- NEW MODEL ENSURES 1,600 JOBS AT SEAT AND MORE THAN 6,000 IN SUPPLY INDUSTRY
- INVESTMENT IN PRODUCTION LINE INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY AND COMPETITIVENESS AT MARTORELL PLANT
- LEON WILL INCREASE PLANT PRODUCTION, BOOST BRAND’S INTERNATIONAL GROWTH
Martorell, 25/10/2012. – SEAT has started production of the new Leon at Martorell. Unveiled at the recent Paris Motor Show, the model has meant an overall investment of 800 million euros, primarily in vehicle development and the production facilities.
The Leon is a strategic vehicle to drive the international expansion of SEAT, and will contribute to the objective of increasing production at the Martorell plant, where the different versions of the SEAT Ibiza, Altea, and Exeo – together with the Audi Q3 – are built.
The new model will compete in the compact segment – which accounts for 38% of total sales in the automotive sector in Europe – and aspires to repeat the success story of the Ibiza to become the second lever of growth for the brand.
The production of the new Leon is also excellent news on the labour front. The new model ensures 1,600 jobs at the Martorell plant production line, plus more than 6,000 throughout the supply industry. In the future, the introduction of the two new bodies for the Leon could create opportunities to hire new employees.
Dr. Andreas Tostmann, Executive Vice-President for Production, declared that “with the new Leon we have increased productivity by 10% and become more flexible, thus guaranteeing optimization of production costs”. Dr. Tostmann also highlighted the fact that “the 800 million euros investment in the new Leon consolidates our leadership position as Spain’s number one industrial investor in R&D”, adding that “the Leon, together with the Ibiza, represents the very essence of SEAT. It is a vehicle that projects strength, exuding precision and quality”.
A COMPLETE FAMILY, CATERING TO ALL CUSTOMERS
SEAT has now started production of the five-door version of the Leon. Sales will begin at the end of November in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, followed by Spain in early 2013. Next year will also see the appearance of three-door and estate versions (both built at Martorell), which for the first time will expand the Leon family to three members, making it a more attractive and versatile model, catering to a wider range of customers. Together the first two generations accumulated total sales of 1.2 million units since 1999.
With the Leon, SEAT culminates a product offensive unprecedented in the entire history of the company. Over the year the brand has unveiled a new model every quarter: the small city-car Mii, the best-selling Ibiza, the return of the Toledo, and now the third generation of the Leon.
MQB, TECHNOLOGY FOR GREATER COMPETITIVENESS
The new SEAT Leon uses the Volkswagen Group’s latest technology, like the modular transverse toolkit (MQB), providing a significant reduction in manufacture time compared with the second generation Leon. At the same time, the platform offers greater flexibility, enabling production of the three versions of the Leon as well as the Altea, Altea XL and Altea Freetrack on the same line. SEAT has also adapted manufacturing processes so as to ensure the highest levels of precision and quality, by the use of latest-generation technologies such as laser welding and measurement as well as hot stamping.
NEW DESIGN LANGUAGE, GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY
The new Leon is the first production vehicle to display SEAT’s new design language, and signals an enormous step forward for the brand. The Leon is equipped with a wide range of ground-breaking technology for improved safety and enhanced connectivity. The model is 90 kilograms lighter and 52 mm shorter than its predecessor, and has more interior space.
The offering of six petrol and four diesel power units guarantees a wide range to cater to all sorts of customers. At the same time, it is the first car to carry integrated LED headlights. Also, the new Leon is equipped with Start/Stop technology for greater efficiency – on average it consumes 15% less fuel than the previous generation.
More information:
http://www.seat.com/content/com/com/en.html
Text and photograph by: SEAT.
