* SEAT President Luca de Meo accepted the award at a ceremony attended by Spanish Minister of Economy and Business Nadia Calviño, among other authorities
* The award recognises the company’s outstanding performance in 2018
* Last year SEAT sold over half a million vehicles, the best result in its history
SEAT has won the ‘Company of the Year 2018’ award given by El Periódico de Catalunya for its performance results last year. SEAT President Luca de Meo accepted the award last night at an even held in Barcelona’s Llotja de Mar, which was attended by the Minister of Economy and Business Nadia Calviño; Catalan government Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge Àngels Chacón; Spanish Government delegate Teresa Cunillera; Barcelona First Deputy Mayor Gerardo Pisarello and more than 300 corporate executives.
During his acceptance speech, SEAT President Luca de Meo said that “We have the will and the resources to look to the future without fear. We are convinced that if we do it well we will be in a better competitive position. This recognition is the sign that we are on the right path and that we generate value”.
The daily singled out SEAT with this award for its achievements and performance in 2018. Last year the company sold a historic record of 517,000 vehicles, which is 10.5% more than in 2017. This result represents the sixth consecutive year of sales growth, an unprecedented stage of positive development. SEAT concluded its SUV offensive in 2018 with the launch of the new Tarraco and also presented the new CUPRA brand with its first model, the CUPRA Ateca.
In his speech, the President of SEAT also referred to the future of the automotive sector in Spain. “The automotive industry is going through a period of disruption. Now is the time to make strategic decisions that will enable us to lead the change and integrate new business models into our traditional business. This integration will not take place in a day or two; it will be steady and progressive”, he pointed out.
The company currently accounts for nearly 1% of Spain’s GDP and has consolidated its position as the country’s largest exporter, with a total of 3% of all national exports. With regards to production, last year the Martorell factory celebrated its 25th anniversary, during which time it made more than 10 million cars.
Stepping up connectivity and innovation
After being the first brand to integrate Waze in its cars, in 2018 SEAT also led the way in offering the Shazam music recognition app in its vehicles. Last year it also announced the creation of XMOBA, an independent company dedicated to developing and testing new mobility services, and presented the evolution of the SEAT Cristobal, which today features built-in 5G technology.
With regards to innovation and digitalisation, the company has its Metropolis:Lab Barcelona, a centre which develops software and apps for the challenges facing future mobility; CARNET, a research platform created in collaboration with the UPC and Volkswagen Group Research to develop technologies that will have an impact on Barcelona’s future mobility services, and Start4Big, a platform that includes Aigües de Barcelona, Caixabank, Naturgy, Telefónica and SEAT to connect with the best national and international start-ups aimed at finding solutions to the common challenges facing the five sectors.
In addition, SEAT advocated for the selection of Barcelona as a European capital of mobility through the Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) project on Urban Mobility.
A global brand
2018 was also a key year for moving forward in SEAT’s globalisation strategy. The company signed two agreements, in Berlin and Madrid, to be a part of the new JAC Volkswagen joint venture and establish a presence in China beginning in 2021. In addition, SEAT has consolidated its position as the Volkswagen Group company in charge of spearheading the strategy in North Africa, where the Ibiza, Arona, Leon and Ateca models are currently being assembled in the Relizane plant in Algeria for the Algerian market.