The Seat Leon has become the brands biggest seller, after 18 years & 3 generations.

• Fast approaching its 18th anniversary, the SEAT Leon has established itself as one of the Spanish brand's pillars
• Sales of the third generation Leon have already surpassed the first
• The German market is the biggest for the Leon, followed by Spain and the United Kingdom

SEAT has just launched a reworked version of its SEAT Leon, a model which has sold nearly two million units since it came onto the market in the late 90s. Keep reading to discover nine facts about this model.

• Created in Barcelona. All three generations of the Leon have been designed, developed and produced in the SEAT facilities in Martorell (Barcelona). Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the first generation, Walter da Silva the second, and Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos is the author of the third.
• Nearly two million sold. Since its launch in 1999, 1.8 million units have been sold. 534,797 cars were marketed of the first generation (1999-2005). The second generation (2005–2015) saw an increase of 140,000 units sold compared to the previous one. This upward trend was intensified with the current generation, as in only four years (2012-2016), 566,931 units were sold, which is more than the entire first generation.
• 2016, best year for the Leon. The model brought last year to a close with the highest sales figure in its history, adding 3% compared to the previous year to reach 165,000 units. This was the best sales result of the model since its launch in 1999. 
• An international model. SEAT exports 80% of production of the Leon. The figures also show the increasing internationalisation of the brand as well as the model. Sales of the third generation are following the Spanish company’s trend that Germany remains its main market, where 136,674 units have been sold. 
• Major pillar of the company. Sales of the SEAT Leon exceeded the figures for the Ibiza for the first time in 2014, pointing to the fact that the Leon is the company’s second pillar and has enabled it to explore new segments. A case in point is that the brand’s first SUV, the SEAT Ateca, made its appearance in 2016.
• A world champion vehicle. The SEAT Leon won the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in 2008 and 2009, making it the first car equipped with a Diesel engine to win this competition.
• Record-setter on the Nürburgring. A SEAT Leon CUPRA driven by Jordi Gené in 2014 became the fastest front-wheel drive production car on the Nürburgring with a lap time of 7:58 minutes. One year later, the Leon ST CUPRA also became the fastest estate car on the famous Nordschleife track with a time of 7:58:12.
• Little-known facts. The third generation SEAT Leon weighs 90 kilos less than the second. In addition, this generation enabled the model to the be first vehicle in its segment to feature Full LED headlights.
• New version of the third generation SEAT Leon. SEAT has just presented the reworked version of the SEAT Leon, with evolved exterior design and an advance in the technology featured on the car: “You might even say that we’ve tucked the Ateca inside the Leon”, said SEAT Vice-president for R&D Matthias Rabe.

SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 75 countries. In 2015, SEAT’s turnover amounted to over 8.3 billion euros, the highest in its history, and the company achieved worldwide sales of more than 400,000 units for the first time since 2007.

SEAT Group employs more than 14,000 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia. 

The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focussed on developing innovation for Spain’s largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company’s global digitisation process to promote the mobility of the future.

Two million vehicles sold: The BMW 5 Series is the world’s most successful business model.

Two million vehicles sold: The BMW 5 Series is the world’s most successful business model. Bestseller for six years and regular winner of reader and expert polls. 

With more than two million vehicles sold, the current BMW 5 Series sets new benchmarks in the premium business segment. Compared with the previous generation, sales of the current BMW 5 Series have even risen by more than 42 percent.

With more than two million vehicles sold, the current BMW 5 Series sets new benchmarks in the premium business segment. 

Since its market launch in 2010, the sixth generation of the BMW 5 Series has been best in class in terms of design, driving dynamics and efficiency. 

As a result, it has become the most successful BMW 5 Series generation to date, also clearly leading the world’s bestseller lists in the segment for the last six years. Compared with the previous generation, sales of the current BMW 5 Series have even risen by more than 42 percent.

The BMW 5 Series is in demand worldwide

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Since the start of production in 1972, a total of more than 7.5 million vehicles of the sixth-generation BMW 5 Series have been sold. Therefore, this series is one of the decisive factors in BMW’s success story. 

Moreover, for six years now, the current generation of the BMW 5 Series has been the market leader in the premium business car segment. Last year alone, more than 347,000 customers worldwide opted for a BMW 5 Series Sedan, a BMW 5 Series Touring or a BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.

The series owes its extraordinary popularity partly to the wide range of engines. A broad spectrum of powerful and efficient four, six and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines are available for the BMW 5 Series. 

It ranges from the BMW 518d (combined fuel consumption: 4.7- 4.3 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 124–114 g/km)* to the extremely dynamic M5 Sedan delivering 412 kW/560 hp (423 kW/575 hp with Competition Package, combined fuel consumption: 9.9 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 231 g/km)*. 

Furthermore, the BMW 5 Series is optionally available either with rear-wheel drive or with BMW xDrive intelligent four-wheel drive. With the comprehensive range of BMW ConnectedDrive features and unique services such as Intelligent Emergency Call with Accident Severity Recognition, the BMW 5 Series also sets standards in terms of vehicle networking.

Numerous awards for the BMW 5 Series.

The international esteem and success enjoyed by the current BMW 5 Series are also underscored by the large number of distinctions and awards it has gained during the last six years. 

For example, the BMW 5 Series won the reader’s poll “BEST CARS 2016” conducted by “auto motor und sport” and was able to win this award in the category “Upper Midrange” for the sixth time in succession. The BMW 5 Series was also similarly successful in the readers’ poll “Auto Trophy” conducted by the “Auto Zeitung”. 

Furthermore, the BMW 5 Series was honoured with numerous design prizes such as the “red dot award”, the “iF Gold Award”, the “Good Design Award” and the Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany. Renowned market researchers from J.D. Power and Associates have confirmed the high quality of the BMW 5 Series. 

The premium value, reliability and outstanding ergonomics offered by the BMW 5 Series were honoured in the “Initial Quality Study”. Moreover, the BMW 5 Series also came first in the “APEAL” study, in which customers assess the performance and design of their new car.

Toyota production within the USA has topped Two million for the very first time, and not the last either.

2015 marked record production for Toyota with 2,035,028 vehicles and 1,933,702 engines produced in North America. Key drivers for increased production include low fuel prices, a healthier economy and strong customer demand for Corolla, Camry, RAV4 and Tacoma.

“Our products are a direct reflection of our team members’ dedication and talent,” said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota North America.  “Each vehicle that rolls off the line is an example of our commitment to safety, quality, value and above all our relentless focus to exceed customers’ expectations.”  

2015 production location milestones:

• Kentucky: produced the first “U.S. built” Lexus. A $360 million investment, the introduction of the ES 350 generated 750 new jobs;
• Texas: began production of the all-new Tacoma in San Antonio;
• Indiana: produced its 4 millionth vehicle;
• Alabama: boosted V6 engine production and built its 4 millionth engine;
• Mississippi: rolled off its 500,000^th Corolla;
• Mexico: Toyota’s full assembly plant in Baja California began a three crew/three shift operation to meet increased demand of the all-new Tacoma. In addition, Mazda began production of Scion iA and Yaris in Salamanca, Guanajuato.

2016 marks:

• Anniversaries for Ontario (Cambridge facility turns 30); Kentucky (30), Indiana (20); West Virginia (20), Alabama (15) and Mississippi (5);
• The groundbreaking of Toyota’s 15^th state of the art manufacturing facility in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato which is scheduled to begin Corolla production in 2019. 

Toyota produces 14 models in North America including: Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, RAV4, Scion iA, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Lexus RX 350, Lexus ES 350, Venza and Yaris; and directly employs nearly 40,000 in the region.

  

Toyota North American Vehicle Production
Manufacturing Site	Model	2014	2015
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK)	Avalon	56,975	56,928
	Avalon Hybrid	15,302	12,159
	Camry	312,909	332,588
	Camry Hybrid	40,519	32,811
	Venza	40,006	19,094
	ES 350	-	4,088
	Total	465,711	457,668
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. (TMMI)	Highlander	177,253	192,905
	Highlander Hybrid	5,224	5,422
	Sequoia	23,130	22,842
	Sienna	143,915	154,478
	Total	349,522	375,647
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS)	Corolla	189,314	190,514
	Total	189,314	190,514
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (TMMTX)	Tacoma	105,796	110,911
	Tundra	130,872	121,999
	Total	236,668	232,910
Subaru Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA)	Camry	93,476	79,843
	Total	93,476	79,843
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC)	Corolla	242,465	252,362
	Matrix	4,913	-
	RX 350	95,455	87,974
	RX 450 Hybrid	8,793	8,076
	RAV4	226,783	242,311
	RAV4 Hybrid	1,002	-
	Total	579,411	590,723
Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC)	Tacoma	71,399	82,328
	Total	71,399	82,328
Mazda Motor Manufacturing de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (MMVO)	Scion iA / Toyota Yaris	-	25,395
	Total	-	25,395
Total North American Vehicle Production	Grand Total	1,985,501	2,035,028

Toyota’s North American Vehicle Production – five year history:

Year	Vehicle Production	YOY Change
2015	2,035,028	2%
2014	1,985,501	7%
2013	1,857,695	5%
2012	1,776,243	41%
2011	1,255,635	(14%)

                                    

Toyota North American Engine Production
Manufacturing Site	Engine	2015
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK)	4-cylinder*	401,149
	V6	207,745
	Total	608,894
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. (TMMWV)**	4-cylinder	442,967
	V6	250,211
	Total	693,178
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc.  (TMMAL)	4-cylinder	277,530
	V6	209,078
	V8	145,022
	Total	631,630
Total 2014 North American Engine Production	Grand Total	1,933,702

*Includes hybrid engine production

**TMMWV’s total 6 speed automatic transmission production for 2015 was 732,164

In addition to the above mentioned plants, Toyota subsidiary Bodine Aluminum, Inc., in Tennessee and Missouri, casts aluminum parts such as cylinder heads, engine brackets and engine blocks.  TABC, Inc. in Long Beach, California, produces stamped/welded parts and steering columns.  Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc. (CAPTIN) in Delta, British Columbia, produces aluminum wheels.