref>Investigaciones de Historia Económica (IHE) Journal of the Spanish Economic History Association, 2007, vol. 9, pages 141-172</ref>

The 1970s were a decade of rising prosperity in Spain, which is reflected in the announcement in August 1976 that SEAT would commence local production of the [[Lancia Beta]].<ref name=Autocar197608>{{cite journal| editor-first =Ray | editor-last=Hutton | title =News: SEAT to build Lancias| journal = [[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | page = 24|date = 14 August 1976}}</ref> Three years later, Beta production by SEAT indeed commenced at the company's recently acquired Pamplona plant, though only the coupe and HPE lift-back versions were included. The Spanish cars were fitted with a simplified suspension system and smaller engines than their Italian counterparts to qualify for a lower car tax rate.

In 1977, SEAT's leasing company Liseat was founded. In 1979, the Gearbox del Prat facility was set up as a specialised plant for producing gearboxes, gear mechanisms, and differentials in El Prat del Llobregat near Barcelona.

=== Dispute with Fiat ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
In the early 1980s, extensive discussions concerning funding and control took place between SEAT's major shareholder, the Spanish government, and [[Fiat|Fiat Automobiles]]; SEAT needed major capital investment, which Fiat was not prepared to contribute, partially due to the oil crisis of the 1970s and also due to the uncertainty for Fiat's interests following the end of a protectionist policy against [[General Motors|GM]] in Spain. The outcome, in 1982, was an end to the relationship with Fiat after nearly 30 years, a rather surprising decision despite the favourable perspectives for the Spanish economy, with Spain being in the anteroom of the [[European Economic Community]] since 1977.

[[File:Seat_Ronda_Front.jpg|thumb|SEAT Ronda]]
The end of the cooperation with the Italian firm was marked by a change in SEAT's logo in 1982, and the first car under the new SEAT logo without Fiat's involvement appeared in the same year, the [[SEAT Ronda]], styled by Rayton Fissore in collaboration with the technical centre in Martorell. The launch of this model sparked a lawsuit from Fiat against SEAT, as the former claimed the car was too similar to a car in Fiat's range, the [[Fiat Ritmo|Ritmo]]. In defence of SEAT, the then-president of SEAT, Juan Miguel Antoñanzas, showed a Ronda to the press with all the parts different from the Fiat Ritmo painted in bright yellow to highlight the differences. The case was eventually taken to the Arbitration Chamber of Paris, which in 1983 declared that differences between both cars were important enough not to consider the Ronda as a rebadged Ritmo, ending the dispute in favour of SEAT. Rumour at the time had it that Fiat was angry because the Ronda restyling was, in fact, too close to their own planned restyling for the Fiat Ritmo, which they had to scrap.

=== Volkswagen Group subsidiary ===
[[File:Seat Ibiza première génération - Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2014 - 004.jpg|thumb|The [[SEAT Ibiza|SEAT Ibiza Mk1]], launched in 1984, was the first model developed by SEAT as an independent company, together with [[Porsche]] and [[Karmann]].]]
In 1982, [[Carl Hahn|Dr. Carl Horst Hahn]], who had just assumed responsibility as the chairman of the Volkswagenwerk AG (Volkswagen Group), examined the opportunity of approaching SEAT after Fiat's withdrawal in his plan to expand the Volkswagen Group's operations out of Germany and turning the German group into a global force. It also followed the precedent set by other global manufacturers (such as Ford in [[Valencia]] and General Motors in [[Zaragoza]]) in setting up manufacturing operations in Spain. However, the Spanish authorities had already started talks with other foreign firms, such as [[Toyota]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/TOYOTA/SEAT/Seat/Toyota/pueden/haber/llegado/acuerdo/principio/elpepieco/19810901elpepieco_7/Tes |title=Seat y Toyota pueden haber llegado ya a un acuerdo de principio · ELPAÍS.com |newspaper=El País |date=31 August 1981 |publisher=Elpais.com |access-date=2012-02-05 }}</ref> [[Nissan]] and [[Mitsubishi Motors|Mitsubishi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autopasion18.com/HISTORIA-SEAT.htm |title=SEAT (1950...) |publisher=Autopasion18.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> to choose a strong partner for SEAT. Hahn's interest soon resulted in industrial and commercial cooperation, as well as a license agreement with SEAT on 30 September 1982, for the production in Spain of the [[Volkswagen Passat]]-[[VW Santana|Santana]] and [[VW Polo|Polo-Derby]] models in SEAT's Zona Franca and Landaben factories, respectively<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/SEAT/site/company/history/1989-1980/main.html |title=SEAT 1980–1990 |publisher=Seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206035931/http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/SEAT/site/company/history/1989-1980/main.html |archive-date=2010-12-06 }}</ref> – having thus as an effect on 29 April 1983, the ending of the [[SEAT Panda]]'s production at the Landaben assembly lines due to the need of adapting this plant to the production of the VW Polo – and eventually a partnership agreement was signed on 16 June 1983, between the two parties being represented by the president of SEAT Juan Miguel Antoñanzas and Carl Hahn on behalf of the Volkswagenwerk AG.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/component/g2bridge/26/?g2_itemId=22665&option=com_g2bridge |title=SEAT&VW group partnership agreement |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224935/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/component/g2bridge/26/?g2_itemId=22665&option=com_g2bridge |url-status=dead }}</ref> SEAT also gained the rights to distribute Volkswagens in Spain.<ref name=SEATint/>

SEAT launched its new Ibiza, a [[Giorgetto Giugiaro|Giugiaro]]-styled hatchback, which made use of System Porsche engines and also featured underpinnings from the [[Fiat Ritmo|Fiat Ritmo/Strada]], in 1984. It also formed the basis of the [[SEAT Málaga|Málaga]], a four-door family saloon. SEAT began expanding into markets beyond Spain's borders, including the United Kingdom, where it began selling cars in the autumn of 1985.

On 17 June 1986, after purchasing the 51% majority stake of SEAT and its share increased to 75% on 23 December of the same year, the Volkswagen Group became the major [[shareholder]] of SEAT. On 18 December 1990, the Volkswagen Group bought the remaining 25% of the company, thus making SEAT the first non-German [[wholly owned subsidiary|wholly-owned subsidiary]] of the group. Fulfilling Hahn's expectations, SEAT not only made a profit two years after Volkswagen bought a majority of its stock but also provided a low-cost manufacturing outlet for other VW models, contributing up to 15.2% of the VW group's total output in 1989, as well as an opportunity to enter the relatively unexploited (at that time) Spanish market under the SEAT, VW, and Audi names.

The gathering of the brand's main infrastructures in the greater Martorell plant area has taken place in a long process beginning back in 1975 with the opening of the SEAT technical centre,<ref>SEAT Hoy</ref> but only in 1989 was a decision made to start building a new main assembly facility next to the technical centre in Martorell, replacing the old one in Zona Franca. In that same year, the translocation of SEAT's Madrid administration offices to Barcelona began with the sale of two of the brand's assets in [[Paseo de la Castellana|La Castellana]] to be completed in 1991 with the definitive installation of SEAT's headquarters in the [[Catalonia]] region.

[[File:SEAT Toledo Sport 1992 con PackGT.jpg|thumb|left|The [[SEAT Toledo|SEAT Toledo Mk1]], launched in 1991, was the first model fully developed under Volkswagen Group's ownership.]]
The centralisation of the management, design, research and production facilities localised around the plant site was meant to serve the aim of optimising the development of new models. On 22 February 1993, [[Juan Carlos I|King Juan Carlos of Spain]] and the newly elected chairman of the Volkswagen Group [[Ferdinand Piëch|Dr. Ferdinand Piëch]] inaugurated the Martorell plant, one of the most modern and efficient car plants in Europe, using the [[Just-in-time (business)|just-in-time]] process with its suppliers' site located only 2.5&nbsp;km away. The first cars that rolled out of the Martorell plant lines were the [[SEAT Ibiza|SEAT Ibiza Mk2]] and its saloon version, the [[SEAT Córdoba|SEAT Córdoba Mk1]]. The new Ibiza was a huge success for SEAT, greatly expanding its market share, particularly in export markets.

The original planning in October 1993 to close the emblematic Zona Franca assembly plant as soon as the production of vehicles could be transferred to the more efficient Martorell plant was overturned after an arrangement between the Spanish authorities and the Volkswagen Group, according to which the Zona Franca site would continue its operations, but would be gradually turned into a site with an auxiliary role in the production process (foundry, press shop, etc.). Meanwhile, on 23 December 1993, the 'Fábrica Navarra de Automóviles, S.A. was founded as a new company to hold the management of the Landaben factory, separating any ties to SEAT in production matters, with its shares being transferred to Volkswagen in June 1994 over which, however, SEAT would regain ownership four years later in 1998.

In 1994, the design centre in [[Sitges]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libertaddigital.com/economia/seat-vende-al-ayuntamiento-de-sitges-su-centro-de-diseno-en-esta-localidad-1276272894/ |title=Seat vende al ayuntamiento de Sitges su centro de diseño en esta localidad |publisher=Libertad Digital |date=2006-02-23 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> – the Spanish coastal town south of Barcelona – and the suppliers' park in Zona Franca were also inaugurated, and in the winter of the same year, SEAT's financing and leasing companies – Fiseat and Liseat – were sold to Volkswagen Financial Services AG. In 1994, SEAT, in collaboration with [[Suzuki]], manufactured a five-door prototype model of a [[city car]], internally named Rosé, aiming to replace with it the [[SEAT Marbella|Marbella]] in its range, but this model never made it through to production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motor16.com/pagina/Interesante/60/anos/Seat/Joyas/Seat/53/1134/1/64/0/0/2/43 |title=Interesante. 60 años de Seat |publisher=Motor16.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315000806/http://www.motor16.com/pagina/Interesante/60/anos/Seat/Joyas/Seat/53/1134/1/64/0/0/2/43 |archive-date=2012-03-15 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seatfansclub.com/2011/12/recorrido-por-la-nave-a122-parte-i.html |title=Recorrido por la NAVE A122 Parte I ~ SEATFANSCLUB |publisher=Seatfansclub.com |date=2011-12-30 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>

[[File:SEAT Leon Cupra Mk1-2.jpg|thumb|left|[[SEAT León]] Mk1 Cupra R]]
The first time a SEAT model was manufactured out of Spain was in 1996, with the production of the [[SEAT Alhambra|SEAT Alhambra Mk1]] in the [[Palmela]] [[AutoEuropa]] plant in [[Portugal]]. Also, in January 1997, a non-Spanish descendant, the Belgian Pierre-Alain de Smedt, was appointed SEAT's chairman for the first time. The [[SEAT Arosa]], a three-door city hatchback, was launched in 1997, effectively replacing the Marbella, SEAT's version of the [[Fiat Panda]], which had been in production since the early 1980s.

On 7 April 1998, the Zona Franca plant marked the end of the production lifecycle of the Marbella model, signalling a historical moment for SEAT with the end of vehicle production in SEAT's oldest factory, which opened in 1953; ever since the Zona Franca plant has produced components and parts to be assembled in other locations. It also signalled the demise of SEAT's last Fiat-based model.

In March 1999, at the Geneva Motor Show, SEAT presented a modern, stylised logo, more rounded than the last one and using the silver colour on a red background, instead of the previous blue, symbolising respectively the rational and the emotional. This came shortly after the launch of the second-generation Toledo which used it as a badge and shortly before the launch of the Toledo-based [[SEAT Leon|Leon]] hatchback.

The "''auto emoción''" slogan was presented in September 2000, reflecting the brand's new youthful and sporty corporate identity, while [[SEAT Sport]], apart from its motorsport activities, would undertake the responsibility of developing SEAT's high-performance vehicles.

On 1 July 2000, [[Bernd Pischetsrieder|Dr. Bernd Peter Pischetsrieder]], the former CEO of [[BMW]], was appointed to head SEAT. In the spring of 2002, as Pischetsrieder was commissioned to chair the entire Volkswagen Group, he gave way to his German compatriot Andreas Schleef on 7 March 2002.

[[File:2011 SEAT Exeo Sport Tech CR TDi 168 2.0 Front.jpg|thumb|left|[[SEAT Exeo]], a [[badge engineering|rebadged]] [[Audi A4#B7|Audi A4 (B7)]], was the [[Flagship car|flagship model]].]]
From 2002 to 2007, SEAT formed part of the Audi Brand Group, the Volkswagen Group's automotive subdivision, consisting of Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini, which was focused on more sporty values, with the marque's product vehicles and performance being under the responsibility of the Audi brand.<ref name="C4Wauto-6671758">{{cite web |url=http://europe.autonews.com/article/20011203/ANE/112030837/volkswagens-branding-plan-takes-shape |title=Volkswagen's branding plan takes shape |work=europe.autonews.com |date=December 3, 2001 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |first=Wim Oude |last=Weernink|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140320045908/http://europe.autonews.com/article/20011203/ANE/112030837/volkswagens-branding-plan-takes-shape|archive-date=March 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/gb2006/content/en/Divisions/Business_Lines_and_Markets.html |title=Volkswagen Group Business Lines and Markets |publisher=Volkswagenag.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526224457/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/gb2006/content/en/Divisions/Business_Lines_and_Markets.html |archive-date=2012-05-26 }}</ref>

In 2006, the new SEAT corporate head office was opened in Martorell and the Martorell SEAT Design Centre superseded the Volkswagen Group Design Centre Europe at Sitges,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2002/03/list_of_holdings01.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20011231_anteilsbesitz_e.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112051924/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2002/03/list_of_holdings01.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20011231_anteilsbesitz_e.pdf |archive-date=2011-01-12 }}</ref> which previously hosted the design facility jointly owned by SEAT, Volkswagen, and Audi,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sitgesmodelxxi.cat/media/51/CentreDissenySitges2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314062933/http://www.sitgesmodelxxi.cat/media/51/CentreDissenySitges2.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-14 }}</ref> as on 23 February of the same year, an agreement over the transfer of the installations of the latter to the City of Sitges was closed, with the Martorell's Design Centre official opening eventually taking place on 30 December 2007.

On 12 January 2007, the inauguration of the building of the SEAT Service Centre next to the southern entrance of the Martorell factory was held, the department focused on technical support, after-sales and marketing purposes, and covering the feedback and the relationship of the brand with the customers and its worldwide network. In January 2007, the operation of the SEAT Prototypes Centre of Development located in the heart of the Martorell industrial complex began, a facility inaugurated on 16 July of the same year, bringing together activities related to the virtual and physical preproduction processes of new models (prototyping, modelling, pilot product development, and series analysis), thus shortening development times for prototypes and preproduction vehicles, as well as saving costs with the use of modern technologies such as virtual simulation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/gb2007/content/en/driving_ideas/innovation/keeping_gaudi_s_creative_spirit_alive.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208235803/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/gb2007/content/en/driving_ideas/innovation/keeping_gaudi_s_creative_spirit_alive.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-08 |title=Volkswagen Group Mit Gaudis Erben in der Ideenfabrik |publisher=Volkswagenag.com |access-date=2012-02-05 }}</ref>

SEAT entered a [[clemency]] program revealing to the Spanish [[National Commission on Markets and Competition]] the anti-competitive sharing of sales and repair information among car builders and sellers in Spain controlling 91% of the market between 2006 and 2013.
Thus SEAT and the companies in its group avoided the 2015 sanctions.<ref name="CNMC">{{cite news |title=La CNMC multa con 171 millones de euros a veintiuna empresas fabricantes y distribuidoras de marcas de automóviles en España y a dos empresas consultoras por prácticas restrictivas de la competencia {{!}} CNMC |url=https://www.cnmc.es/la-cnmc-multa-con-171-millones-de-euros-veintiuna-empresas-fabricantes-y-distribuidoras-de-marcas |work=www.cnmc.es |date=22 January 2025 |language=es-ES |quote=La investigación y sanción de estas conductas ha sido posible gracias al a la solicitud de clemencia presentada por SEAT.  SEAT, S.A. y  las empresas que forman parte del Grupo al que pertenece (Volkswagen Audi España y Porsche Ibérica) han quedado eximidos de su multa.}}</ref>

== Facilities ==

=== Martorell ===
[[File:Fàbrica SEAT Martorell.JPG|thumb|left|SEAT's industrial complex in Martorell]]
The headquarters and main manufacturing facilities of the company are located in Martorell, an industrial town approximately 30&nbsp;km northwest of Barcelona,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2005/238.html |title=Martorell plant 15-years of activity celebrations |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2008-02-22 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224938/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2005/238.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> with an annual production capacity of around 500,000 units.<ref>{{cite web |author=Viaintermedia |url=http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/paginas/Contenidosecciones.asp?ID=15&Cod=4469&Tipo=&Nombre=PV%20solar |title=PV solar&nbsp;— your source for renewable energy news– solar, wind, biomass, biofuel, hydro, CO<sub>2</sub>, solar thermal, hydro power, climate change, carbon trading |publisher=Renewable Energy Magazine |access-date=2010-03-08 }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 22 February 1993, [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|King Juan Carlos of Spain]] inaugurated this plant, which became the main plant of SEAT and was accompanied by its assembly plant at the coast in [[Barcelona Free Port|Barcelona's free port zone]] ([[Zona Franca (Barcelona)|Zona Franca]]). There is a rail link connecting SEAT's Martorell and Zona Franca facilities, which facilitates the transportation of vehicles and parts between the two locations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/430-seat-inicia-el-transporte-ferroviario-entre-martorell-y-zona-franca.html |title=SEAT begins rail transport between Martorell and Zona Franca |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929003439/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/430-seat-inicia-el-transporte-ferroviario-entre-martorell-y-zona-franca.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=al2017>{{cite web|url= http://automotivelogistics.media/intelligence/seat-megatruckload-progress |title=Seat: A megatruckload of progress |date=30 March 2017|publisher=Automotive Logistics |access-date=6 April 2017 |quote=a dedicated 'Autometro' train service links the Martorell plant directly to the port of Barcelona; last year, 106,499 finished vehicles moved on the train, or 23% of the plant's total production }}</ref>

The Martorell industrial complex houses numerous facilities, including [[Cupra Racing]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Torres|first=José Manuel González|date=2020-06-03|title=Cupra Racing: de Martorell a nuestras carreteras|url=https://www.muyinteresante.es/curiosidades-motor/fotos/cupra-racing-de-martorell-a-nuestras-carreteras-891590566299/1|access-date=2021-01-21|website=MuyInteresante.es|language=es}}</ref> (formerly SEAT Sport),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/382-seat-sport.html |title=SEAT Sport |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-21 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929003455/http://media.seat.com/en/company/382-seat-sport.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> SEAT's Technical Center, Research and Development Center (R&D),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/SEAT/site/company/visions/main.html |title=Visions + Innovation |publisher=SEAT.com |access-date=2010-03-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217052217/http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/SEAT/site/company/visions/main.html |archive-date=2010-02-17 }}</ref> Design Center,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/377-seat-design-center.html |title=SEAT Design Center |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-26 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929003515/http://media.seat.com/en/company/377-seat-design-center.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Prototypes Centre of Development,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/378-centro-de-prototipos-de-desarrollo.html |title=Prototypes Centre of Development |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-27 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929003538/http://media.seat.com/en/company/378-centro-de-prototipos-de-desarrollo.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> SEAT Service Center, which includes the After-Sales Service and Customer Services divisions, as well as the Catalunya Motor dealership,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/379-seat-service.html |title=SEAT Service |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-22 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2011-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821095309/http://media.seat.com/en/company/379-seat-service.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Genuine Parts Centre for SEAT, Volkswagen, Audi, and Škoda brands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/381-centro-de-recambios-originales.html |title=Genuine Parts Centre |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-25 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929003557/http://media.seat.com/en/company/381-centro-de-recambios-originales.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The factory in Martorell can sometimes assist the former SEAT plant in Pamplona, which is now owned by Volkswagen-Audi-Espana, S.A.<ref name=":0" />

The models produced at Martorell includes: [[SEAT Arona|Arona]], [[Cupra Formentor|Formentor]], [[SEAT Ibiza|Ibiza]], [[SEAT León|Leon]], Leon Sportstourer and [[Audi A1]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Amaya|first=Álvaro Prieto|title=¿Qué coches se fabrican en España?: Estos son los modelos y datos|url=https://www.autonocion.com/que-coches-se-fabrican-en-espana/|access-date=2021-01-21|language=es}}</ref>

* SEAT Technical Centre,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Gallina·July 28|first1=Eric|last2=Read|first2=2015·3 Min|date=2015-07-28|title=SEAT Technical Center Celebrates 40th Anniversary|url=https://www.formtrends.com/seat-technical-center-celebrates-40th-anniversary/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Form Trends|language=en-US}}</ref> located in Martorell, is focused on R&D. More than 1,294 people work there. In that centre, SEAT fully develops new vehicles. The centre covers a surface area of 200,000{{nbsp}}m<sup>2</sup>. They use virtual reality technologies in order to design the “new SEAT” cars.
* SEAT Design Center:<ref>{{Cite web|title=SEAT Design Center|url=https://www.seat-mediacenter.com/companypages/facilitiespage/SEAT-design-center.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=www.seat-mediacenter.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129013118/https://www.seat-mediacenter.com/companypages/facilitiespage/SEAT-design-center.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> it officially opened in 2007 and is located within the SEAT Technical Center. This facility brings the entire design process together. As of 2020, 100 people work there.
* Prototype Development Centre (PDC)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-21|title=SEAT's new automotive prototyping center puts 3D printing front and center|url=https://www.3dprintingmedia.network/seats-new-automotive-prototyping-center-puts-3d-printing-front-and-center/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=3D Printing Media Network - The Pulse of the AM Industry|language=en-US}}</ref> was inaugurated in 2007 and is one of SEAT's main projects. It consolidates the activities related to the initial phases of the design and development of a new model. It brings together the knowledge, personnel and resources of the Prototype departments of the SEAT Technical Centre and the Pilot Workshop of Process Engineering in Martorell under one roof.
* Spare Parts Centre is an area with 75,000{{nbsp}}m<sup>2</sup> that distributes parts and components to SEAT, [[Volkswagen]], [[Audi]] and [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]] dealers in Spain, to SEAT dealers in [[Portugal]] and also to SEAT importers all over the world.
* SEAT Service: The After-Sales Service, SEAT Technical Training Centre and Catalunya Motor dealership. This facility covers a surface area of 8,000{{nbsp}}m<sup>2</sup>. As of 2020, the workforce is 170 employees.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}
* [[Cupra Racing]] (former SEAT Sport): this facility covers a surface area of 16,000{{nbsp}}m<sup>2</sup> and is close to the manufacturing plant and the SEAT Technical Centre in Martorell. This centre is where SEAT adds sporty finishes to the SEAT range and prepares different competition models, such as the Cupra León Competition or the Cupra e-Racer.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

=== Zona Franca ===
[[File:Centre de Formació de la Seat- a1.jpg|thumb|170px|SEAT's Training Centre in Barcelona's Zona Franca]]
SEAT's factory in Barcelona's Zona Franca started its activities in 1953 and was the production facility where the first SEAT models such as the SEAT 1400 and the 600 were built. In 1993, the car production began to get transferred to the new Martorell plant, and since then, the Barcelona factory has been producing parts such as doors, roofs, fenders and chassis.

80% of the production<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-02|title=Seat resucita su fábrica de la Zona Franca|url=https://www.economiadigital.es/empresas/seat-invierte-57-millones-para-disparar-la-productividad-en-barcelona-fabrica-zona-franca_628826_102.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Economía Digital|language=es}}</ref> of the parts for the MQB A0, the compact modular platform of the [[Volkswagen Group]] on which the Ibiza and Arona are based, is carried out in these facilities, as well as most of the stamped parts for all other SEAT models. The development and assembly facilities are some of the newest within the Volkswagen Group, with the ability to produce cars<ref>[http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/audi-announces-the-production-of-the-q3/ – Audi announces production of the Q3, looking for low-CO2 help] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111114932/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/audi-announces-the-production-of-the-q3/ |date=November 11, 2013 }}</ref> not only for its own brand but also for other Volkswagen Group brands, such as [[Volkswagen]] and [[Audi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/375-fabrica-de-martorell.html |title=Martorell Factory |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-29 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2010-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326035549/http://media.seat.com/en/company/375-fabrica-de-martorell.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> For example, the development and design of several Audi models (e.g. the [[Audi A1]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/SUB/312050002|title=Winterkorn considers jettisoning VW's Spanish brand &#124; Automotive News}}</ref> the [[Audi A3]] Sportback,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20030901/GERMANNEWSLETTER/309010778 |title=The A3 five-door version is design engineered at Seat |publisher=Autonews.com |date=2003-09-01 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> the [[Audi Q5]], etc.) and also several Audi development projects took place there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20060911/GERMAN_NEWSLETTER/60911011 |title=Seat to develop Q5 and a subcompact for Audi |publisher=Autonews.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>

This plant is an industry benchmark, as it features elements such as the virtual simulation of the PXL press, 3D printing in the maintenance workshop, the automatic shifting between sealing tips of the robots in the body shop, and the automation of the logistics flow through automated guided vehicles.

The Barcelona Zona Franca site includes the SEAT Training Centre,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/19.html |title=El Centro de Formación de SEAT cumple 50 años |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929003648/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/19.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Zona Franca Press Shop factory, producing stamped body parts, and the Barcelona Gearbox del Prat plant, producing gearboxes not only for SEAT but also for other Volkswagen Group marques ([[Volkswagen]], [[Audi]], and [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]]);<ref name="Gearbox del Prat">{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/380-gearbox-del-prat.html |title=Gearbox del Prat |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-23 |access-date=2010-03-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326040151/http://media.seat.com/en/company/380-gearbox-del-prat.html |archive-date=2010-03-26 }}</ref> the latter plant was awarded the Volkswagen Excellence Award in 2009 by the Volkswagen Group for high-quality production process and product.<ref name="Gearbox del Prat"/>

=== Other manufacturing plants ===
Another plant owned directly by SEAT from 1975<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autopasion18.com/HISTORIA-SEAT.htm |title=Seat Historia |publisher=Autopasion18.com |access-date=2010-03-08}}</ref> was the Landaben plant in [[Pamplona]], but in December 1993 its ownership was transferred to the Volkswagen Group subsidiary "Volkswagen-Audi-Espana, S.A.",<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/themes/2010/05/seat_celebrates_60_years/signing_the_contract_with_seat.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205220231/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/themes/2010/05/seat_celebrates_60_years/signing_the_contract_with_seat.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-05 |title=Volkswagen Group Vertragsunterzeichnung mit SEAT |publisher=Volkswagenag.com |date=1993-02-22 |access-date=2012-02-05 }}</ref> and the site today is producing Volkswagen cars in Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carulli.com/cronoseat.htm |title=Seat Anno Per Anno |publisher=Carulli.com |access-date=2010-03-08}}</ref> However, SEAT's Martorell site still provides support to Volkswagen's operations in the Pamplona plant when necessary, as it did after a serious fire in the paint shop in the Landaben VW plant in April 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/47.html |title=SEAT paints 4,600 VW Polo in Martorell |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[File:SEATpavAutostadt.JPG|thumb|SEAT's Pavilion at Autostadt, Wolfsburg]]
Factories of the Volkswagen Group currently producing SEAT models also include the [[Bratislava]] site in Slovakia, the [[Volkswagen Zwickau-Mosel Plant]] in Zwickau, Germany (where the [[Cupra Born]] EV model is produced alongside the [[Volkswagen ID.3]] Electric vehicle);  the [[AutoEuropa]] factory in [[Palmela]], Portugal,<ref name="SEAT Today">{{cite web|date=2009-03-23|title=SEAT hoy|url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-hoy.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718053942/http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-hoy.html|archive-date=2009-07-18|access-date=2010-03-11|publisher=Media.seat.com}}</ref> and [[Wolfsburg]] in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2004/208.html |title=SEAT's plant in Martorell reassumes 100% of the Ibiza production |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2004-10-19 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224936/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2004/208.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2016, SEAT also holds a museum in the Zona Franca's 'Nave A122' site, which hosts all production and prototype models ever presented by SEAT together with some special or limited edition vehicles with historical value for the brand and the automotive history of Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-06-01|title=El museo 'secreto' de Seat|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/20160531/402170003789/museo-seat.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=La Vanguardia|language=es}}</ref>

Among SEAT's subsidiaries, the SEAT Deutschland GmbH subsidiary company is based in [[Mörfelden-Walldorf]], Germany, and apart from its commercial activities, has the further responsibility of operating SEAT's electronic platform, the SEAT IT Services Network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat-it-services.de/ |title=SEAT IT-Services |publisher=Seat-it-services.de |access-date=2010-03-16 |archive-date=2018-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808162146/http://seat-it-services.de/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Wolfsburg, Germany, in the middle of a lake inside the [[Autostadt]], the Volkswagen Group's corporate theme park,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autostadt.de/ |title=Start |publisher=www.autostadt.de |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> is SEAT's thematic pavilion, one of the largest pavilions in the park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/SEAT/site/events/autostadt/main,lang=es.html |title=SEAT Pavilion at the Autostadt |publisher=Seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2017-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723144926/http://www.seat.com/why-seat/inside-seat/who-we-are.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Other company facilities ===
{{promotional|date=October 2021}}
* Casa SEAT: is a benchmark urban mobility promotional lab and was inaugurated in June 2020. It is located in [[Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona|Passeig de Gràcia]] in [[Barcelona]] and is SEAT MÓ's headquarters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CASA SEAT opens its doors to the world {{!}} SEAT|url=https://www.seat.com/company/news/company/casaseat-opens-doors-world.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=www.seat.com|language=en}}</ref>
* SEAT: CODE (Center of Digital Excellence) is the software development centre. Since its establishment in 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Events|first=UKi Media &|date=2019-08-01|title=Seat recruits at new software development center in Barcelona|url=https://www.automotivetestingtechnologyinternational.com/news/test-facilities/seat-recruits-at-new-software-development-center-in-barcelona.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Automotive Testing Technology International|language=en-GB}}</ref> it has led the company's digital transformation and created digital solutions to boost SEAT, Cupra and SEAT MÓ. In July 2020, this centre inaugurated its headquarters in Barcelona.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams2020-09-02T16:12:00+01:00|first=Marcus|title=Setting the scope for recovery and resilience at Seat|url=https://www.automotivelogistics.media/oems/setting-the-scope-for-recovery-and-resilience-at-seat/41014.article|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Automotive Logistics|language=en}}</ref>
* SEAT's dealers: Besides selling SEAT and Cupra, some also offer second-hand vehicles or KM0 under the company DasWeltAuto, belonging to the Volkswagen Group. Many dealers also offer maintenance, parts, supplies and repair of the models. Outside Spain, SEAT has distributors in more than 70 countries.   
* SEAT Componentes produces gearboxes for SEAT, Volkswagen, Audi and Škoda in its factory in [[El Prat de Llobregat]] (Barcelona). It was founded in 1979; the facilities cover more than 150,000 square meters and have a manufacturing capacity of up to 3,500 gearboxes daily, in a complete process that goes from the foundry to assembling and quality control. In 2020 this facility had more than 1,000 employees and produced two different gearbox models: the MQ200 and the new MQ281.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SEAT Componentes|url=https://www.seat-mediacenter.es/companypages/facilitiespage/seat_components.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=www.seat-mediacenter.es|archive-date=2020-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922013922/https://www.seat-mediacenter.es/companypages/facilitiespage/seat_components.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their combined maximum capacity is 800 thousand gearboxes per year.

== Presence in different markets ==
[[File:Seat 600 Competición.jpg|thumb|[[SEAT 600]], the first model exported by SEAT in 1965 to Colombia. ]]
In its more-than-70 year history, it was only during the period from 1953 to 1965 that the firm produced cars exclusively for the domestic Spanish market. In 1965, in a rather symbolic move, the company exported some 150 units of its SEAT 600 model (licensed version of the Fiat 600) destined for Colombia by air freight for the first time, until two years later, in 1967, SEAT reached a deal over the renegotiation of its license contract with Fiat that allowed the Spanish firm to form an international distribution network for its cars and thereafter start its export operations to more than 12 countries, entering the export market in 1969. Until the early 1980s, however, most SEAT exports were sold with Fiat badging.<ref name=SEATint>{{cite journal | journal = Autovisie | date = 1983-12-24 | volume = 28 | number = 26 | publisher = Folio Groep B.V. | location = Hilversum, Netherlands | language = nl | title = J.M. Antoñanzas (Seat): "Spanje exporteert meer auto's dan Engeland" | trans-title = Spain exports more cars than England | last = Seidler | first = Edouard | pages = 32–33 | ref = krant }}</ref> As a response to SEAT's bid for independence, Fiat committed themselves to sell 200,000 SEAT-built cars a year from 1981, compared to 120,000 the year before. At the end of 1983, just after SEAT had won its legal battle with Fiat, a quarter of the production went to Egypt and Latin America.<ref name=seidler35>[[#krant|Seidler]], p. 35</ref> In Europe, they were represented in West Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, and Greece. The UK, Ireland, and various Scandinavian markets were planned to be added in 1984. This was despite the company only being able to export the [[SEAT Ronda|Ronda]], with the [[SEAT Fura|Fura]] to follow.<ref name=SEATint/> The exponential growth in exports in the '70s happened under the leadership of Juan Sánchez Cortés and the export director José María García-Courel.

To date, the company has launched its models in more than 70 countries worldwide in accordance with the development policies of the Volkswagen Group, with almost three-quarters of its annual production representing exports for the markets out of Spain. Its core market remains Europe, while the most successful market outside of Europe in sales for SEAT is currently [[Mexico]], where the company has a dealer presence in 27 Mexican states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seat.mx/ |title=SEAT de México |publisher=Seat.mx |access-date=2013-11-11}}</ref>

In Europe, the brand has been launched in almost 40 countries across the continent. SEAT today also sells its cars in 11 countries in Asia, mostly in the Middle East and the [[Arabian Peninsula]], in 16 countries in the Americas, including North America, the [[Caribbean]], Central America, and South America, and finally Africa, mainly in North Africa. Some of its cars have been sold outside Europe, branded as Volkswagens, such as the [[SEAT Ibiza]] hatchback, known in South Africa as the [[Volkswagen Polo Playa]], the [[SEAT Inca]] panel van as the [[Volkswagen Caddy]], or the [[SEAT Córdoba]], also known as the [[Volkswagen Polo|Volkswagen Polo Classic]].

As of 2012, SEAT was planning to expand into the Chinese market,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europapress.es/catalunya/noticia-seat-desembarcara-china-2012-20110310130831.html |title=Seat desembarcará en China en 2012 |publisher=Europapress.es |date=2011-03-10 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> first with Spanish-produced models, followed later in a second phase by the local assembly of SEAT models in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundomotor/2011/03/10/empresa/1299758967.html |title=Seat prepara su entrada en China {{pipe}} Empresa {{pipe}} Motor |publisher=elmundo.es |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>

SEAT's further expansion plans in more markets outside of Europe have yet to be realised. The company was considering a possible launch in the United States in the past, although this move has never been carried out.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050509/SUB/505090793|title=VW's Seat casts an eye toward U.S. market &#124; Automotive News}}</ref> Rumours also of a SEAT model being sold as a Volkswagen in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]] to supplement Volkswagen's brand lineup there have occasionally{{when|date=March 2024}} circulated,{{where|date=March 2024}}{{by whom|date=March 2024}} but have always been unsubstantiated, and ultimately proven to be false.
In the past, other market areas where the brand was also present for a short time were Australia and New Zealand (from 1995 to 1999) and South Africa (from June 2006 to the end of 2008). Still, the brand was withdrawn from those markets due to Volkswagen's decision citing that current and expected circumstances made the ongoing importation of a niche brand unviable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seatsa.co.za/ |title=SEAT South Africa – Home |publisher=Seatsa.co.za |access-date=2009-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/News/Industry_News/6/822e95af7f5240baa7f31658054af8fd/15-09-2008%2008-09/VW%20shock%20SEAT%20to%20quit%20SA |title=VW shock: SEAT to quit SA: Wheels: News: Industry_News |publisher=Wheels24.co.za |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2008-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218193845/http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/News/Industry_News/6/822e95af7f5240baa7f31658054af8fd/15-09-2008%2008-09/VW%20shock%20SEAT%20to%20quit%20SA |url-status=dead }}</ref>
SEAT sold cars in the Russian Federation from 2007 to 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-11-18 |title=Volkswagen says to stop selling SEAT cars in Russia next year |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-autos-volkswagen-idUKKCN0J212920141118 |access-date=2023-10-12}}</ref> SEAT was reintroduced to the New Zealand market in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.motoringnz.com/news/2016/12/19/seat-completes-vws-nz-brand-set|title=SEAT completes VW's NZ brand set|last=webdesign.co.nz|first=Site designed and developed by webdesign ltd, New Zealand {{!}}|access-date=2018-09-04|language=en-UK}}</ref> SEAT re-entered the Australian market in 2022, selling vehicles under their performance marque [[SEAT Cupra|Cupra]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Volkswagen Group's Cupra sports brand to enter the Australian market: Formentor and Ateca go-fast SUVs likely starters to line-up against Hyundai Kona N|url=https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/volkswagen-groups-cupra-sports-brand-to-enter-the-australian-market-formentor-and-ateca-go|access-date=2021-03-24|website=CarsGuide|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cupra coming to Australia in early 2022 {{!}} CarAdvice|url=https://www.caradvice.com.au/936202/cupra-coming-to-australia-in-early-2022/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=CarAdvice.com|language=en}}</ref> SEAT plans to re-launch in the United States and Canada from mid-2024 to early-2027, selling vehicles under their performance marque [[Cupra (marque)|Cupra]].<ref>{{Cite news|title= Cupra confirms potential launch to North America says its looking very promising|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2023/03/cupra-confirms-potential-launch-to-north-america-says-its-looking-very-promising/|access-date=2023-03-22|website=Carscoops.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title= Cupra could be headed to the U.S.|url=https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2023/03/cupra-could-be-headed-to-the-u-s/|access-date=2023-03-24|website=www.thedetroitbureau.com}}</ref>

== Cupra brand ==
{{Main|Cupra (marque)}}
[[File:City_Garage_Store.jpg|thumb|SEAT Cupra headquarters in [[Martorell]], Spain]]
In 2018, the previous range-topping Cupra trim was launched as a stand-alone brand, alongside SEAT, and at the same time, SEAT Sport became [[Cupra Racing]]. Cupra describes itself as 'an unconventional challenger brand, based on stimulating style and contemporary performance that inspires the world from Barcelona with progressive cars and experiences. Cupra has its corporate headquarters in [[Martorell]], Spain, and a network of specialised points of sale around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seat-mediacenter.com/smc/cupra-brand/CUPRA-at-one-glance.html |title=Cupra at one glance |publisher=SEAT, S.A. |access-date=2021-09-26 }}</ref>

== Motorsport ==
{{main|Cupra Racing}}
[[File:Seat1430.jpg|thumb|The [[SEAT 1430]] in competition]]
SEAT's involvement in motorsports began in the 1970s with the brand's contribution to the national formula races in Spain, and by the end of the same decade, the start of its involvement in rallies.<ref name="SEAT's Racing History 1970-1985">{{cite web |url=http://www.seat-sport.com/seats-racing-history-1970-1985/ |title=SEAT's racing history 1970-1985 |work=seat-sport.com |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320042308/http://www.seat-sport.com/seats-racing-history-1970-1985/ |archive-date=March 20, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1971, the Special Vehicles department was formed with the mission to enforce the brand's participation in rally championships, resulting in 11 titles between 1979 and 1983.<ref name="SEAT's Racing History 1970-1985"/> The year 1985 was when [[SEAT Sport]] was founded as a separate motorsport division, and especially since the Volkswagen Group takeover in 1986, SEAT has been increasing, even more, its presence in the motorsport world, mainly down to VW's plan on focusing the SEAT brand as sporty to appeal particularly to the younger generation of drivers.<ref name="SEAT Sport 1987-2001">{{cite web |url=http://www.seat-sport.com/seats-racing-history-1987-2001/ |title=SEAT's racing history 1987-2001 |work=seat-sport.com |date=March 19, 2014 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320041934/http://www.seat-sport.com/seats-racing-history-1987-2001/ |archive-date=March 20, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The results of this effort have been SEAT's most prestigious titles in [[FIA]] championships, three conquests with the SEAT Ibiza Kit-Car in the [[FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup]] (1996, 1997, 1998), and two times with the SEAT León in the FIA [[World Touring Car Championship]] (2008, 2009).<ref name="SEAT Sport 1987-2001"/>

=== Rallying ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
SEAT's first serious attempt at a [[World Rally Championship]] (WRC) was in the [[1977 World Rally Championship season|1977 season]] when SEAT took part with its SEAT 1430/124D Especial 1800 race car, and in its debut rallying event at the [[Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo|Montecarlo Rally]], the SEAT team finished in the third and fourth places with the official 1430-1800 cars being driven by Antonio Zanini and Salvador Cañellas. In recent years, the consignment was placed on the small [[SEAT Ibiza]], a 1.6-L, normally aspirated, [[front-wheel drive]] car with its roots in the [[Volkswagen Polo]]. The Ibiza allowed the company to evolve its rallying experience further and was officially engaged in some European national championships. The years went by until a 2-L version of the Ibiza was [[homologation|homologated]] as a kit car, and extra wide tracks, larger wheels, brakes, etc., were fitted to it as the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] (FIA) kit-car regulations allow. With these attributes, the car won the 2-Litre World Rally Cup three times (1996, 1997, 1998), proving its maker had accumulated enough experience, and budget, to move to the top category, the [[World Rally Car]] class of rallying cars.
[[File:SEAT Cordoba D. Sola (R.cangas).jpg|thumb|[[Daniel Solà]] driving the [[SEAT Córdoba]] WRC at the Rallye de Tierra de Cangas del Narcea]]

SEAT's three conquests of the FIA 2L WRC title, and the sport's popularity in Spain, probably convinced [[Volkswagen Group]] management to go further and allow the [[SEAT Sport]] department a chance to reach its goal in the top-class WRC category. This situation ended in September 2000, when the company's German upper management revoked its decision forcing SEAT Sport to retire from the World Rally Championship.

SEAT's project to build a WRC-spec car was officially announced during the 1997 San Remo rally. It was in 1998 that the first evolution of the [[SEAT Córdoba]] WRC car was presented at the Porto Motor Show and then first enrolled by the company to compete at the highest level of WRC racing. The Córdoba was based on the family saloon of the same name but was, naturally, a WRC class car equipped with an [[Straight-four engine|inline-four]] [[turbocharger|turbocharged]] [[petrol engine]], permanent [[four-wheel drive]], and active differentials involved in its transmission. The Córdoba WRC made its debut at the 1998 [[Rally Finland|Rally of Finland]], while a further race car development was incarnated on the SEAT Córdoba WRC E2 which was presented at the Barcelona Motor Show in 1999. However, the short [[wheelbase]] and high-mounted [[internal combustion|engine]] (compared to its rivals) worked against the Córdoba and results were not competitive. Despite hiring ex-WRC champion [[Didier Auriol]], and a new [[evolution]] of the car, the SEAT Córdoba WRC E3, SEAT pulled out of international rallying at the end of 2000.

=== Touring cars ===
{{More citations needed|section|date=December 2024}}[[File:Yvan Muller and Andy Priaulx 2008 Japan.jpg|thumb|[[Yvan Muller]] driving the [[SEAT León]] TDI in Japan]]
In 2002, SEAT announced a one-make championship for the new [[SEAT León]] Cupra R, the [[SEAT León Supercopa]].

In 2004, SEAT with [[Ray Mallock Ltd.]] (RML) entered the [[British Touring Car Championship]], running two [[SEAT Toledo]] Cupra for former-BTCC Champion [[Jason Plato]], and 2003 León UK Champion, [[Rob Huff]]. In 2005, Huff left to join [[Chevrolet]] (run by RML in the [[World Touring Car Championship]] (WTCC)), and he was replaced by 2004 Leon Champion [[James Pickford]], and [[Luke Hines]] as SEAT expanded to three cars, now run by Northern South. 2006 saw the Toledo replaced by the new [[SEAT León|León]], and [[Darren Turner]] joined the team with [[James Thompson (racing driver)|James Thompson]] when his WTCC commitments allowed. 2007 was SEAT's best year in BTCC, as Plato was locked in a season-long battle with [[Fabrizio Giovanardi]], which came down to the final race of the season, but just missed out on the title.

Since 2005, SEAT has also competed in the [[World Touring Car Championship]], with its first best season being 2007 when a failed [[water pump]] robbed [[Yvan Muller]] of a certain victory at the final meeting in Macau. SEAT became the first team to run a [[Turbocharged Direct Injection|TDI]] in the WTCC, and this gave them a dominant [[2008 World Touring Car Championship season]], with Yvan Muller winning the driver's championship. French racing team [[Oreca]] cooperates with the WTCC team. SEAT's UK team followed suit in the 2008 BTCC. The BTCC team was sponsored by [[Holiday Inn]].

In 2007, SEAT – with the [[SEAT León#1P|León Mk2 TDI]] at the [[Motorsport Arena Oschersleben]] in Germany – became the first manufacturer to win a round of the [[World Touring Car Championship]] (WTCC) series in a diesel car, only a month after announcing it will enter the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]] World Touring Car Championship with the León TDI. SEAT's success with the León TDI continued and resulted in winning consecutively the [[2008 World Touring Car Championship season|2008 World Touring Car Championship]] and [[2009 World Touring Car Championship season|2009 World Touring Car Championship]] both titles (for drivers as well as for manufacturers').

In September 2008, SEAT UK announced that it would withdraw from all motor sport activity in the UK at the end of the season. The SEAT Cupra Championship and the SEAT BTCC campaign ended at Brands Hatch on 21 September. BTCC drivers Jason Plato and Darren Turner have been left without drives for 2009. But Plato will drive for Silverline [[Chevrolet]].

At the opening of the 2009 WTCC, SEAT placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in both races in Brazil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/359.html |title=Spectacular double 1-2-3-4 for SEAT in Brazil |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2009-04-27 |archive-date=2009-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315113455/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/359.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the second meeting of the WTCC (in Mexico), the SEAT team placed 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th and 11th in the first race. In the second race, they placed 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 8th.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/372.html |title=SEAT continues on winning streak in Mexico with Muller and Rydell |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2009-04-27 |archive-date=2009-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416221952/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/372.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> While SEAT may have withdrawn from the BTCC, they are showing impressive results in the WTCC.
[[File:SEAT Cupra GT cropped.jpg|thumb|The [[SEAT Cupra GT]] in the [[Spanish GT Championship|Spanish GT championship]] for the SunRED racing team]]

=== Grand tourer cars ===
In 2003, the SEAT Sport division presented at the Barcelona Motor Show first as a concept car and later the final version of the [[SEAT Cupra GT]] race car, which was produced in limited series on customer demand addressed to expertised individuals and racing teams willing to take part in race events.

The Cupra GT was chosen as a GT race car from racing teams, like the [[Sunred Engineering|Sunred Engineering (SunRED)]] team, making its debut in 2004 in the [[Spanish GT Championship]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat-sport.com/en/compania/seat-competicion.php |title=In 2004, the SEAT Cupra GT made its debut at the Spanish GT Championship |publisher=Seat-sport.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313073925/http://www.seat-sport.com/en/compania/seat-competicion.php |archive-date=2012-03-13 }}</ref> and took part in several [[Grand tourer]] circuits not only in Spain but also run in tracks abroad like those of [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza|Monza]] and [[Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours|Magny-Cours]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/type/archive/Seat/Cupra%20GT.html |title=Complete Archive of Seat Cupra GT |publisher=Racingsportscars.com |date=2001-07-01 |access-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715142533/http://www.racingsportscars.com/type/archive/Seat/Cupra%20GT.html |archive-date=2011-07-15 }}</ref>

=== Formula ===
[[File:Formula SEAT 1430.jpg|thumb|SEAT [[Formula 1430]]]]
In 2002, SEAT announced a one-make championship for the new [[SEAT León]] Cupra R, the [[SEAT León Supercopa]].
In 1970 SEAT set up the 'Fórmula Nacional' series in Spain,<ref>[http://www.seat-sport.com/seats-racing-history-1970-1985/ SEAT' Racing History 1970-9185 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320042308/http://www.seat-sport.com/seats-racing-history-1970-1985/ |date=March 20, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archivo.marca.com/automovilismo/rallyes/seat.html |title=MARCA: Noticias |publisher=Archivo.marca.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> a year later to be known as [[Formula 1430]]. The single-seater formula cars, which took part driven by young Spanish drivers, were equipped under support from SEAT with engines of the 1430 model and 6700 gearboxes. The first race of the 'Fórmula Nacional' series took place at the Jarama circuit in Madrid.<ref name="media.seat.com">{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/597-nuevo-seat-alhambra-mas-funcional-y-eficiente.html |title=The new Alhambra – highly functional and efficient perfect for the active family |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2010-04-19 |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223013627/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/597-nuevo-seat-alhambra-mas-funcional-y-eficiente.html |archive-date=2012-02-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat-sport.com/en/compania/seat-competicion.php |title=In 1970 the beginning of the so-called "Fórmula Nacional" was announced |publisher=Seat-sport.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313073925/http://www.seat-sport.com/en/compania/seat-competicion.php |archive-date=2012-03-13 }}</ref>

== Model range ==
{{Main|List of SEAT vehicles}}

=== SEAT models ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[SEAT Ibiza|Ibiza]]
! [[SEAT León|León]]
! [[SEAT Arona|Arona]]
! [[SEAT Ateca|Ateca]]

|-
| [[Supermini]]
| [[Compact car|Small family car]]
| B-segment [[Crossover (automobile)|Crossover]]
| C-segment [[Crossover (automobile)|Crossover]]
|-
|
* Hatchback
|
* Hatchback
* Sportstourer (estate/wagon)
|
* Crossover
|
* Crossover
|-
| [[File:2018_SEAT_Ibiza_SE_Technology_MPi_1.0_Front.jpg|center|75px]]
| [[File:SEAT Leon Mk4 ST IMG 4052.jpg|centre|75px]]
| [[File:2018 SEAT Arona SE Technology TSi 1.0 Front.jpg|centre|75px]]
| [[File:2017 SEAT Ateca Xcellence 1.4 Front.jpg|centre|75px]]
|}

=== Cupra models ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[SEAT León#Cupra Leon|León]]
! [[SEAT Ateca#Cupra Ateca|Ateca]]
! [[Cupra Formentor|Formentor]]
! [[Cupra Born|Born]]
! [[Cupra Tavascan|Tavascan]]
! [[Cupra Terramar|Terramar]]
|-
| Small family car
| C-segment Crossover
|CUV Coupé
| Small family car
| C-segment Crossover
| C-segment Crossover
|-
|
* Hatchback
* Sportstourer (estate/wagon)
|
* Crossover
|
* CUV
|
* Hatchback
* Electric Car
|
* Crossover
* Electric Car
|
* CUV
|-
| [[File:Cupra Leon Mk4 Facelift IMG 0398.jpg|centre|75px]]
| [[File:Cupra Ateca at IAA 2019 IMG 0545.jpg|centre|75px]]
| [[File:Cupra Formentor Facelift IMG 0429.jpg|center|75px]]
| [[File:Cupra Born IAA 2021 1X7A0212.jpg|center|75px]]
| [[File:Cupra Tavascan IAA 2023 1X7A0436.jpg|center|75px]]
| [[File:Cupra Terramar VZ IMG 2330.jpg|center|75px]]
|}

== Nomenclature ==
SEAT's corporate tradition, as a Volkswagen Group subsidiary, dictates that the nomenclature of its model range be inspired by Spanish culture. Thus, a large number of SEAT's production models have been named after places in Spain (e.g. [[SEAT Arosa|Arosa]], [[SEAT Ibiza|Ibiza]], [[SEAT Córdoba|Córdoba]], [[SEAT León|León]], [[SEAT Toledo|Toledo]], [[SEAT Altea|Altea]], [[SEAT Alhambra|Alhambra]], [[SEAT Málaga|Málaga]], [[SEAT Marbella|Marbella]], [[SEAT Ronda|Ronda]] etc.).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/233502/ |title=Seat names big saloon 'Exeo' |publisher=Autocar.co.uk |date=2008-06-20 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> However, there have been several exceptions: for example, the name for the [[SEAT Exeo]] – added to the brand's range in 2008 – was influenced by the Latin word ''exire'' which means "to go beyond".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/329-la-nueva-berlina-de-seat-se-llamara-exeo.html |title=SEAT's new saloon will be called "EXEO" |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2008-06-20 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224947/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2008/329-la-nueva-berlina-de-seat-se-llamara-exeo.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the marque's naming trend with production models, many of SEAT's concept cars adopted names inspired by either Hispanic dances (e.g. [[SEAT Tango|tango]], [[SEAT Bolero|bolero]], [[SEAT Salsa|salsa]]), abbreviations related to existing production models (e.g. IBZ for Ibiza, IBE for ''Ibiza Eléctrico'',<ref>{{cite web |author=por Guillermo Alfonsin de 08 de Mar del 2010 |url=http://es.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/el-seat-ibe-camino-de-la-produccion/ |title=El SEAT IBE camino de la producción |publisher=Es.autoblog.com |date=2010-08-03 |access-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227134953/http://es.autoblog.com/2010/03/08/el-seat-ibe-camino-de-la-produccion/ |archive-date=2012-02-27 }}</ref> TL for Toledo etc.), or names reminiscent of SEAT's historic sporting roots (e.g. [[SEAT Formula|Fórmula]], [[SEAT Cupra GT|Cupra GT]]).

Moreover, in recent years, special versions of the production models' specific ranges have been added, such as the ''SC'' (for SportCoupé edition,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ibiza-sc/discover.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730121525/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ibiza-sc/discover.html|url-status=dead|title=SEAT Ibiza SC|archivedate=July 30, 2015}}</ref>) or ''ST'' (for SportTourer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/leon-st/discover.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801194124/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/leon-st/discover.html|url-status=dead|title=- SEAT Leon ST|archivedate=August 1, 2015}}</ref>) differentiating the three-door and the estate versions from the standard four- and five-door ones, while the Cupra (for ''Cup Racing'' edition<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ibiza-sc/versions/the-new-seat-IbizaCupra.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307153009/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ibiza-sc/versions/the-new-seat-IbizaCupra.html|url-status=dead|title=SEAT Ibiza SC CUPRA|archivedate=March 7, 2015}}</ref>) and ''FR'' (for ''Fórmula Racing''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews.html?mode=article&id=205 |title=Car reviews {{pipe}} SEAT Ibiza {{pipe}} SEAT launches Formula Racing brand {{pipe}} by Car Enthusiast |publisher=Carenthusiast.com |date=2003-12-04 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>) has been used for the high-performance models in the range, signalising SEAT's positioning as a sport-oriented brand<ref name="media.seat.com"/> involved in racing.

Historic references can be found with the iconic ''Bocanegra'' name, meaning "black mouth" in Spanish, which accompanies the Ibiza model and has its origins in the [[SEAT 1200 Sport]], which was the original [[SEAT Bocanegra]] due to its black-painted fascia in the front.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/405-edicion-para-coleccionistas.html |title=A true collector's edition |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2011-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402185701/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/405-edicion-para-coleccionistas.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Sub-ranges ==
;'Ecomotive' range
Almost every model in SEAT's range has an '[[Ecomotive]]' derivative version, which in comparison to the standard version has a more eco-friendly tuning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ecomotive/discover.html |title=> SEAT Ecomotive Range |publisher=SEAT.co.uk |access-date=2013-11-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708025020/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ecomotive/discover.html |archive-date=2015-07-08 }}</ref> Reduction of weight, low-resistance tyres, new aerodynamics, tweaks in the suspension,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/245245/seat_ibiza_ecomotive.html |title=SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive {{pipe}} Car Group Tests {{pipe}} Car Reviews |magazine=Auto Express |date=2009-11-20 |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref> as well as changes made to the engine's electronic management software with an additional implementation of a maintenance-free<ref>{{cite web|author= Xavier Navarro |url=http://green.autoblog.com/2007/09/11/seat-announces-green-ibiza-ecomotive/ |title=SEAT announces green Ibiza Ecomotive |publisher=Green.autoblog.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> Diesel Particle Filter (DPF) for the diesel engines, also updates in the gearbox and the gear ratios with a gearshift indicator in the dash panel reminding when it is the proper time to change gears, combined with an engine 'Start/Stop system' and an 'Energy Recuperation system' are some of the modifications adopted in the Ecomotive range in order to cut down both fuel consumption and emissions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ecomotive/discover.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708025020/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ecomotive/discover.html|url-status=dead|title=SEAT Ecomotive Range|archivedate=July 8, 2015}}</ref> The result is a range with some of the cleanest models<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.seat-mediacenter.com/controller-en-HQ/fbi/5045 |title=SEAT receives the Ecobest 2008 award |publisher=seat-mediacenter.com |access-date=2013-11-11 |archive-date=2013-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113945/http://www.seat-mediacenter.com/controller-en-HQ/fbi/5045 |url-status=dead }}</ref> featuring an improvement not only in gas and particles emissions but also in fuel economy, without big compromise in the vehicle's dynamic performance or practicality; for example the [[SEAT Ibiza]] Ecomotive 1.4 TDI has CO<sub>2</sub> emissions coming up at 98 g/km<ref name="auto"/> and still it comes even faster from 0 to 100&nbsp;km/h than the standard version<ref>SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive {{cite web|url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ecomotive/ecomotive-ibizasc.html |title=SEAT Ibiza, innovative car technology and design &#124; SEAT UK |access-date=2013-11-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113026/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/ecomotive/ecomotive-ibizasc.html |archive-date=2013-11-11 }}</ref> featuring a 5-door body and air-conditioning, while the [[SEAT León]] Ecomotive's CO<sub>2</sub> emissions are among the lowest in its segment too and raise up to 99 g/km.<ref>SEAT delivers 500 Leons Ecomotive to British Gas {{cite web |url=http://www.seat.co.uk/content/medialib/seat/market_master/downloads/brochures/seat-fleet/seat-fleet-news-report/_jcr_content/renditions/rendition.file/seat_fleet_news.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-11-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113713/http://www.seat.co.uk/content/medialib/seat/market_master/downloads/brochures/seat-fleet/seat-fleet-news-report/_jcr_content/renditions/rendition.file/seat_fleet_news.pdf |archive-date=2013-11-11 }}</ref>
Up to the present, the Ecomotive range has been renowned on many occasions.
In 2008, the [[SEAT Ibiza|Ibiza]] Ecomotive has been declared on top of the Verkehrs-Club Deutschland's 2008/2009 list in the "environmentally beneficial vehicle" category<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seat.ie/content/ie/brand/en/company/history/2010-2005.html |title=Manufacturing cars since 1950 - SEAT History |access-date=2013-11-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111112701/http://www.seat.ie/content/ie/brand/en/company/history/2010-2005.html |archive-date=2013-11-11 }} History of SEAT 2005-2010</ref> and in the 10th Eco Tour not only it has won in the small diesel class but also proved to be the overall winner of all categories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://green.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/the-seat-ibiza-ecomotive-wins-the-eco-tour-2008/ |title=The Seat Ibiza Ecomotive wins the Eco Tour 2008 |publisher=green.autoblog.com |date=2008-09-26 |access-date=2013-11-11}}</ref> In that specific year the SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive was also awarded the 'Ecobest 2008' award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://green.autoblog.com/2008/11/04/the-seat-ibiza-ecomotive-gets-ecobest-2008-award/ |title=Autoblog Sitemap |access-date=2013-11-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111113033/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/11/04/the-seat-ibiza-ecomotive-gets-ecobest-2008-award/ |archive-date=2013-11-11 }} The SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive gets Ecobest 2008 award</ref> by the Autobest organisation and the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag named it the 'most economic car of its class in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/BILD/auto/bams/2008/11/seat-ibiza-ecomotive/das-sparsamste-auto-der-welt-im-test.html |title=The Bild newspaper names the Ibiza the most economic car of its class in the world |language=de |publisher=Bild.de |date=2008-11-30 |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref>
The year 2009 has been the one when once more the Ibiza Ecomotive was nominated for the 'Green Steering wheel' award in Switzerland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/498-el-seat-exeo-gana-el-volante-de-oro-2009-en-suiza.html |title=SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive nominated for the 'Green Steering wheel' award |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref> and set two consecutive times a new world record on fuel saving with a single tank, certified by the IPMC (International Police Motor Corporation) : the first when the Austrian Gerhard Plattner drove from Martorell (Spain) to Göttingen (Germany) with an average fuel consumption of 2.9 L/100&nbsp;km<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/404-el-ibiza-ecomotive-consigue-un-consumo-record-de-29-l100-km.html |title=2.9 L/100 km world record for the Ibiza |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref> and the second time in his route from Cieszyn (Poland) to Frankfurt (Germany) having achieved the world record in fuel consumption of 2.34 L/100&nbsp;km (or 100 mpg U.S.<ref>{{cite web|author= Xavier Navarro |url=http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/austrian-hyper-miler-beats-his-own-record-when-driving-a-seat-ib/ |title=Austrian hyper-miler beats his own record when driving a Seat Ibiza Ecomotive to 100 mpg |publisher=Green.autoblog.com |date=2009-09-30 |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref>) covering a distance of 1,910&nbsp;km on a single tank.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/496-nuevo-record-de-consumo-para-el-ibiza-ecomotive-234-l100-km.html |title=Second world fuel-saving record of 2.34 L/100 km for the Ibiza |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224952/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2009/496-nuevo-record-de-consumo-para-el-ibiza-ecomotive-234-l100-km.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

;'MultiFuel' range
The MultiFuel range consists of the introduction of the [[flexible-fuel vehicle]] bio-ethanol technology in selected SEAT models – i.e., the [[SEAT León|SEAT León MultiFuel]],<ref>[http://www.seat.se/se/generator/su/se/newLeon09/site/versions/multifuel/main.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125192917/http://www.seat.se/se/generator/su/se/newLeon09/site/versions/multifuel/main.html|date=November 25, 2011}}</ref> the [[SEAT Altea|SEAT Altea MultiFuel]]<ref>[http://www.seat.se/se/generator/su/se/altea09/site/versions/multifuel/main.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819044557/http://www.seat.se/se/generator/su/se/altea09/site/versions/multifuel/main.html|date=August 19, 2010}}</ref> and the [[SEAT Altea XL|SEAT Altea XL MultiFuel]]<ref>[http://www.seat.se/se/generator/su/se/AlteaXL09/site/versions/multifuel/main.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125193554/http://www.seat.se/se/generator/su/se/AlteaXL09/site/versions/multifuel/main.html|date=November 25, 2011}}</ref> – with the implementation of the 1.6 MPI MultiFuel E85 motor, capable of producing exactly the same horsepower (102&nbsp;bhp) just like the relevant pure petrol version of the engine.

== Sales ==
Since its beginnings in 1953, more than 16 million SEAT cars have been produced, with the most successful product in the range being the SEAT Ibiza. This model has sold over 4 million units in its four generations up to the present.<ref>SEAT IBIZA A success story spanning 25 years {{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/410-25-anos-de-exito.html |title=A success story spanning 25 years |access-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719093456/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/410-25-anos-de-exito.html |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}</ref>

In the year 2009, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT cars was 336,683 vehicles,<ref name="KeyFigures">SEAT, S.A. Key Figures (2005 / 2009) {{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company.html |title=SEAT, S.A. Key Figures (2005 / 2010) |access-date=2010-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107005746/http://media.seat.com/en/company.html |archive-date=2012-01-07 }}</ref> while the annual production of vehicles under the SEAT brand came up to 307,502 units (301,287 made in SEAT's Martorell plant and 6,215 in other Volkswagen group's factories).

The total production per year of SEAT and Cupra cars manufactured in SEAT/Cupra and other Volkswagen group plants is shown below. not comprising cars of other Volkswagen group brands, produced in SEAT-owned facilities:

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap;"
|-
! style="text-align:left"|Model!!1986<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1986">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1986 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1986-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1987<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1987">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1987 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1987-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1988<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1989">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1989 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1989-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1989<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1989"/>!!1990<ref name="Volkswagan AG Annual Report 1990">{{cite web |title=Volkswagan AG Annual Report 1990 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1990-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1991<ref name="Volkswagan AG Annual Report 1991">{{cite web |title=Volkswagan AG Annual Report 1991 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1991-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1992<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1992">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1992 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1992-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1993<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1993">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1993 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1993-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1994<ref name="Volkswahen AG Annual Report 1994">{{cite web |title=Volkswahen AG Annual Report 1994 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1994-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1995<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1995">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1995 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1995-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1996<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1996">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1996 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1996-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1997<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1997">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1997 |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/images/teaser/history/chronik/annual-report/1997-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>!!1998<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999">{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2000/03/Annual_Report_1999.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_AR_1999_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999 |publisher=Volkswagen AG |date=2010-09-13 |access-date=2010-09-13 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231127/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2000/03/Annual_Report_1999.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_AR_1999_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!1999<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999"/>!!2000<ref name="Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999"/>!!2001<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2001/03/Annual_Report_2000.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_GB_2000_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2000 |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2011-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111084829/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2001/03/Annual_Report_2000.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_GB_2000_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2002<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2002/03/annual_report_2001.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20020312_GB_2001_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2001 |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231251/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2002/03/annual_report_2001.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20020312_GB_2001_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2003/03/annual_report_2002.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/vw_gb_2002_en.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2002 |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231330/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2003/03/annual_report_2002.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/vw_gb_2002_en.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2004/03/annual_report_2003.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20040309_gb2003_e.pdf|title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2003|access-date=2012-02-06|archive-date=2011-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231405/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2004/03/annual_report_2003.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20040309_gb2003_e.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>!!2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2005/03/annual_report_2004.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Gbericht_2004_en.pdf|title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2004|access-date=2012-02-06|archive-date=2011-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112130117/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2005/03/annual_report_2004.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Gbericht_2004_en.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>!!2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2006/03/Volkswagen_AG__Annual_Report_2005.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/gesch%C3%A4ftsbericht_2005_english.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2005 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717232057/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2006/03/Volkswagen_AG__Annual_Report_2005.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/gesch%C3%A4ftsbericht_2005_english.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2007/03/Geschaeftsbericht_2006.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Annual_Report_2006_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2006 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717232139/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2007/03/Geschaeftsbericht_2006.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Annual_Report_2006_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2008/03/Annual_Report_2007.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_AG_GB_2007_en.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2007 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2011-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001032802/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2008/03/Annual_Report_2007.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_AG_GB_2007_en.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2009/03/GB_2008.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2008_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2008 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2011-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001034708/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2009/03/GB_2008.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2008_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2011/03/Volkswagen_AG_Geschaeftsbericht_2010.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/GB_2010_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2010 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231904/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2011/03/Volkswagen_AG_Geschaeftsbericht_2010.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/GB_2010_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>!!2011<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/Seat/mejora/ventas/mundiales/31/2011/elpepieco/20120110elpepieco_9/Tes |title=Seat mejora sus ventas mundiales un 3,1% en 2011 |newspaper=El País |date=10 January 2012 |publisher=Elpais.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |last1=Delgado |first1=Cristina }}</ref>!!2012<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cdn.skoda-storyboard.com/2016/05/skoda-auto-annual-report-2012.pdf |title=Skoda Annual Report 2012|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2013/volkswagen/english/GB%202012_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2012|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>!!2013<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cdn.skoda-storyboard.com/2016/05/skoda-annual-report-2013.pdf |title=Skoda Annual Report 2013|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2014/volkswagen/english/Y_2013_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2013|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>!!2014<br /><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2016/skoda/skoda-annual-report-2015.pdf |title=Skoda Annual Report 2015|access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2015/volkswagen/english/GB+2014_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2014|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>!!2015<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2016/volkswagen/englisch/Y_2015_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2015|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/>!!2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2017/volkswagen/en/Y_2016_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2016|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>!!2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2018/volkswagen/en/Y_2017_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2017|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>!!2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2019/volkswagen/en/Y_2018_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2018|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref>!!2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2020/volkswagen/Y_2019_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2019|access-date=2020-03-17}}</ref>!!2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2021/volkswagen/Y_2020_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2020|access-date=2021-03-24}}</ref>!!2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2022/Y_2021_e.pdf|title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2021|access-date=2022-03-28|archive-date=2022-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315102947/https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2022/Y_2021_e.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>!!2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/investorrelation/publications/annual-reports/2023/volkswagen/Y_2022_e.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2022|access-date=2021-03-24}}</ref>!!2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://annualreport2023.volkswagen-group.com/_assets/downloads/entire-vw-ar23.pdf |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2023|access-date=2024-04-23}}</ref>!!2024<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/pdf/annual-report-2024.pdf |title=SEAT Annual Report 2024|access-date=2025-03-25}}</ref>
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Marbella]]{{#tag:ref|Including the SEAT Panda.|group="nb"}}
|36,879|||56,893|||71,519|||82,935|||90,903|||80,005|||74,637|||33,216|||27,102|||29,621|||21,930|||18,139|||2,337|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Arosa]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||42,741|||38,338||46,410||28,403||22,980||19,627||13,814||9,368|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Mii]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||990|||26,409|||25,489|||25,845|||24,516|||18,720|||13,825||14,369||11,479||7,593||8,648||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Ibiza]]{{#tag:ref|Including the SEAT Ibiza SC and the SEAT Ibiza ST.|group="nb"}}
|121,526|||160,907|||192,024|||208,210|||202,157|||173,236|||112,334|||142,987|||140,974|||158,284|||153,000|||168,492|||180,775||194,245||199,279||188,427||197,311||220,497||183,754||168,645||183,848||172,206||192,470||173,715||189,083||191,183|||160,887|||145,041|||153,633|||160,451|||149,988|||160,377||120,287||130,243||74,564||83,710||60,385||74,355||108,058
|-
|align="left"|[[Cupra Raval]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||2
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Arona]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||17,527||110,926||134,611||78,823||98,656||85,717||76,594||88,478
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Terra]]{{#tag:ref|Including the SEAT Trans.|group="nb"}}
|18,444|||18,238|||24,925|||22,007|||35,430|||22,198|||25,034|||10,626|||6,517|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Inca]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||3,921|||16,836|||14,414|||17,226||19,221||16,328||15,207||11,802||7,982|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Inca|SEAT Inca Kombi]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||104|||9,328|||11,070|||7,708||8,573||5,534||5,316||3,879||2,150|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Córdoba]]{{#tag:ref|Including the SEAT Córdoba Vario.|group="nb"}}
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||19,289|||84,128|||79,793|||77,436|||96,946|||108,749||111,894||97,685||78,770||58,646||59,348||46,821||37,568||31,058||29,747||20,439||4,861|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT León]]{{#tag:ref|Including the SEAT León SC, SEAT León ST and Cupra León.|group="nb"}}
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||6,080||93,123||91,939||93,606||96,536||90,850||98,130||126,511||120,630||96,761||66,368||79,462||80,736|||71,295|||114,568|||157,087|||169,455|||163,228|||163,306||159,486||153,837||124,323||83,813||56,317||102,965||105,864
|-
|align="left"|[[Cupra Born]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||4,801||36,153||45,748||42,922
|-
|align="left"| [[SEAT Altea]]{{#tag:ref|Including the SEAT Altea XL and the SEAT Altea Freetrack.|group="nb"}}
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||67,125||65,174||58,288||71,377||54,770||32,791||43,351||42,329|||27,478|||21,284|||19,142|||13,001|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Málaga]]
|41,292|||37,653|||39,269|||36,882|||33,098|||8,735|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Toledo]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||41|||76,336|||144,205|||90,533|||47,965|||55,493|||53,404|||42,596|||42,325||105,818||59,480||47,645||39,503||36,026||38,962||20,600||8,613||4,744||5,484||571|||—|||—|||5,000|||21,771|||16,541|||19,728|||18,029|||13,146||10,151||1,506||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Exeo]]{{#tag:ref|Including the SEAT Exeo ST.|group="nb"}}
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||369||22,981||23,108||19,559|||10,854|||4,681|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Alhambra]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||10,513|||16,503|||21,300||27,440||23,924||26,524||26,308||23,693||21,580||14,902||14,352||14,242||10,282||6,215||10,023||18,139|||19,393|||19,990|||22,612|||27,925|||31,214|||33,638||19,588||23,015||14,672||4,169||5,341||—||—
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Ateca]]{{#tag:ref|Including the Cupra Ateca.|group="nb"}}
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||35,833|||77,483||90,824||98,397||76,710||58,500||58,157||83,714||74,592
|-
|align="left"|[[SEAT Tarraco]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||2,398||38,721||18,726||22,437||12,453||25,562||8,856
|-
|align="left"|[[Cupra Formentor]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||11,041||58,863||105,568||124,670||110,611
|-
|align="left"|[[Cupra Terramar]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||16,663
|-
|align="left"|[[Cupra Tavascan]]
|—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—|||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||27,172
|-
!Total!!218,141!!273,691!!327,737!!350,034!!361,629!!360,510!!356,210!!296,651!!306,686!!327,216!!342,447!!410,901!!418,758!!519,681!!523,756!!476,808!!450,682!!460,046!!458,460!!405,019!!422,670!!412,946!!380,575!!307,502!!345,027!!352,936!!321,316!!352,824!!394,860!!415,076!!417,012!!479,302!!528,029!!591,809!!406,452!!423,597!!420,091!!533,608!!583,218
|}

== Rebadges ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
Under Volkswagen Group's ownership, numerous SEAT models have been rebadged under other brands, either inside the Volkswagen Group's portfolio or out of it.

In particular, some examples concerning the rebadges deriving from SEAT models and being carried out under other Volkswagen Group's brands, are the [[SEAT Ibiza|SEAT Ibiza Mk2]] which has been rebadged under the VW brand as the [[VW Polo Playa]], the [[SEAT Córdoba|SEAT Córdoba Mk1]] rebadged as the [[Volkswagen Polo Mk3|VW Polo Classic]] – [[FAW-VW Automobile|FAW-VW City-Golf]] – [[VW Derby]], the [[SEAT Arosa]] as the [[VW Lupo]], and the [[SEAT Inca]] as the [[VW Caddy]].

Further rebadges have come under non-Volkswagen Group brand ranges. Some notable examples are the [[SEAT Ibiza|SEAT Ibiza Mk1]], which has been rebadged as the [[Nanjing Yuejin Soyat|Nanjing Yuejin Eagle NJ6400-Unique NJ6400-Soyat NJ7150-Soyat Unique NJ1020]], and the [[SEAT Toledo|SEAT Toledo Mk1]] as the [[Chery A11|Chery A11-Fulwin-Fengyun-Windcloud]] – [[Chery A15|Chery A15-A168-Amulet-Cowin-Qiyun-Flagcloud]] – [[TagAZ|Vortex Corda]].

On the other hand, several SEAT models have derived as rebadges coming from other Volkswagen Group's brands such as the [[SEAT Alhambra|SEAT Alhambra Mk1 and Mk2]] respectively from the [[VW Sharan|VW Sharan Mk1 and Mk2]] (the first generation resulting after a joint venture of the Volkswagen Group together with [[Ford Galaxy|Ford]]) and the [[SEAT Exeo]] from the [[Audi A4|Audi A4 B7]].

== Tuning companies ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
Several tuning companies have produced modified or high-performance versions of various SEAT models,
some significant examples among those being [[Abt Sportsline]], Je Design, APR, [[Motoren Technik Mayer|MTM]], [[Abarth]], Emelba, Podadera Design, etc.

== Company profile ==
=== Logo history ===
<gallery class=center widths= 80px heights=90>
File:Logo años 50 SEAT.png|1953–68{{refn|Has resemblance with the [[Fiat]] logo of that time due to the partnership between both companies, which ended in 1982.|group=n|name=fiat}}
File:Logo SEAT años 60.png|1968–70{{refn|group=n|name=fiat}}
File:Logo SEAT 1970.png|1970–82{{refn|group=n|name=fiat}}
File:Logo 1982 SEAT.png|1982–90
File:Logo 1990 SEAT.png|1990–99
File:SEAT.svg|1998–2012
File:SEAT logo (2012).svg|2012–17
File:SEAT Logo from 2017.svg|2017–present{{refn|Used for the "SEAT" brand of vehicles|group=n|name=brand}}
file:SEAT_S.A._logo.svg|2020–present (corporate){{refn|Used for the global SEAT S.A., unifying the SEAT and Cupra brands.<ref>[https://brandemia.org/interbrand-firma-la-nueva-identidad-corporativa-de-seat-s-a Interbrand firma la nueva identidad corporativa de Seat S.A.] on ''Brandemia''</ref><ref>[https://interbrand.com/madrid/work/seat-sa-una-movilidad-para-todos-un-espiritu-comun/ Seat S.A.: Una movilidad para todos. Un espíritu común] on Interbrand Studio website</ref>|group=n|name=corp}}
</gallery>
;Notes
{{reflist|group=n}}

=== Leadership ===
Today as a Volkswagen Group subsidiary, SEAT's leading people are appointed after approval from the group's supervisory board.
{| class="wikitable"
|+<big>Leaders</big>
!From!!To!!Person(s)
|-
|1950||May 1967||[[José Ortiz-Echagüe|José Ortiz-Echagüe Puertas]]
|-
|May 1967||February 1977||Juan Sánchez Cortés
|-
|February 1977||December 1983||Juan Miguel Antoñanzas Pérez-Egea
|-
|January 1984||September 1993||Juan Antonio Díaz Álvarez
|-
|October 1993||October 1993||Peter Walzer
|-
|November 1993||December 1996||Juan Llorens Carrió
|-
|January 1997||June 1999||Pierre-Alain de Smedt
|-
|18 June 1999||30 June 2000||Bruno Adelt
|-
|1 July 2000||6 March 2002||[[Bernd Pischetsrieder]]
|-
|7 March 2002||30 September 2006||Andreas Schleef
|-
|1 October 2006||31 August 2009||Erich Schmitt
|-
|1 September 2009||30 April 2013||James Muir
|-
|1 May 2013||30 September 2015||Juergen Stackmann
|-
|1 November 2015||6 January 2020||[[Luca de Meo]]
|-
|7 January 2020||30 September 2020||[[Carsten Isensee]]
|-
|1 October 2020
|31 March 2025
|Wayne Griffiths<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths named as new Seat president|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/cupra-boss-wayne-griffiths-named-new-seat-president|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Autocar|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|1 April 2025
|present
|Markus Haupt<ref>{{cite web |title=Management change at SEAT/CUPRA: Wayne Griffiths leaves the company |url=https://www.seat-cupra-mediacenter.com/SEAT-sa/seat-sa-news/company/2025/management-change-at-seat-cupra-wayne-griffiths-leaves-the-company |website=seat-cupra-mediacenter.com |access-date=1 April 2025}}</ref>
|}

=== Economic figures ===
[[File:VW West.jpg|thumb|Volkswagen group's distribution centre in Germany]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+<big>Financial results</big><ref name="KeyFigures" />
|-
!Year!!After-tax result<br />(in millions of [[euro]]s)
|- style="text-align:center;"
||1996|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 32,088
|- style="text-align:center;"
||1997|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 66,418
|- style="text-align:center;"
||1998|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 147,020
|- style="text-align:center;"
||1999|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 85,403
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2000|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 87,348
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2001|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 233,121
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2002|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 202,965
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2003|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 134,494
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2004|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 144,957
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2005|| style="text-align:center;"|- 62, 513
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2006|| style="text-align:center;"|- 49,088
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/info2008/annualreport/default.html |title=SEAT Informe Annual 2007 |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 169,703
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/info2009/annualreport/index.html |title=Informe Annual 2008 |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 44,400
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/info2010/annualreport/index.html |title=Seat ::: |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|- 186,500
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/info2010/annualreport-en/index.html |title=Seat Annual Report 2010 |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|- 103,900
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seat.com/content/com/com/en/company/annual-report-2011.html |title=Seat Annual Report 2011 |publisher=seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722223722/http://www.seat.com/content/com/com/en/company/annual-report-2011.html |archive-date=2012-07-22 }}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|- 61,500
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2012<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2012">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2012 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/past-reports/pdf/others-annual_report_2012-info-NA-NA-september-2018.pdf |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|- 29,600
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2013<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2013">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2013 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/past-reports/pdf/others-annual_report_2013-info-NA-NA-september-2018.pdf |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|- 148,700
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2014<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2014">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2014 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/past-reports/pdf/others-annual_report_2014-info-NA-NA-september-2018.pdf |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|- 65,700
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2015<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2015">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2015 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/past-reports/pdf/others-annual_report_2015-info-NA-NA-september-2018.pdf |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 6,000
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2016<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2016">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2016 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/past-reports/pdf/others-annual_report_2016-info-NA-NA-september-2018.pdf |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 903,200
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2017<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2017">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2017 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/past-reports/pdf/others-annual_report_2018_past_report_2017-NA-NA-NA-march-2019.pdf |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 281,200
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2018<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2018">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2018 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/pdf/others-annual_report_2018_full-NA-NA-NA-march-2019.pdf |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 294,200
|- style="text-align:center;"
||2019<ref name="SEAT Annual Report 2019">{{cite web |title=SEAT Annual Report 2019 |url=https://www.seat.com/content/dam/public/seat-website/company/annual-report/overview/pdf/others-annual_report_2019_full-NA-NA-NA-march-2020.pdf |access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref>|| style="text-align:center;"|+ 345,600
|-
|2020
| style="text-align:center;"|+ 194,200
|}

===Slogans===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
SEAT currently does not use a slogan. Here are most of the slogans used by SEAT before:
*SEAT, [[Volkswagen Group|Grupo Volkswagen]] (19??–????; not quite a slogan but rather signifying Volkswagen Group ownership)
*SEAT, auto emoción (2000–2011)
*SEAT, Enjoyneering (2011–2014)
*SEAT, Technology to Enjoy (2014–2017)
<!-- SEAT did not use a slogan after 2017. -->

=== Environmental policy ===
;Electric and hybrid technology development
Since the early 1990s, SEAT has developed and presented several prototypes with either full electric or hybrid powertrain, including the SEAT Toledo Mk1 electric model (1992), the SEAT Ibiza Mk2 electric car (1993), the SEAT Inca electric van (1995), the SEAT León Mk2 Twin drive (2009), the SEAT IBE concept (2010) and the SEAT IBX concept SUV (2011) hybrid cars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autobild.es/videos/el-seat-ibx-y-sus-hermanos-electricos-152667 |title=El Seat IBx y sus hermanos eléctricos |publisher=Autobild.es |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref>

;'SEAT al Sol' project
The 'SEAT al Sol' project consists in the integration of use of solar power through a system of [[Solar panel|photovoltaic panels]] generating electricity in SEAT's factory in Martorell. The project will be carried through in collaboration with GA-Solar from the beginning of 2010, covering a factory area of 320,000{{nbsp}}m<sup>2</sup> with a system of more than 10{{nbsp}}MW of photovoltaic panels. This installation is expected to produce more than 13{{nbsp}}million{{nbsp}}kWh of electricity annually, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 6,200 tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub> per year.<ref name="media.seat.com/en">{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/520-la-fabrica-de-seat-en-martorell-referencia-en-la-produccion-de-energias-renovables.html|title=SEAT's Martorell factory becomes a benchmark for renewable energy production|access-date=2010-09-25|work=media.seat.com/en|archive-date=2013-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224954/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2009/520-la-fabrica-de-seat-en-martorell-referencia-en-la-produccion-de-energias-renovables.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/11/car-manufacturer-to-build-10-mw-solar-pv-system |title=SEAT To Build 10-MW Solar PV System {{pipe}} Renewable Energy News Article |publisher=Renewableenergyworld.com |date=2009-11-17 |access-date=2012-02-06}}</ref>

;'Cenit verde' project
The Cenit VERDE initiative is a research project backed by the CENIT (the National Strategic Consortia for Technical Research) programme and supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, in which SEAT plays a key role. Aiming at developing technologies, components and infrastructure for hybrid and electrically powered cars in Spain, this programme brings together 16 technology companies (including Siemens, Endesa, Iberdrola, REE, Cegasa, Ficosa, Circuitor, Cobra or Lear) and 16 universities and research establishments under the CTM coordination (Centre Tecnològic in Manresa)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.endesa.es/Portal/en/press/press_releases/our_companies/endesa/2010/20100114_1.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802080913/http://www.endesa.es/Portal/en/press/press_releases/our_companies/endesa/2010/20100114_1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-02 |title=Endesa On-Line - Hogares |publisher=Endesa.es |date=2010-08-13 |access-date=2012-02-05 }}</ref> and the support of the CDTI (Centre for Industrial Technological Development, an organization pertaining to the Ministry of Science and Innovation).

In January 2010, the Cenit Verde association made its opening meeting at SEAT's Technical Centre in Martorell.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/548-arranca-el-vehiculo-electrico-en-espana.html |title=The electric car in Spain gets green light |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2010-01-14 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2010-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328101854/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/548-arranca-el-vehiculo-electrico-en-espana.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As part of its contribution SEAT comes in with its own 'Verde' pre-project, including the technology implemented in the plug-in hybrid [[SEAT León Twin drive]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/557-seat-protagonista-de-la-reunion-europea-de-ministros-de-industria.html |title=SEAT, a major presence at meeting of Europe's Industry Ministers |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2010-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621071230/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/557-seat-protagonista-de-la-reunion-europea-de-ministros-de-industria.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as in the [[SEAT IBE]] concept zero-emissions electric vehicle presented in the 2010 Geneva motor show.<ref>[http://media.seat.com/en/salones/571-un-deportivo-para-la-era-electrica.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923145729/http://media.seat.com/en/salones/571-un-deportivo-para-la-era-electrica.html|date=September 23, 2010}}</ref>

;SEAT Autometro project
[[File:TMD a Castellbisbal Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya.jpg|thumb|A TMD (Teco Media Distancia) cargo train on its way from SEAT's Martorell plant<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vialibre-ffe.com/noticias.asp?not=3701&cs=oper |title=Cargometro: nuevo servicio de mercancías para Seat entre Barcelona y Martorell - Revista VÍA LIBRE - Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles |publisher=Vialibre-ffe.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>]]
The 'SEAT Autometro' project comprises the construction and management of a rail link service between SEAT's Martorell complex and the [[Port of Barcelona]], in the aim of transport of vehicles and components. Autometro is the joint-venture company which operates the rail, having [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya|Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC)]] local rail company, [[COMSA Rail Transport]] and Pecovasa as its shareholders. The company was founded in November 2005, almost five months after an initial agreement was signed between the [[Catalan government]] ([[Generalitat]]), the Barcelona Port Authority and SEAT.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/16-llegada-del-primer-tren-de-fgc-de-seat-al-puerto-de-barcelona.html |title=The first FGC SEAT train reaches the Port of Barcelona |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2008-01-18 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> Due to this project, a branch connecting the Martorell plant with the [[Llobregat–Anoia line|FGC 'Llobregat-Anoia' main rail line]] had to be constructed, as well as further adaptations to the transport network and the host infrastructures in the Port of Barcelona, had to be made. The budget for the project comes up to 6.8 million euros, while SEAT, on its part, also assumes the operational transport costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/290-mas-de-63300-vehiculos-transportados-entre-seat-y-el-port.html |title=More than 63,300 vehicles transported between SEAT and Port of Barcelona |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-01-16 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>
<br />The use of this rail link since January 18, 2008, instead of road transport, has helped not only in terms of cost-effectiveness and road safety but also in the reduction of both road congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.<br />Over the whole 'Autometro' project awards have been given for the best logistics idea at the 2007 International Logistics Fair (SIL) and specifically to SEAT as the 2008 Distinguished loader by the Loaders' Association of the Port of Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/324-el-port-de-barcelona-nombra-a-seat-cargador-destacado-2008.html |title=SEAT awarded Port of Barcelona's Distinguished Loader 2008 prize |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2009-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830222647/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/324-el-port-de-barcelona-nombra-a-seat-cargador-destacado-2008.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Sponsorship ===
SEAT has been a sponsor in major sports, music and cultural events, such as:

* [[1982 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]] (1982)
* SEAT Orbea cycling team (1986)
* [[1992 Summer Olympics]] and the [[1992 Summer Paralympics]]<ref>{{cite web|title=SEAT Ibiza is the official car of the Olympic games|url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/410-25-anos-de-exito.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719093456/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/410-25-anos-de-exito.html|archive-date=2011-07-19|access-date=2012-02-05|publisher=Media.seat.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2010-03-23|title=SEAT, S.A. Key Figures (2005 / 2010)|url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-hoy.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718053942/http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-hoy.html|archive-date=2009-07-18|access-date=2012-02-05|publisher=Media.seat.com}}</ref>
* [[Paris Saint-Germain]] (1994–1995 season)
* "Guapa Tour SEAT·<ref>{{Cite web|title=Seat Ibiza Guapa|url=https://www.diariomotor.com/2006/05/11/seat-ibiza-guapa/|access-date=2021-01-22|website=article|language=es}}</ref> from Spanish band [[La Oreja de Van Gogh]] (2006)
* European leg of the "[[Oral Fixation Tour]]" by [[Shakira]] (2007)
* [[UEFA Europa League]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/480-seat-patrocinador-de-la-uefa-europa-league.html |title=SEAT sponsors the UEFA Europa League |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224952/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2009/480-seat-patrocinador-de-la-uefa-europa-league.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> (2009–2012)
* [[Copa del Rey]] (from 2010)
* [[Rock in Rio]] Madrid (2010)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-04-27|title=Seat te lleva a Rock in Rio Madrid 2010|url=https://www.europapress.es/motor/coches-00640/noticia-seat-te-lleva-rock-in-rio-madrid-2010-20100427180609.html|access-date=2021-01-22|publisher=Europa Press}}</ref>
* [[Black Eyed Peas]] in [[Barcelona]] (2010)
* [[Red Bull Air Race]] World Championship<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/281-seat-seguira-en-2009-como-patrocinador-de-la-red-bull-air-race.html |title=SEAT sponsors the Red Bull Air Race World Championship |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-06 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Valencia Open]] (2010)
* Davis Cup World Group Final<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/534-seat-vehiculo-oficial-de-la-final-de-la-copa-davis-de-tenis.html |title=SEAT sponsors the Davis Cup World Group Final |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224955/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2009/534-seat-vehiculo-oficial-de-la-final-de-la-copa-davis-de-tenis.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* European leg of the "[[The Sun Comes Out World Tour|Sale El Sol]]" tour by [[Shakira]] (2010-2011)
* [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers FCB]], Irish football club (2012)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-12-08|title=SEAT Announces Title Sponsorship of League Champions, Shamrock Rovers FC|url=https://www.elevate.ie/seat-announces-title-sponsorship-of-league-champions-shamrock-rovers-fc/|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Elevate PR|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Sponsoring of the following football teams (2012–present): [[Sevilla FC]], [[Real Betis]], [[Athletic Bilbao|Athletic Club]], [[Valencia CF]], [[Real Zaragoza]], [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]] and [[Eintracht Braunschweig]].
* [[Primavera Sound]] (2017)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Noticias|first=Apmc · in|title=SEAT, al ritmo de la música con Primavera Sound|url=http://apmc.cat/apmc/seat-al-ritmo-de-la-musica-con-primavera-sound/|access-date=2021-01-22|language=es-ES}}</ref>
* [[Lollapalooza|Lolapalooza]] [[Paris]] & [[Berlin]] (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|title=SEAT commits to music with Lollapalooza Paris and Berlin|url=https://www.thenewsmarket.com/news/seat-commits-to-music-with-lollapalooza-paris-and-berlin/s/4dea8e6d-ef1b-4f18-aed1-4ef2c53dd749|access-date=2021-01-22|website=The NewsMarket}}</ref>
* IV International Compliance Congress (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|title=IV International Compliance Congress May 27-28, 2019 Madrid {{!}} Center for Business Ethics & Compliance|url=https://cenbecom.org/news/iv-international-compliance-congress-may-27-28-2019-madrid/|access-date=2021-01-22|website=cenbecom.org}}</ref>
* [[Sónar]] (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sónar+D MasterClasses by SEAT - Sónar+D Barcelona 2019|url=https://sonarplusd.com/es/programs/barcelona-2019/areas/sonar-d-masterclasses-by-seat/|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Sónar+D|language=es}}</ref>
* SM [[Copa de la Reina de Fútbol|Copa de la Reina]] Football Cup (2019)
* Sponsor and official car of the Women's Spanish Football Team
* Official Sponsor of the 23rd edition of the International fashion platform 080 Barcelona (2019)

The company was one of the prime sponsors of [[Tunisia's national basketball team]] at the [[2015 FIBA Africa Championship]] where the company's logo was regularly displayed (e.g. on the team's shorts).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150612120441/http://www.fiba.com/afrobasket/2015/Tunisia 2015 FIBA Africa Championship - Tunisia], FIBA.com, Retrieved 27 January 2016.</ref>

Further, SEAT is a strong supporter of artists, like [[Shakira]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/556-seat-y-shakira-inician-su-colaboracion-con-un-spot-de-animacion-digital-.html |title=SEAT and Shakira start their collaboration with a digital animated TV spot |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2010-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326041659/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/556-seat-y-shakira-inician-su-colaboracion-con-un-spot-de-animacion-digital-.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Armin van Buuren]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/400-seat-y-armin-van-buuren-juntos-para-celebrar-una-maratoniana-emision-de-radio.html |title=SEAT & Armin van Buuren successful with marathon radio show |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-04-30 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2010-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817171521/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2009/400-seat-y-armin-van-buuren-juntos-para-celebrar-una-maratoniana-emision-de-radio.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[David Guetta]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Anonymous said... »November 28, 2008 |url=http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/10/matte-black-seat-ibiza-sportcoupe-by.html |title=Matte Black Seat Ibiza SportCoupe by David Guetta - Carscoop |publisher=Carscoop.blogspot.com |date=2008-10-01 |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2012-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304160532/http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/10/matte-black-seat-ibiza-sportcoupe-by.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.life.com/image/83375532 |title=LIFE |publisher=LIFE |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610222415/http://www.life.com/image/83375532 |archive-date=June 10, 2011 }}</ref> and fictional characters such as [[Lara Croft]].

== Awards ==
Over the years the SEAT marque has been honoured with several awards, such as
* The Landaben plant, 100% owned by SEAT, S.A. by that time, received in 1986 the ''World quality award (Q-86)''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vw-navarra.es/fabrica/historia_desarrollo.aspx |title=:::: VOLKSWAGEN Navarra :::: |publisher=Vw-navarra.es |access-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629125654/http://www.vw-navarra.es/fabrica/historia_desarrollo.aspx |archive-date=2012-06-29 }}</ref>
* The Martorell plant, 100% owned by SEAT, S.A., received in 1998 the '<nowiki/>''Best factory of the VW Group in the first quarter''' award
* The Barcelona 'Gearbox del Prat' plant, 100% owned by SEAT, S.A., received in 2009 the ''Volkswagen Excellence award'' for its high-quality manufacturing process and product<ref name="Gearbox del Prat"/>
* The SEAT brand itself in 2009 has been named '' 'Most Improved Used Car Brand of the decade' '' in the CAP Used Car of the Decade Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://europeanmotornews.com/2009/12/16/seat-named-most-improved-used-car-brand-of-the-decade/ |title=Seat Named Most Improved Used Car Brand Of The Decade |publisher=European Motor News |date=2009-12-16 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2012-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120134323/http://europeanmotornews.com/2009/12/16/seat-named-most-improved-used-car-brand-of-the-decade/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vagdivision.com/tag/seat/ |title=SEAT |publisher=VAG Division |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165024/http://www.vagdivision.com/tag/seat/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '' 'AvD Innovationspreis 2006' '' award for technological innovations developed at the SEAT Technical Centre in Martorell, from the German automobile club 'Automobilclub von Deutschland' (AvD)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2006/119.html |title=Premio a las innovaciones tecnológicas de SEAT |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* In the 2007 Barcelona International motor show SEAT received two ''awards for the best technological innovations in the automotive sector'', for the LED modules implementation in headlights and the project of virtual fabrication and applied ergonomics<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/53.html |title=SEAT recibe dos premios a las mejores innovaciones tecnológicas del sector |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-05 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224941/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2007/53.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.autoreview.it/articolo.php?a_id=1639 |title=Seat: record di brevetti per la Casa spagnola - News - Automoto.it<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2019-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722024318/http://www.autoreview.it/articolo.php?a_id=1639 |archive-date=2011-07-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '' 'Best project in the use of an electronic signature in the private sector in 2008' '' for SEAT's electronic invoicing system, by the Catalan Certification Agency (CATCert)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/302-seat-premiada-por-su-sistema-de-facturacion-electronica-.html |title=SEAT is awarded for its electronic invoicing system |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2008-11-26 |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2010-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529221129/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/302-seat-premiada-por-su-sistema-de-facturacion-electronica-.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '' 'Best logistics initiative 2007' '' award for the SEAT-Autometro project, by the International Logistics Salon<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/57.html |title=SEAT receives the best logistics initiative 2007 award |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2012-02-06 |archive-date=2013-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815224942/http://www.seat-mediacenter.comen/seat-news/2007/57.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '' 'Port of Barcelona's Distinguished Loader prize in 2008' '', by the Port of Barcelona's Loaders' Association<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/324-el-port-de-barcelona-nombra-a-seat-cargador-destacado-2008.html |title=SEAT awarded Port of Barcelona's Distinguished Loader 2008 prize |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2009-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830222647/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2008/324-el-port-de-barcelona-nombra-a-seat-cargador-destacado-2008.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Spain|Companies|Cars}}
* [[Sehol]]
* [[Formula 1430]]
{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}  
<!-- Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
{{SEAT}}
{{SEAT timeline 1960-1989}}
{{SEAT timeline 1980 to date}}
{{Cupra timeline}}
{{Automotive industry in Spain}}
{{Volkswagen Group brands}}
{{Authority control}}

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