18.09.2026, 13:19
Volkswagen has decided to close one of the car brands
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS A large-scale reorganization of Volkswagen will lead to the disappearance of the Spanish Seat brand. It will become the first long-established car company to leave the market since the early 2010s, writes Reuters.
By the way, then Ford shut down Mercury, General Motors abandoned Saturn and Pontiac, and Saab went bankrupt. Such closures are rare in an industry where well-known brands have been around for decades. This development confirms the willingness of the carmaker's CEO, Oliver Blume, to optimize the work of the sprawling German automaker by investing in more successful brands. Seat is not one of them now.
The company said that Seat's future "beyond the current product lifecycle is still being evaluated." They also added that "after 2030, different scenarios are possible." An informed source on condition of anonymity said that Seat's fast—growing subsidiary brand, Cupra, which is switching to electric vehicles, will receive all future models as Seat vehicles with internal combustion engines are discontinued.
Seat was founded in Spain in 1950 as a state-owned enterprise. In 1986, Volkswagen bought it as a budget brand for its growing automotive empire. But Seat hasn't released any new models since 2020, which is too long a break for an industry where new products are critical to survival. The Barcelona-based brand accounted for less than 3 percent of Volkswagen's global shipments in 2025. Meanwhile, the sister sports brand Cupra, launched in 2018, surpassed Seat in annual sales for the first time last year.
Cupra offers three all-electric models, including the new Raval. Seat-Cupra CEO Markus Haupt called it "revolutionary" in May. Seat does not have any fully electric models, and there are no plans to release them.
Earlier, Porsche, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, announced the sale of its shares in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group for one billion euros (approximately 99 billion rubles).
By the way, then Ford shut down Mercury, General Motors abandoned Saturn and Pontiac, and Saab went bankrupt. Such closures are rare in an industry where well-known brands have been around for decades. This development confirms the willingness of the carmaker's CEO, Oliver Blume, to optimize the work of the sprawling German automaker by investing in more successful brands. Seat is not one of them now.
The company said that Seat's future "beyond the current product lifecycle is still being evaluated." They also added that "after 2030, different scenarios are possible." An informed source on condition of anonymity said that Seat's fast—growing subsidiary brand, Cupra, which is switching to electric vehicles, will receive all future models as Seat vehicles with internal combustion engines are discontinued.
Seat was founded in Spain in 1950 as a state-owned enterprise. In 1986, Volkswagen bought it as a budget brand for its growing automotive empire. But Seat hasn't released any new models since 2020, which is too long a break for an industry where new products are critical to survival. The Barcelona-based brand accounted for less than 3 percent of Volkswagen's global shipments in 2025. Meanwhile, the sister sports brand Cupra, launched in 2018, surpassed Seat in annual sales for the first time last year.
Cupra offers three all-electric models, including the new Raval. Seat-Cupra CEO Markus Haupt called it "revolutionary" in May. Seat does not have any fully electric models, and there are no plans to release them.
Earlier, Porsche, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, announced the sale of its shares in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group for one billion euros (approximately 99 billion rubles).
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