Seat Cars continues to grow with a 13.9% increase in sales over last year.

• Company sales up by 11.9% in May
• Spain, Germany, UK, Switzerland and Austria leading the growth
• SEAT will unveil the new Arona at a world premiere event on 26 June in Barcelona

SEAT continues to post double-digit growth. In the first five months of the year, the carmaker sold 201,300 vehicles worldwide, which is 13.9% more than in the same period last year (176,700). In May, the Barcelona-based brand delivered 42,600 vehicles (2016: 38,100), which represents an 11.9% increase compared with the same month in 2016.

The company’s Vice-President for Sales and Marketing, Wayne Griffiths, underscored that “SEAT is drawing the first half of 2017 to a close ahead of expectations. We are one of the brands that is growing the strongest in Europe this year and we still haven’t launched the new Ibiza, that will give us further impact. 

In addition, we will unveil our first compact crossover, the new SEAT Arona this month. This is one of the fastest growing segments and it is going to increase our market coverage to 80%.”

SEAT’s upward trend is fostered by strong growth in most countries where the brand operates, spearheaded by the main markets. From January to May, Spain led deliveries with 44,100 cars (+23.1%), Germany rose by 10% to 38,700 vehicles and the UK grew by over 20% and achieved sales of 24,600 units (+20.9%). 

Also featuring among SEAT’s fastest growing markets were Austria (7,800 vehicles; +23.7%), Poland (5,100; +25.8%) and Switzerland (4,300; +66.5%). In addition, the company has continued to grow in the different sales channels and has, for instance, delivered a fleet of 42 Leon units for the Red Bull sales network in the United Kingdom.

Commenting on SEAT UK’s relentless progress, Head of Sales, Steve Catlin, said, “These are really exciting times for us in the UK. 

The quality and technology of our cars, wrapped up in such affordable and appealing packages, is really hitting the mark with British car buyers. We’re significantly ahead of our own sales forecasts, with New Leon and Ateca continuing to perform strongly. 

The arrival of All-new Ibiza in just a few weeks, not to mention the unveiling of New Arona in a fortnight really are the icing on the cake. It’s not just the products which are delivering though, as our dealer network is also performing equally as well. Their capability, especially when it comes to efficient customer enquiry management, is really paying dividends too.”

The SEAT range will be extended in the second half of 2017. On 26 June, the brand is going to reveal its first compact crossover, new Arona, in Barcelona, ahead of launch before the end of the year. 

It will be the third commercial development of 2017, following the New Leon and All-new Ibiza. In fact, SEAT is currently in full launch stage of the latter, which will be reaching showrooms from this month. The biggest product offensive in SEAT’s history started in 2016, with the successful Ateca.