The Volkswagen Group has finally decided to develop electric cars for around 20,000 euros. The Seat brand, which stands for affordable mobility within the Group, will not benefit from this for the time being.
Wayne Griffiths, head of the Spanish company, explained in an interview with Handelsblatt: “Our priorities are currently elsewhere.” The company is currently preparing the production of four small electric cars – for the VW, Cupra and Skoda brands. These are in the price segment around 25,000 euros. Seat is responsible for the project. “We have to deliver here,” said Griffiths. Only then could other projects follow.
Volkswagen’s entry-level electric car for around 20,000 euros is due to be launched in 2027. The slightly more expensive electric cars costing around 25,000 euros, which will roll off the production line at Seat, should be in dealerships as early as 2026. The company will soon be converting a production line at its main plant for this purpose, with a battery assembly plant being built at the site in parallel.
While the core VW brand initially wants to offer an electric car for less than 25,000 euros based on the ID. 2all, the sportier Raval from Seat’s sister brand Cupra is likely to be priced above this. A third model from Skoda, like the VW, should cost less than 25,000 euros. To this end, an adaptation of the MEB modular electric car system is in the works, which will also be used for a more affordable e-SUV from VW.
Other manufacturers are already offering new entry-level electric cars from this year. Griffiths believes that 2026 is not too late as a launch year. “I’d rather ask myself: aren’t we electrifying too quickly?” In view of the recent weak demand for e-cars, the focus must be on economic capacity utilisation. Ultimately, it’s about “whether and how I can really get the plants full”. Seat could also offer an entry-level electric car, at least in the long term.
“Without Seat, there will be no Cupra,” emphasised Griffiths. The brands would have clearly distinguishable tasks within the company. There has been repeated speculation that Seat could be wound up as a car brand, but according to the boss, this is not planned. Cupra will focus on electromobility, Seat on small combustion engines as entry-level cars and hybrids. “This gives us the advantage of remaining flexible.” The manager did not say whether and when Seat will be fully electrified. “It depends on the right time.”
He has no doubt that the future belongs to electromobility in the long term. But on the way there, “you always have to be pragmatic and not dogmatic”, said Griffiths. What is more important is what happens in the next two or three years, not in the next ten.
spider_best9
I guess then it will be a long time before I can afford an EV. If SEAT can’t do it, I bet that Volkswagen can’t either.
NameTheJack
The VW group’s response to being protected from the Chinese.
As soon as it was apparent that tariffs would be assured the entire group made a 90° turn. The VW group promptly moved €65 billion from their EV development budget to ICE development.
CapRichard
Seat after the Cupra separation kind of has to find their own footing.
Taylsch
Seat has no future in the Volkswagen Group anyway. This became clear with the Cupra push. Skoda is there as an entry-level brand. VW offers mid-range cars and the younger target group is served by Cupra. Seat no longer has a place in the group.
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Translation:
The Volkswagen Group has finally decided to develop electric cars for around 20,000 euros. The Seat brand, which stands for affordable mobility within the Group, will not benefit from this for the time being.
Wayne Griffiths, head of the Spanish company, explained in an interview with Handelsblatt: “Our priorities are currently elsewhere.” The company is currently preparing the production of four small electric cars – for the VW, Cupra and Skoda brands. These are in the price segment around 25,000 euros. Seat is responsible for the project. “We have to deliver here,” said Griffiths. Only then could other projects follow.
Volkswagen’s entry-level electric car for around 20,000 euros is due to be launched in 2027. The slightly more expensive electric cars costing around 25,000 euros, which will roll off the production line at Seat, should be in dealerships as early as 2026. The company will soon be converting a production line at its main plant for this purpose, with a battery assembly plant being built at the site in parallel.
While the core VW brand initially wants to offer an electric car for less than 25,000 euros based on the ID. 2all, the sportier Raval from Seat’s sister brand Cupra is likely to be priced above this. A third model from Skoda, like the VW, should cost less than 25,000 euros. To this end, an adaptation of the MEB modular electric car system is in the works, which will also be used for a more affordable e-SUV from VW.
Other manufacturers are already offering new entry-level electric cars from this year. Griffiths believes that 2026 is not too late as a launch year. “I’d rather ask myself: aren’t we electrifying too quickly?” In view of the recent weak demand for e-cars, the focus must be on economic capacity utilisation. Ultimately, it’s about “whether and how I can really get the plants full”. Seat could also offer an entry-level electric car, at least in the long term.
“Without Seat, there will be no Cupra,” emphasised Griffiths. The brands would have clearly distinguishable tasks within the company. There has been repeated speculation that Seat could be wound up as a car brand, but according to the boss, this is not planned. Cupra will focus on electromobility, Seat on small combustion engines as entry-level cars and hybrids. “This gives us the advantage of remaining flexible.” The manager did not say whether and when Seat will be fully electrified. “It depends on the right time.”
He has no doubt that the future belongs to electromobility in the long term. But on the way there, “you always have to be pragmatic and not dogmatic”, said Griffiths. What is more important is what happens in the next two or three years, not in the next ten.
I guess then it will be a long time before I can afford an EV. If SEAT can’t do it, I bet that Volkswagen can’t either.
The VW group’s response to being protected from the Chinese.
As soon as it was apparent that tariffs would be assured the entire group made a 90° turn. The VW group promptly moved €65 billion from their EV development budget to ICE development.
Seat after the Cupra separation kind of has to find their own footing.
Seat has no future in the Volkswagen Group anyway. This became clear with the Cupra push. Skoda is there as an entry-level brand. VW offers mid-range cars and the younger target group is served by Cupra. Seat no longer has a place in the group.