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SEAT to concentrate on China in 2011

By Brett Davis |

According to recent reports, Spanish car company and Volkswagen subsidiary SEAT is planning to make it big in China this year. SEAT will introduce a small range of models in the country for the first time later this year, as well as showcase a number of models at Auto Shanghai 2011.

The Chinese automotive industry has experienced an unprecedented boom in the past couple of years. Large luxury sedans have been especially popular, with luxury German cars among the most popular new entrants into the market.

Although SEAT’s current range comprises mainly small cars, such as the SEAT Ibiza and Leon, the company is reportedly planning to release the SEAT Exeo (based on the Audi A4) in China as well.

SEAT hopes the brand will present a unique European personality to the market, which would also be supported by Volkswagen and Audi’s premium heritage. SEAT Chairman, James Muir, said in a recent report,

“The Chinese market offers a great opportunity. SEAT is synonymous with design, being young in spirit and sportiness, attributes which are greatly appreciated in China.”

SEAT will start by introducing a number of sporty versions of the SEAT Ibiza and Leon marketed towards the younger generation soon after Auto Shanghai 2011.


 
  • Car Fanatic

    Next stop Australia?

  • thehotSEAT

    I hope VW puts more effort into SEAT’s introduction to China than did last time it was in OZ and more recently South Africa – from which it withdrew in 2008. Outside recession hit Spain, SEAT is doing well Europe-wide and just had its best ever month of sales and market share in the UK.

  • Londonlad

    Anyone know how many cars Seat sold in Australia before VW withdrew it? I would bet ya it was more than Fiat and Renault sell at the moment!

    • Myke

      According to a VW forum:

      1994= 20
      1995= 1859
      1996= 975
      1997= 366
      1998= 75
      1999= 266
      total= 3561

      • Gary

        I bought a Seat Ibiza Gti 2.0 from the first shipment for $27k on the road. Did 160,000 fun filled KMs before I sold it.

  • Car Fanatic

    I owned a Leon Cupra R in 03. Cracking car, had it chipped to 275 hp. Loved it despite terrible torque steer and diff bounce from launch.

    Went through front Tyres every 12,000 miles.

  • Car Fanatic

    And they only had the Cordoba Toledo and Ibiza.

  • Not VW

    SEAT was never brought into OZ by, or withdrawn by VW, they were solely imported by Inchcape.

    VW have never tried to introduce the brand to Australia and given the splutter that is Skoda I can’t see them trying their hand at SEAT anytime soon

  • Sith

    What an boring and ugly brand.

  • Car Fanatic

    That’s funny coming from a nerdy star wars fan.

    Driven plenty of SEAT’s then have you?

    Go back to your Star Wars Forums.

    My experience with SEAT was brilliant. Even before I chipped my Cupra I enjoyed the drive. Cornering was sharp and whilst it couldn’t
    keep pace with a WRX on UK B roads it could show a clean pair of heels to a Jaguar S Type R until we got to the straights and he caught me again, only to see my tail lights vanish around the windy bits again.

  • filippo

    Really, I wonder how Seat actually survive, considering that in Europe it’s rare to see one outside of Spain or Portugal. The sports models are fun but the bread-and-butter ones are extraordinarily dull.

  • Car Fanatic

    Filippo, SEAT sell more than 35,000 cars a Year in the UK alone. That’s not bad considering how competitive the UK market is.

    SEAT worldwide deliver 340,000 card so UK accounted for around 10.5%