SEAT announces worldwide increases to better 2012 by 10.6%

• Following stunning result for SEAT UK, SEAT S.A. announces 10.6% global sales increase for 2013
• 355,000 vehicles delivered is SEAT’s highest for five years
• SEAT is one of the fastest growing brands in Europe
• Double digit increases for Leon (44%) and Mii (43%)

SEAT sales jumped up by 10.6% in 2013, as the Spanish brand delivered 355,000 vehicles worldwide – its highest number for five years, and 34,000 more than 2012’s figure.

In its main area of Western Europe, SEAT’s 9.4% increase puts it among the fastest growing brands in Europe, despite operating in a sector that’s contracted overall. SEAT sold 273,200 vehicles in Western Europe in 2013, 23,500 more than in 2012.

SEAT Chairman Jürgen Stackmann underscores that “the company is having sales momentum, particularly in Europe, where SEAT is growing faster than the competition in a contracting market.”

European success

In its biggest market, Germany, SEAT delivered 76,600 vehicles, a 20.3% increase over the previous year. SEAT was the fastest-growing brand in Germany, and has placed itself amongst the top ten selling brands. In Spain, SEAT returned to positive performance figures and increased sales by 6.0% (58,900 cars), above the market average. In the United Kingdom, its third-largest market, the Spanish brand enjoyed its fifth successive year of growth (16.8%), with more than 45,300 sales the highest that SEAT UK has ever achieved in a year.

SEAT also closed 2013 with record sales in other markets like Switzerland (8,300 units; up 5.2%) and Denmark (6,300; up 37.6%), alongside other European markets.

The key to SEAT’s positive performance in Europe is the Leon, of which more than 102,000 units have been sold worldwide, a 44.4% increase. The new five-door Leon is the best-selling SEAT model in many countries (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Turkey, among others). SEAT Sales and Marketing Vice President Dr. Andreas Offermann asserts that “full availability of the Leon family should sustain growth in 2014.”

Growth in North Africa, Middle East and Mexico

SEAT also seized opportunities outside Europe; thanks to 13.0% growth, almost one of every five vehicles SEAT built in 2013 was sold outside of Europe (64,600 units). So, for the first time, SEAT has three non-European countries amongst its top ten: Mexico (5th), Algeria (6th) and Turkey (8th).

In Algeria, where SEAT already quadrupled its sales in 2012, it continued to grow last year, by 26.9%, and concluded 2013 with 20,500 units sold. The big novelty for 2013 was Turkey, where sales almost doubled (90.4%) with the brand marketing 11,100 units. SEAT ended 2013 with the highest sales figures in its history for both these countries. In Mexico SEAT grew for the fourth successive year (0.4%), sales totalling 21,200 units.

“In 2014, in spite of the still-persisting difficulties in the economic environment, we intend to continue working hard to make constant progress. We have a fantastic product range which will continue to grow around the Leon family, the heart of the SEAT brand,”declares Chairman Jürgen Stackmann.

Deliveries to customers in 2013 (by models, in units and percentage annual growth)

SEAT Mii (28,900; +43.2%)
SEAT Ibiza (154,100; -7.7%)
SEAT Toledo (19,000; launched in November 2012)
SEAT Leon (102,800; +44.4%)
SEAT Altea (23,700; -19.7%)
SEAT Alhambra (20,000; +4.0%)
SEAT Exeo (6,500; production discontinued in July 2013)

SEAT breaks sales record with over a month to go.

• SEAT UK last week surpassed its record-breaking 2012 yearly sales total
• 38,871 registrations by last Monday (11 November) beats 2012’s 38,798 total
• 2013 is already the company’s best ever year, with six weeks remaining
• SEAT achieves its fifth consecutive annual sales rise

SEAT UK can announce that it has already broken its annual sales record, with more than six weeks to spare.

By the morning of Monday 11 November, SEAT had reached 38,871 registrations, surpassing the 38,798 tally posted for 2012, itself a record-breaking year. It means that SEAT can already announce its best year ever, and its fifth consecutive annual sales improvement.

During what has been a fantastic 2013, SEAT has broken its monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and now annual sales records; September 2013 was SEAT’s best ever month (8,498 registrations), which topped off its best ever quarter (July – September 2013), which had followed its best ever half year (Jan – June 2013).

And October 2013 too has been a landmark month for SEAT, with 2,903 registrations making it the company’s best October ever. Retail sales alone were up by 34% compared to October 2012’s.

SEAT UK Director Neil Williamson says: “In a competitive marketplace it’s a testament to both the quality of our cars and the effort of our dealerships that we’ve broken our annual sales record already. A brilliant team effort.

“What’s most pleasing is that we’ve achieved much of this success in the showrooms: our year-to-date retail sales have gone up by almost a third. We’ve put a lot of focus on getting happy customers into great cars via an outstanding dealership experience.”

The SEAT Leon, which currently holds the Auto Express Car of the Year crown, is now available as a five-door hatchback, a three-door SC and an ST estate. SEAT showrooms now offer the most complete model line-up that the company has ever produced, from the Mii city car, through the ever-popular Ibiza supermini, the new Leon family, the highly practical new Toledo, the Altea and Altea XL MPVs, and the multi-award winning  Alhambra people carrier.

SEAT introduces the Altea and Altea XL I TECH editions

• SEAT introduces the Altea and Altea XL I TECH editions
• New Altea I TECH models replace Copa versions
• No additional cost over Copa SE trim, but loads of extra kit
• Available to order now
• Priced from £19,345 with first deliveries expected December 2013

SEAT has buffed up the Copa and come up with a shiny new Altea: the I TECH edition. In order to offer Altea and Altea XL buyers the best deal possible, the I TECH trim is even better value than the Copa SE trim it replaces.

From this month (November 2013), the Altea and Altea XL are only available in I TECH trim, which stuffs the family car full of equipment; for the same price as the outgoing Copa SE trim, I TECH adds equipment including 16-inch titanium finish alloys wheels, front parking sensors, a colour TFT screen for rear passengers, and forward sliding rear seats for added versatility.

The simplified Altea and Altea XL ranges now comprise one trim level and three powertrain options, with buyers able to choose from a 1.6 TDI Ecomotive diesel engine with 105 PS, the same engine with a DSG automatic transmission, or a 2.0 TDI diesel with 140 PS.

As well as the equipment mentioned above, it includes dark tinted rear windows, roof rails, dual zone climate control, automatic wipers and headlights, rear parking sensors, SEAT Media System 2.2 (including satellite navigation and Bluetooth), a double floor boot, and overhead interior storage; the generous Altea I TECH specification leaves very little to the options list.

In addition, two new colours are introduced: Bahama Blue and Technic Grey.

SEAT Product Manager Steve Mirfin says: “With the Altea I TECH models we’re giving the customer great value and a simplified choice. We’re also reflecting buyer preference – over the last year, more than nine of ten Altea models sold were specified in SE Copa trim, on which the enhanced I TECH is based.”

The Altea range begins at £19,345 for an Altea I TECH 1.6 TDI 105 PS Ecomotive, while the DSG version is £20,215, and the 2.0 TDI 140 PS is £20,145. For an Altea XL, the 1.6 TDI Ecomotive is £20,065, or £20,935 for the DSG. The 2.0 TDI 140 PS version is £20,865.

Fuel economy across the range is excellent, with the manual 1.6 TDI Ecomotive version (including XL) returning 62.8 mpg combined, while both the 1.6 TDI DSG and 2.0 TDI 140 PS manual return the same 57.6 mpg figure.

The five-seat Altea combines the styling and dynamics of a traditional family hatchback with the space of an MPV; its high roofline, commanding driving position and 409-litre boot make the Altea a brilliant, versatile family car. The longer, slightly taller Altea XL, meanwhile, offers all the same qualities but with even more space – its boot is a substantial 532 litres.

SEAT has some great Q4 consumer offers and Motability terms.

• Mii Toca only £79 per month, while Ibiza SC Toca stays under £10,000
• New Leon from as little as £165 per month, with huge specification
• Free Leon Technology Pack offer extended for a further three months
• £2,500 off the price of every new Toledo, meaning the range starts at £10,000
• 46 SEAT models available with zero advance payment for Motability customers

With SEAT UK posting its best monthly sales ever in September, the company is looking to keep the momentum going with a round of fantastic Q4 offers that truly put the customer first.

Starting with the Mii, it remains possible to get into a brand new SEAT city car for less than the price of a fancy gym membership: just £79 per month for a Mii Toca on a PCP, which comes with satellite navigation and rear parking sensors. The small print is below, but there are no surprises.

Next up is the Ibiza SC, which is available in Toca specification for just £9,995. So for less than ten grand, a customer can drive away with a stunning supermini including satellite navigation, Bluetooth, 16-inch alloy wheels and dark tinted windows. That’s a £2,700 saving on the RRP. Across the rest of the range, all Ibiza FR models have £2,000 off, as does the very rapid, range-topping Ibiza Cupra – now just £16,765.

Moving up the SEAT range, all Toledo models have £2,500 off the retail price, meaning the Toledo begins at just £10,000. Meanwhile, the free Technology Pack offer for the Leon continues, meaning all SE and FR cars can have satellite navigation, DAB digital radio and full-LED headlights for nothing, as opposed to the pack’s £1,075 retail price.

SEAT is also offering a £1,000 deposit contribution across the Leon range when purchased on a PCP, and 4.9% APR – which means the monthly payment on a new Leon SC SE 1.2 TSI, including Technology Pack, is just £165.

For the Altea and Altea XL ranges there’s a £2,500 deposit contribution across the range, with a PCP, and every model is available with five years 0% on hire purchase, with a 35% deposit. And it’s exactly the same story with the multi-award winning Alhambra line-up.

Motability drivers will be able to enjoy a SEAT Leon with no advance payment on certain models, while there’s also no advance payment on certain Mii, Ibiza and Toledo variants; in total, SEAT is offering 46 vehicles with £0 advance payment, including the very highly equipped and fuel-efficient Leon 1.6 TDI SE.

SEAT is looking to achieve a record-breaking year in 2013, and started in the best possible way. Having put the all-new Leon on sale in March, the company posted its best ever half-year sales at the end of June, with 22,752 cars registered. Following that, the third quarter of the year was the company’s best ever, with 12,716 cars registered, and September was its best ever single month.

The (not so) small print…

The Mii Toca offer is a 36-month PCP with 4.9% APR, and requires a £2,719 deposit, while the £165 per month Leon offer requires a £4,771 customer deposit, £1,000 of which is paid by SEAT.