The roadmap that the Volkswagen Group has laid out for SEAT is anything but reassuring. The consortium’s leadership maintains that it is a valuable brand — and that it survives thanks to CUPRA — but whose continuity is not guaranteed beyond 2030.
In this scenario, Comisiones Obreras and UGT have urged public authorities to “join forces” to protect SEAT and “collaborations with other manufacturers”.
Objective: Securing a Second Electric Platform
The unions warn that the “not allocating the second platform for Martorell or the lack of necessary investments for SEAT’s models does not help guarantee the future of the Spanish company,” which means public administrations must step in for SEAT to find a technology partner.
For the unions, SEAT’s potential disappearance makes no sense in terms of improving Volkswagen’s profits: “Its role cannot be filled by any of the group’s current brands, which would affect sales,” they warn. Chinese brands come into play here, which could guarantee new electric models for the brand and maintain its market presence.
Spain is already the main entry point for Chinese brands, and alliances such as Ebro and the Chery Group have allowed plants like Nissan’s in Zona Franca (Barcelona) to keep operating. Also the Chinese Leapmotor has brought production to Spain by Stellantis’ decision: production allocation of Leapmotor’s new electric and hybrid models at the Figueruelas plant (Zaragoza) and transfer of operations to Villaverde (Madrid).
Not to mention that the Geely giant owns a third of Ford Spain in a genuine industrial rescue operation.
Regarding the jobs in Martorell, the unions believe that their future is not at risk beyond 2030: “That is not up for debate. What is being debated is how large the workforce will be”.
