One Company, two Brands
As member of the Volkswagen Group, SEAT, S.A. is a company with two well differentiated brands, CUPRA and SEAT. Based in Barcelona, Spain, it exports more than 80 % of its vehicles to 75 countries through a network of almost 1,500 dealerships. In 2021, CUPRA launched its first 100% electric car, the CUPRA Born.
SEAT S.A. employs 15,000 professionals at its three production facilities in Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful SEAT Ibiza, the SEAT Arona, the CUPRA Formentor and the Leon family – the latter as SEAT and CUPRA.
2021 saw the launch of the new CUPRA Born in Zwickau (Germany), the first 100% electric CUPRA model. The company also produces the Ateca in the Czech Republic, the SEAT Tarraco in Germany, the SEAT Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii electric, SEAT’s brand first 100 % electric car, in Slovakia.
SEAT, S.A. is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain.
The company has a Technical Centre that acts as a knowledge hub, bringing together 1,000 engineers who are focused on developing innovations 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 a global digitalization process that is paving the way for the mobility of the future.
The three highlight projects 2021
Let’s be the impulse!
CUPRA begins a new era with its first 100% electric car: the CUPRA Born
In its transition towards electrification, the company launched back in November 2021 the CUPRA Born, the brand's first 100% electric vehicle. CUPRA is joining forces with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE to manufacture the standard production seats for CUPRA’s first 100% electric model. The new bucket seats will be created from a recycled polymer fibre fabric, SEAQUAL® YARN, made from plastic extracted from the Mediterranean and other seas, oceans, rivers and estuaries. This innovative material, which is in keeping with CUPRA’s design style and high-quality standards, is produced thanks to the collaboration of fishermen, various NGOs and local communities, who collect the material.
In line with CUPRA’s commitment to innovation, this sustainable project includes the use of state-of-the-art recycled materials in the standard seats. Based on the circular economy, this joint project with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE also contributes to the continuous cleaning of our seas, rivers and oceans.
In addition to demonstrating that electrification and performance are a perfect match, the CUPRA Born will be the brand’s first vehicle to be delivered to customers with a net CO2-neutral concept. To this end, the new vehicle is produced in Zwickau (Germany) based on the modular electric platform (MEB), where energy from renewable sources is used in the supply chain and raw material production. The remaining emissions are offset by environmental and project investments certified to the highest standards.
In this way, the new CUPRA Born will contribute to reducing global CO2 emissions and meeting European targets.
SEAT S.A. and Volkswagen Autoeuropa connect Martorell (Spain) and Palmela (Portugal) factories by train to boost sustainability
SEAT S.A. takes another step forward in its “Move to Zerø” strategy with a new rail service linking its Martorell (Spain) plant with the Volkswagen Autoeuropa factory in Palmela (Portugal). This service operates once a week, and is expected to transport more than 20,000 vehicles per year, which will avoid 2,400 truck journeys and reduce CO2 emissions by 43%.The new train service is made up of 16 wagons, has a maximum length of 500 metres, and will be able to transport up to 184 vehicles per journey. From 2023, it is planned that the train will have two additional carriages and run up to 550 metres in length, enabling around 200 carriages to be transported.
Eliminating 2,400 road journeys will mean a reduction of almost 1,000 tonnes of CO2. By 2024, emission neutrality will be achieved with the arrival of hybrid locomotives that will allow electricity to be used on 100% of the route.
This new rail route complements the Autometro rail service, which connects the Martorell plant with the Port of Barcelona for vehicle exports. SEAT S.A. exports more than 80% of the cars it manufactures in Martorell, and with the rail transport service the company eliminates the circulation of some 25,000 trucks a year on the stretch of road from Martorell to the Port of Barcelona.
The circulation of this new rail service moves SEAT S.A. forward in its “Move to Zerø” project, which aims to achieve emission neutrality in all its production processes.
SEAT S.A.’s 15,000 workers stop for one hour to raise awareness against climate change
In commemoration of Earth Day, the company activated on April, 22nd the #Project1Hour, a global awareness-raising initiative in which all 15,000 employees of SEAT S.A. stopped their activities for one hour to reflect on climate change and define specific actions that they can integrate into their daily routine, both in the workplace and in their personal lives, to help put a stop to it.
In these sessions, company employees put forward personal actions that contributed to reducing individual CO2 emissions, such as driving electrified, sustainable vehicles, going paperless, avoiding bottled water, contracting energy from renewable sources and installing solar panels in their homes, not travelling by plane, or reducing meat consumption, among others.
During Earth Day, all SEAT S.A. employees stopped their activity for an hour, either in the office, at home where many work remotely or on the production line, to take part in #Project1Hour and address the importance of environmental protection for society. The workshop served as an opportunity to learn about climate change and its impact on the planet and above all, to come up with ideas that can reduce the individual carbon footprint and take action both in the professional environment and in personal life. This project is part of SEAT S.A. and the Volkswagen Group’s commitment to caring for the planet and the environment.
Stakeholder Dialog
Two key tools for defining and updating the sustainability policy of SEAT are the stakeholder map and the materiality analysis. The map identifies and prioritizes the main groups which the company is involved with. The materiality analysis, meanwhile, determines which subjects are of most concern for the stakeholders, and determines their impact on the company’s business model.
The complexity of the current environment requires these two indicators to be permanently monitored by the company, using an internally-developed methodology based on three phases:
- Identification of issues related to sustainability through an analysis of the companies by the sector, sector specific advisers and sustainability advisers.
- Consultations with stakeholders, both internally and externally, to assess and prioritize the issues related to corporate social responsibility.
- Selection of the material issues of interest to SEAT, giving priority to those with a greater economic, social or environmental impact.
As a result of this process of constant dialogue and analysis, the company is able to identify guidelines for moving toward a stakeholder relationship model based on trust and the creation of links that enable it to more accurately rise to the challenges it shares with society.
Awards 2021
ISO 14006
SEAT is accredited with with ISO certification 14006, an international standard that specifies guidelines to help organizations establish, document, implement, maintain, and continuously improve their eco-design management as part of the environmental management system.
ISO 45001
Thanks to its occupational health and safety model, SEAT is accredited as a Healthy Company and has the new ISO 45001 certification.
Ranking MERCO
According to MERCO, the well-reputed corporate reputation ranking, SEAT ranked third (first automotive company) in terms of social responsibility / commitment towards COVID-19 pandemic.
Marca ESPAÑA
Sustainability Award 2021 for SEAT commitment towards COVID-19 pandemic.