The Volkswagen Group wants to further enlarge its already huge footprint in China, and will call on Spanish brand Seat to provide the extra ammunition. VW has decided to introduce the Seat brand in the world’s largest auto market, and will set up a stand for Seat at next month’s Shanghai auto show.
According to IHS Global Insight, the first Seat models will be imported from Europe, before production starts at VW’s Foshan assembly plant, which will be completed in 2013. VW Group brands already present in China include Audi, Lamborghini, Skoda and of course, Volkswagen.
Spain based Seat doesn’t have much of a presence outside Europe. It makes lower priced alternatives to mainstream VW brand cars with an accent on sport. This ingredient will be its unique selling point in China.
Seat sold 340,000 vehicles last year and lost 311 million euros. Some reports say that VW will give up on the brand by 2015 if it fails to make money. Last roll of the dice perhaps?
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I may actually get a Seat over the Ford Fiesta if they price it right…
Unfortunately even a Seat is not affordable in Malaysia, funny but it’s true…
Comparing the price against the Skoda too… probably that’s why Seat is not available in M’sia?
‘ VW will give up on the brand by 2015’
At least they won’t ‘give up’ the employees…
They announced already, that they will use the spanish factories to produce VW’s if they have to give up the Seat brand.
bring it here…cheaper version of VW…bring the alhambra pls
It’s not necessarily cheaper. It’s sportier – the Leon Cupra is far superior to a golf GTI in performance AND specification
It’s not coming to Malaysia. I asked SEAT in January 2011, they said they’ve got no plans at the moment to market it in Malaysia, sad, I want their Leon!
I emailed SEAT (Spain) in January 2011, they replied that they’ve got no plans at the moment to market SEAT in Malaysia… sad… I really wanted their Leon!