Will VW sell SEAT?

[FR_POWER]

Just curious really.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-13/vw-in-last-attempt-to-save-seat-amid-spanish-crisis-update1-.html

[andycupra]

ive not read the link, but its been well documented the issues with seat within the VAG group.
My feelings is if you have a group like VAG which has fundamentally 4 groups, - audi, vw, skoda and seat its easy to 'protect' 3 parts to ensure they are a success as the cost of the 4th. Seat i dont think have had a fair crack in the past, being prevented going in one direction after another as they may take custom from any of the other 3 groups within VAG. The other 3 groups tend to have a clearer defined brand, seat struggling to find theirs without stepping on someone elses shoes. Good value, skoda get upset. Good quality, vw and audi get the hump. Sporty.. even then audi and VW get upset...



When i consider VW 'selling' seat rather than simply ending the brand is how this selling will work...- as seat heavily uses its links with the VAG group.
So what exactly would you be buying if you brought seat? a brand fully dependant on the VAG group providing engines, chassis.. in fact most of the car..
Ok so you could sign an aggreement to continue supply.. but is VAG going to sell then parts at a price that allows the new owners of seat to be a competitive competitor to the VAG group? i think not.

So what would they be selling? the buildings, facilities, people maybe. But 'seat'? seat and whats its all about would in my opinion effectively end as we currrently know it.

[Seatmann]

It would seem a bit strange seeing as the Seat is all vw engines, running gear and that. It looks like the only difference is the style of the shell unless there going to fit them with a different brand of engine etc. or just scrap the brand all together. Maybe it'll all change when the economy gets sorted.

[Foster85]

I've heard something about this before, and as far as I can remember, I think they were going to give Seat 5 years to become profitable again? Might be wrong though so don't quote me.

[m0rk]

Giving a business a timeline to become profitable, is not the same as saying "if you're not - I will sell you"

It's a target, not a threat.

Without VW, the SEAT brand is worth nothing (especially if it's not profitable)

[gazrhys]

maybe that russian kid who bought TVR should buy SEAT just my 2pence worth dunno what he'd do bout engines etc tho

[Veyron]

maybe that russian kid who bought TVR should buy SEAT just my 2pence worth dunno what he'd do bout engines etc tho

Didn't he cause TVR to go bankrupt?

[Bluto&Purdey]

Sell SEAT to porsche.

They have histroy anyway.

[t0m]

Sell SEAT to porsche.

They have histroy anyway.

That'll do donkey!

Guaranteed to get decent brakes in the range going forward me thinks. Maybe RWD Leon's :cartman:

[Fl@pper]

Sell SEAT to porsche.

VAG and Porsche have been buying bits of each other one way or the other for the last 5/6 years anyway so would be no benefit

i think VAG own 49% of Porsche at present on paper at least but there was a right hoo-harr a few years ago about it - proper nasty

[gazrhys]

Didn't he cause TVR to go bankrupt?

o yeah maybe not then lol

[Wimbledonian]

Looking at article on Automotive News about VW's aspirations to buy Alfa Romeo...

Quote:
The Volkswagen chairman also put to rest speculation that the group would sacrifice its underperforming Spanish brand Seat, which management has failed to move upmarket to rival Alfa.

"Seat would be to Alfa Romeo what Skoda is to Volkswagen," Piech said.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100930/ANE/309299941#ixzz13TIYmMHK

[Mr Cellotape]

"Seat would be to Alfa Romeo what Skoda is to Volkswagen," Piech said.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100930/ANE/309299941#ixzz13TIYmMHK

They would have to do some serious work on the interiors of the SEATs to manage that.

I think many of the dealerships have already managed to sink to the level of the Alfa dealers though....:cartman: