In the event you’re an American who’s traveled to Europe or Latin America, you might need observed vehicles from Volkswagen’s SEAT model. As soon as an unbiased Spain-based automaker, SEAT spent years making extra fashionable, typically extra competitively priced variations of Volkswagen’s vehicles, which made it successful many components of the world. A lot in order that SEAT spun off one in all its hottest fashions, Cupra, right into a standalone, sporty, EV-focused model in 2018. Cupra’s vehicles look rather more aggressive than your common VW, however to this point, the U.S. hasn’t gotten any of that love.
That is going to alter in just a few years. At SEAT’s annual media convention at this time in Barcelona, Wayne Griffiths, who serves as CEO of each manufacturers, introduced that Cupra will debut within the U.S. by the top of this decade with two new all-electric SUVs.
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The Volkswagen Group goals to beat America in an enormous approach
SEAT’s Cupra model, together with the relaunched Scout Motors model, symbolize huge EV-focused ambitions for the Volkswagen Group in America. The conglomerate is big in the remainder of the world however has lengthy struggled for a similar stage of mainstream success within the U.S. as different “imports” like Toyota and Honda.
“We need to construct on our excellent success in abroad markets,” Griffiths mentioned. “However once we discuss ‘international,’ once we say ‘larger,’ we imply america of America.”
Griffiths mentioned the corporate had been inspecting a attainable U.S. entry for a while because it seeks extra of a worldwide presence, however now it is official. “We all know it is a matter of being well-prepared and doing it proper should you go to the U.S., so after testing the model, we all know our vehicles will replicate what clients are searching for.”
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Griffiths mentioned the corporate plans to start out with an electrical model of the Formentor crossover, and an as-yet-unnamed “larger” electrical SUV. (They actually do know the U.S. market, it appears.) The vehicles will probably be constructed at Volkswagen’s North American factories, together with Mexico, which ought to qualify them for EV tax credit.
He added that Cupra will launch in key states, and it appears targeted on the 2 coasts and the Solar Belt. And as for gross sales, Cupra could also be as much as one thing fascinating right here. “This will probably be carried out by a brand new distribution mannequin,” he mentioned, however did not elaborate additional.
It is all a really fascinating transfer from the Volkswagen Group—particularly the “new distribution mannequin” a part of the equation. It’s attainable Cupra may dip into some type of direct-to-consumer gross sales like Tesla or Rivian, or some new hybrid system that will work with some established sellers. It stays to be seen how VW’s varied sellers in America will really feel about this, however automakers all over the place are experimenting with new methods to get vehicles to clients—together with, in some circumstances, as sellers balk at promoting EVs.
However the transfer additionally matches with the VW Group’s extra aggressive deal with the U.S. market. Whereas its manufacturers are dominant globally, and Porsche and Audi are each iconic and worthwhile right here, the VW Group as a complete lacks the immense presence it has in Europe and different locations. That is an enormous cause it is launching the brand new Scout Motors electrical truck model, full with its personal manufacturing facility in South Carolina. Including Cupra to that blend with an EV focus will solely assist to bolster issues right here.
InsideEVs has reached out to the VW Group for extra data and we are going to replace if we be taught extra.
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