SEAT

After releasing strong 2019 sales figures, Volkswagen has announced it will suspend production across Europe, citing coronavirus concerns and a “rapid decline” in the automotive markets. The Volkswagen Auto Group posted growth across its Volkswagen, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Porsche and Scania brands in 2019 (with Audi and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles the only brands to see decline), however the early months of 2020 have thrust the marque into uncertainty.

Luca De Meo will take up the role Renault CEO on July 1, 2020, replacing interim boss Clotilde Delbos in the process. Renault's interim CEO Clotilde Delbos will remain in her current role until de Meo can join the company. When he starts on July 1, she will become deputy CEO in addition to her regular job as chief financial officer (CFO).

After a meeting of the Volkswagen Group's supervisory board late last week, the automaker confirmed it was increasing its average annual spend on developing electric, hybrid and digital technologies by around 36 per cent from €8.8 billion ($14.3 billion) to €12 billion ($19.5 billion). As part of Volkswagen's latest five-year plan, it will increase spending on EV development to €6.6 billion ($10.7 billion) annually.

Cupra is preparing to reveal the A-SUVe, a concept previewing its first pure-electric model, at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show. The sub-brand of Seat is promising the production A-SUVe will be the "first road Cupra to use a 100 per cent electric powertrain" when it launches. Although it's an SUV, the plug-in crossover will launch with a style-focused sloping roofline. The teaser doesn't give much away, but the car's profile clearly shares plenty with the BMW X4 or Mercedes GLC Coupe.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have filed a civil complaint against Volkswagen and Martin Winterkorn, its former CEO, for their role in issuing bonds while the company was trying to conceal the fact it had been selling vehicles with diesel emissions many times above legal levels.