SEAT Cars to complete a huge building to house upwards of 119,00 boxes of parts

Pioneering company in Industry 4.0

• The new 43.7 metre tall building will be able to process 119,000 boxes of parts and components
• Work on the new facility will conclude in the last quarter of 2018

SEAT continues with its commitment to making the Martorell factory a benchmark of Industry 4.0 with the construction of a new, automated logistics centre, providing storage for parts and components and equipped with smart technology to make its operation completely automated. With a total capacity for 119,000 boxes and a maximum height of 43.7 metres, it will be the tallest logistics warehouse in Spain. 

 Construction work on this facility, which will become the pillar of SEAT’s Logistics Centre at the Martorell factory, is scheduled to conclude in the last quarter of 2018.

According to SEAT Vice-President for Production Dr. Andreas Tostmann, “the creation of this wholly automated logistics centre once again demonstrates that SEAT is a benchmark company in every area of Industry 4.0”. “With this project we are taking a qualitative leap forward in our service capacity and our vision of achieving logistics management excellence by increasing efficiency in the manufacturing process of our vehicles”, he added. 

SEAT’s new warehouse will have a total surface area of 5,700 m2 divided into two facilities. In the first one, with a height of 43.7 metres, up to 500 containers will be shifted every hour. It will have a capacity for 24,000 containers stored in seven aisles. The second, at 21 metres high, will feature five aisles for storing more than 95,000 boxes, where 1,100 will get shifted every hour. 

This new facility represents another breakthrough in the logistics processes at the Martorell factory, which in recent months have received several awards. Just recently, SEAT won the Manufacturing Excellence 2017 award in the category of Logistics and Logistics Network Management. 

The judging panel of this award, which is considered one of the major events in the industrial sector, was particularly impressed by the factory’s excellent performance in supplier management and internal logistics. Likewise, last June the Barcelona International Logistics Exhibition recognised SEAT for the efficiency and technological innovation of the SEAT Easy Smart Logistics project.

The 1992 Olympics brought us various SEAT cars, as the brand and Olympics are from Barcelona

• SEAT committed itself to Barcelona 92 with three special models, 2,000 cars for the Olympic family and training for the 30,000 volunteers
• The Ibiza was selected as the official car of the Olympic Games 
• Two versions of the Toledo were made: a Podium edition for the Spanish medallists and an electric variant, which led the torch relay and the Marathon event

On 25 July 1992 hundreds of millions of people had their eyes fixed on Barcelona. The Olympic Games had just begun and more than 12,000 athletes were competing. The city opened its arms to the huge Olympic family with 30,000 volunteers trained by SEAT. 

It was a formidable logistics challenge that involved shuttling hundreds of athletes, organisers and journalists every day in a fleet of 2,000 company cars. 

Among these, the brand’s most iconic model, the SEAT Ibiza, was selected as the official car of the Games. Below are a few notable facts about those models with the Olympic spirit.

-The Olympic Ibiza: A special series of the white Ibiza, customised with the Olympic rings and the Barcelona’92 logo, became the official car of the Games. The Olympic Ibiza features in the rich history of the SEAT Ibiza, which is currently the brand’s icon and now in its fifth generation, with more than 5.4 million units sold.

-A Toledo fit for a winner: Only 25 units of this special version of the Toledo were made, and the brand gave one to each of the 23 Spanish athletes who won a medal. It featured navy blue paint and exclusive detailing, such as a portable telephone in the armrest and wood inserts in the steering wheel.

-Leading the way in the torch relay: The organisers of the Games asked SEAT for a specific model to accompany the athletes during the torch relay and the Marathon event. The result was an electric Toledo that featured a plug in charger concealed behind the front grille and a set of batteries that weighed 500 kilos which gave it a range of 65 kilometres.

-2,000 cars for the needs of a large family: 400 volunteers were responsible for driving a fleet of 2,000 Ibiza and Toledo cars around the Olympic Village. The fleet was used to shuttle athletes, delegates and accredited journalists to and from the different sports facilities during the Games.

-Collector’s items: the SEAT historic collection contains a perfectly preserved model of the Olympic Ibiza, an electric Toledo and two units of the Toledo Podium, all assets that represent the brand’s living history.

USA - FCA US LLC announces a large investment and a significant number of new products for the Jeep brand.

FCA US Expands Jeep_® Product Lineup, Adding Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer, and a Jeep Pickup Truck; Makes Further Commitment to U.S. Manufacturing With $1 Billion in New Investment and 2,000 New Jobs

• Announcement is a continuation of the efforts already underway to increase production capacity in the U.S. on trucks and SUVs to match demand
• Confirms addition of new models to award-winning Jeep® lineup – a Jeep pickup truck and the storied Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
• Investment includes retooling and modernization at Warren, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio, plants; creates additional 2,000 American jobs
• Total U.S. committed investment grows to more than $9.6 billion since 2009, with 25,000 jobs created to date
• Production moves solidify U.S. as the global manufacturing hub for the flagship Jeep products

FCA US today confirmed the next phase of its industrialization plan by announcing a total $1 billion investment in plants in Michigan and Ohio, and the addition of 2,000 new American jobs. 

Consistent and combined with previously announced investments, FCA US is further demonstrating its commitment to strengthening its U.S. manufacturing base, and aligning U.S. capacity to extend the Jeep_® product lineup. 

In total, FCA US has committed investments of more than $9.6 billion in its U.S. manufacturing facilities and created 25,000 new jobs to date since 2009.

EXISTING MODEL RANGE

Today’s announcement is the second phase of an industrialization plan announced in January 2016. The plan called for the realignment of the Company’s U.S. manufacturing operations to fully utilize available capacity to respond to a shift in market demand for trucks and SUVs, and to further expand the Jeep and Ram brands.

With the $1 billion investment, FCA US will retool and modernize the Warren Truck Assembly Plant (Michigan) to produce the all-new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and the south plant of the Toledo Assembly Complex (Ohio) to build an all-new Jeep pickup truck. These actions are planned to be completed by 2020. More than 2,000 jobs also will be added to support production of these models. The added benefit of the investment in Warren is that it will enable the plant to produce the Ram heavy duty truck, which is currently produced in Mexico.

“The conversion of our industrial footprint completes this stage of our transformation as we respond to the shift in consumer tastes to trucks and SUVs, and as we continue to reinforce the U.S. as a global manufacturing hub for those vehicles at the heart of the SUV and truck market,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer of FCA N.V. “These moves, which have been under discussion with Dennis Williams and the rest of the UAW leadership for some time, expand our capacity in these key segments, enabling us to meet growing demand here in the U.S., but more importantly to increase exports of our mid-size and larger vehicles to international markets.

“The expansion of our Jeep lineup has been and continues to be the key pillar of our strategy. Our commitment to internationalize the Jeep brand is unwavering, and with these last moves, we will finally have the capacity to successfully penetrate markets other than the U.S. which have historically been denied product due to capacity constraints. In addition, these all-new products will reach new consumers, as well as those that have been part of the Jeep tradition,” said Marchionne.

The actions announced today are subject to the negotiation and final approval of incentives by state and local entities.

Previously Announced Actions

In July 2016, the Company made two announcements involving production shifts at three plants to gain additional capacity for the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Cherokee and Ram Light Duty Truck.

The first announcement confirmed a more than $1 billion investment and the addition of 1,000 jobs at its Illinois and Ohio plants. The Company will invest $350 million in the Belvidere Assembly Plant (Illinois) to produce the Jeep Cherokee, which will move from its current production location in Toledo, Ohio, in 2017. Approximately 300 new jobs would be created.

Following the move of Cherokee to Belvidere, the Company will invest $700 million in the Toledo Assembly Complex (Ohio) to retool the North plant to produce the next generation Jeep Wrangler. Approximately 700 new jobs will be added.

In the second announcement, FCA US announced that it will invest nearly $1.5 billion in its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (Michigan) to retool it to build the next generation Ram 1500. In September, the Company committed to adding 700 new jobs to support production.

PARIS - SEAT launches a new Small SUV, news that Ibiza will get its 5th generation and Leon will be updated all next year.

• The new SUV crossover available in 2017 will be called SEAT Arona
• First SEAT will update the Leon and launch the fifth generation Ibiza
• SEAT unveils the Ateca X-Perience, which shows the future potential of the Ateca 
• Highlights of the stand include an interactive 4D amphitheatre, a non-stop press conference and a car configurator that uses BitBrain technology
• SEAT is preparing to offer the easiest mobility experience in the scope of a transforming automotive sector

SEAT has chosen the Paris Motor Show as the backdrop to reveal the details of the biggest product offensive in its history. 

Following the Ateca, the brand will update the Leon in 2017, launch the fifth generation Ibiza and conclude the offensive by making its debut in the crossover segment with the new SEAT Arona, a designation that was also unveiled today. 

Arona is the name of a city on the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, as well as a place in the Italy’s Piedmont region. The new SEAT Arona will be developed and manufactured in SEAT’s Martorell factory in Barcelona.

SEAT President Luca de Meo explained that “the Leon, the Ibiza and the new Arona, together with the Ateca, are going to strengthen SEAT from a commercial, financial and brand image standpoint. 2017 is going to be a very special year for SEAT.”

Ateca X-Perience, a new SUV experience

The company is showcasing the new Ateca X-Perience in Paris and it will be, together with the Ateca, the centre piece from today until next 16 October. The Ateca X-Perience is a more adventurous, off-road version of SEAT’s first ever SUV, which by now has become the company’s third pillar. In the first few months following its launch it has accumulated over 21,000 orders, more than 39 million web visits and 1.5 million configurations via the Internet. The Ateca X-Perience, inspired by the Mediterranean culture, shows its most adventurous, off-road side and is an exercise that demonstrates the possibilities of the Ateca family and its future potential.

The SEAT stand, a 4D experience to live the brand

The Paris Motor Show is the ideal setting for SEAT to reveal its vision of the company, with the connected car as the key to future mobility. And for the occasion, the unique staging of an innovative double stand concept is different from anything seen until now at any motor show event and has been designed around 4D experiences that enable visitors to live and feel the brand and the city of Barcelona. In line with the growing role that is being played by digitisation in the company’s corporate strategy, the slogan “SEAT Always ON!” serves as inspiration for how the brand is staging its image in Paris. The stand features a 4D amphitheatre with a non-stop press conference as well as a car configurator that uses BitBrain technology to customise the SEAT Ateca according to visitors’ emotions and neurological input.

The outdoor area of the stand features a press room, a chill out zone and a place for socialising, among others, so that visitors can live and experience the brand. The Created in Barcelona concept will also shine a light on the city to highlight its modernity and its role as an international benchmark of urban design, all values shared by SEAT.

SEAT, ready to take things to the next level

In the next ten years, the automotive sector will experience a revolution with innovations in electrification, digitisation, new mobility services and connected cars. To respond to these challenges, SEAT has set up an Easy Mobility Team, a transversal crew that is set to lead the company’s transformation in terms of three main working areas: digitisation and R&D; customer experience and business development.

“The connected car at the core of the user experience is our vision of the future of mobility. We want to position the car as a service that offers a digital, connected experience”, underscored Luca de Meo.“Bringing SEAT to the next level means not only working hard to continue delivering even better products and services to our customer, but also using this revolution in the sector to play, this time, a front runner role in some of these new trends. We dream of making SEAT the brand capable of delivering the easiest mobility experience in this fast changing environment,” he added.

SEAT wants to be a leading brand in the field of connectivity and digitisation. In this sense, for example the company has become the first brand in the industry on a world-wide level to feature an app that is compatible with CarPlay, which enables the contents of an iPhone to be viewed and managed from the car.

The objective of the second area of work for SEAT is to enhance customers’ purchase experience and all related services. In line with this commitment, the brand launched the SEAT Live Store, a pioneering platform enabling users a close-up, virtual, personalised look at all the details on a car. The company has also reached an agreement with Amazon France to commercialise the Mii by Mango through the online retail giant.

SEAT will also concentrate its efforts on business development, using new mobility ecosystems to respond to the challenges faced by cities in terms of urban infrastructure, traffic systems and vehicles. An example of this commitment is the signed agreement between SEAT and Conector to launch a startup accelerator specialising in the car industry and mobility, as well as the implementation, in Barcelona, of the CARNET urban mobility research centre.

SEAT, strong and poised for its largest product offensive

The company’s digital transformation coincides in time when SEAT is consolidating its financial results and getting ready for its biggest offensive of new models. SEAT is progressing towards sustainable profitability and expects to close 2016 with profits. The company posted a half-yearly 2016 operating profit of 93 million euros, which is 77% more than the same period in 2015. In addition, sales are increasing for the fourth year in a row, with 277,100 vehicles delivered until August. Following the Ateca, SEAT is going to launch three new models in upcoming years – the updated Leon, the fifth generation Ibiza and the new SEAT Arona.

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.

SEAT opens it's first store in a major retail centre, with Lakeside being the first opening for the Spanish brand.

• SEAT rolls out this innovative store concept for the first time in the history of the company
• The SEAT Store can be found in the Lakeside shopping centre
• The project enables customers to buy a car and take delivery in just seven days

SEAT has rolled out its first SEAT Store, an innovative concept conveniently located in the Lakeside shopping centre (London). This new project is part of a global strategy aimed at giving customers greater access to the company and making their lives easier. 

With the SEAT Store and the recent launch of the SEAT Live Store, the brand’s first virtual showroom, the company is adapting to new consumer trends and shopping habits.

According to Ferran Jover, Global Dealer Network Development manager at SEAT, 

“we want to be even closer to our customers, anticipate their demands and provide them with a unique, easy, digital experience from the moment they think about buying a car”. 

“The United Kingdom is our third largest market and with over 47,200 vehicles sold in 2015, it accounts for 12% of company sales. Positioning ourselves in Lakeside means we can increase brand visibility as we can be seen by the more than 26 million visitors the shopping centre receives annually”, added Jover.

What the SEAT Store offers

The new SEAT Store, which has been launched in collaboration with British dealer Group 1 Automotive, features 150 m2 of floor space to display three brand models – Mii, Ibiza and Leon. The SEAT Ateca will also shortly be available following its upcoming launch on the British market.

Right now, visitors to the fully functioning Lakeside SEAT Store can perform a digital search of the model that best suits their needs, configure it online, calculate their financing needs and arrange a test drive on the spot or for a future date. The Store also comes complete with an outdoor Experience Centre that houses an additional 15 SEAT models to be pored over and test driven.

Further innovations offered by the new facilities include test drives that users can take unaccompanied and quick delivery of the car they purchase, guaranteed in seven days from the time of order. A team of 13 SEAT Experts, highly trained on product knowledge in Barcelona, are on hand to deal with any queries customers and visitors may have.

SEAT Store, also online

The SEAT Store in the Lakeside shopping centre also features its own website. Customers and visitors towww.seat-store.co.uk/Lakeside can obtain a personal quotation, request financing, reserve a car online and arrange a test drive, as well as receive a part-exchange valuation for their current car, all from the convenience of their smartphone, tablet or computer.

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.

UK RECALL #24 - Certain SEAT models are being recalled due to manual Child Locks that may become disengaged without warning.

Vehicle Details
Reference :	R/2016/180
Manufacturer Ref :	58D1
Make:	SEAT
Model :	Mii, Ibiza, Leon & Toledo
Launch Date :	05/08/2016
Numbers Involved :	1334
Build Start Date :	25/11/2015
Build End Date :	14/04/2016

Recall Details
Concern :	MANUAL CHILD LOCK MAY DISENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING
Description :	The child lock can disengage without the driver knowing and the door can again be opened from the inside. If children leave the car unnoticed and run into the road, there is a risk of accident.
Remedial Action :	Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and check the function of the manual child lock. If necessary the door lock/s will be replaced.
Vehicle Id :	VSSZZZ6JZGR070268 to VSSZZZ6JZGR080959 VSSZZZAAZGD313796 to VSSZZZAAZGD316071 VSSZZZ5FZGR092525 to VSSZZZ5FZGR109642 VSSZZZNHZG1016507 to VSSZZZNHZG1019522

Other Vehicles Affected (Click the vehicle to perform an extended search)

SEAT - IBIZA SEAT - Mii SEAT - LEON SEAT - TOLEDO

IRELAND - SEAT add's a new model to the popular Toledo range, with more kit and a great price.

• New SE Advanced model is the flagship of the Toledo range
• Upgrade from SE to SE Advanced for only €1,250
• Prices from €21,220 including Alcantara seats, keyless entry/start system, 17” alloys and more

SEAT has today revealed details of a new addition to the SEAT Toledo range. The new model, the Toledo SE Advanced, is a flagship model in Ireland and represents an upgrade from the SE model for just an additional €1,250 and offers a host of extra features.

The Toledo SE Advanced is equipped with all the same features as the SEAT Toledo SE including climatic air conditioning, cruise control, cornering front lights, a media system colour (with USB, Aux-In, SD Card, and Bluetooth which controls both phone and media), front and rear electric windows, a leather multi-function steering wheel and gear knob and ambient lighting in the foot well.

With features such as Alcantara seats, keyless entry/start system, front and rear parking sensors, rear LED lights and 17” ‘Dynamic’ alloy wheels, the SE Advanced model goes one step further than the Toledo SE. Normally all of these additional features would amount to €2,200 but cost just €1,250 when upgrading from the Toledo SE resulting in savings of €950 or 45% customer saving.

Available to order now, the Toledo SE Advanced is available in the same engine line-up as the SE, namely 1.2-litre 90bhp TSI petrol, 1.4-litre 90bhp TDI diesel, or the 1.6-litre 115bhp TDI diesel. 

The Toledo SE Advanced is now available to test drive across SEAT’s 22 strong dealer network. The Toledo range can be purchased from as little as €209 per month with PCP through Volkswagen Bank.

Neil Dalton, Head of Marketing and Product at SEAT Ireland commented; “We are delighted to announce details of the SEAT Toledo SE Advanced, yet another addition to SEAT’s growing product range. The Toledo SE Advanced, a flagship model within the Toledo range boasts a number  of top class features and offers excellent value for money which is very important to us at SEAT.”

For more information log-on to www.seat.ie

* Finance on SEAT TOLEDO 1.2TSI 90HP SE Advanced, rate is based from the SEAT Finance calculator using 31% deposit and 36 month term.

Prices:

SEAT Toledo SE Advanced 1.2-litre 90bhp TSI petrol €21,220.00

SEAT Toledo SE Advanced 1.4-litre 90bhp TDI diesel €22,925.00

SEAT Toledo SE Advanced 1.4-litre 90bhp TDI diesel DSG €24,675.00

SEAT Toledo SE Advanced 1.6-litre 115bhp TDI diesel €23,625.00