SEAT & CUPRA has put its battery system assembly plant into operation at the Martorell factory, a crucial milestone in the transformation of the company and of the country, as it positions Spain as a hub for electromobility in Europe. This opening is part of the Volkswagen Group’s overall battery strategy, balancing both in-house and third-party cell supply to achieve maximum flexibility with permanent access to innovations, technologies, and supply chains.
Today’s opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Generalitat of Catalunya, Salvador Illa; the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu; Chair of the SEAT and CUPRA Supervisory Board, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group, Brand Group Core, CEO Volkswagen Brand, Thomas Schäfer; and the CEO of SEAT & CUPRA, Markus Haupt, along with the rest of the company’s Executive Committee.
With the launch of these facilities, the company takes a key step in its electrification process for the series production of the CUPRA Raval and the Volkswagen ID. Polo from 2026 onwards. In addition, the company has led the Electric Urban Car Family project for the Brand Group Core of the Volkswagen Group: four 100% electric models, from three different brands, all of them made in Spain.
“The opening of this battery system assembly plant is a turning point in the history of SEAT & CUPRA. Today we see how our ambition becomes a reality: we are ready to produce 100% electric Made in Spain cars that will make electric mobility accessible across Europe. Martorell is now the epicentre of the mobility of the future. We are proud to be leading the Electric Urban Car project for the Brand Group Core of the Volkswagen Group and to produce two of the models that will change the rules of the game in electrification, starting with the CUPRA Raval.”
Markus Haupt, CEO of SEAT & CUPRA
“Four years ago, we made a historic investment to establish Spain as a key location and European benchmark for electromobility. Today, with the opening of this battery system assembly plant in Martorell, we are beginning a new chapter for the Volkswagen Group, for Spain and for Europe. This project has been made possible thanks to the collaboration between the brands of the Brand Group Core and the Center of Excellence Battery at Volkswagen Group Technology. It demonstrates that, by working together, we can lead the way towards an electric future in Europe.”
Thomas Schäfer, Chair of the SEAT & CUPRA Supervisory Board, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group (Brand Group Core), CEO Volkswagen Brand.
The battery system assembly plant is key to Martorell’s electrification
Built in just over two years with an investment of 300 million euros, the battery system assembly plant is a key facility in Martorell’s transformation towards electrification. It covers an area of 64,000 square metres and has the capacity to assemble one battery system every 45 seconds, amounting to 1,200 battery systems per day and 300,000 per year. From 2026 onwards, it will exclusively supply the production lines of the CUPRA Raval and the Volkswagen ID. Polo, transporting the battery systems automatically to the assembly workshop via a 600-metre bridge. This unique solution, together with the 11,000 solar panels on the roof, which will provide 70% of the electricity required for the battery systems assembly process, helps reduce the carbon footprint and ensures more sustainable and competitive production. In addition, a water collection system with a capacity equivalent to three Olympic swimming pools, will reinforce the plant’s commitment to resource efficiency and comprehensive sustainability.
The assembly plant opening marks a major step forward for the battery strategy of the Volkswagen Group.
“Right now we are moving from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat in the core technology of the electric world. The MEB+ battery system assembled at Martorell is fully competitive in all major aspects and a clear leap ahead as we introduce the unified cell, which is not just another battery cell but our global technology platform allowing unprecedented speed, scale, and flexibility across brands, regions, and segments. At the same time, we switch to compact cell-to-pack design and add lithium-iron phosphate as alternative cell chemistry. As we contribute to building the long-needed battery industry in Europe, we achieve less dependency and more grip on tech innovation and cost, making e-mobility still more attractive and affordable.”
Günther Mendl, Head of the Group’s Center of Excellence Battery
The opening of the battery system assembly plant marks the final stretch of the transformation process initiated by SEAT & CUPRA in 2020. Together with the Volkswagen Group and its partners, the company has invested 10 billion euros in Spain to turn the country into a benchmark for sustainable mobility. Of this total, 3 billion euros have been allocated exclusively to the electrification of Martorell, which is established as a flexible factory capable of producing 100% electric, hybrid and efficient combustion models for different Volkswagen Group brands, offering the best of both worlds to meet customer needs. This transformation reinforces Martorell’s position as the Group’s third largest production plant in Europe, responsible for approximately 25% of the vehicles manufactured in Spain, with the aim of reaching a maximum capacity of 600,000 units per year, of which up to 300,000 could be electric vehicles (BEVs) in the future.
Spain: epicentre of electrification
SEAT & CUPRA has led the Electric Urban Car project on behalf of the Volkswagen Group’s Brand Group Core. It involves four electric models from three different brands that will be produced in Spain. Designed for different audiences, they will make the democratisation of electric mobility a reality. The project also includes the production of the Volkswagen ID. Polo at the Martorell factory, as well as the series production of the Skoda Epiq and the Volkswagen ID. Cross at the Volkswagen Navarra facilities.
“Much of the success of this project is due to the close collaboration between the SEAT & CUPRA teams in Martorell and Volkswagen Navarra. At a challenging time for our industry, we have worked as a team to achieve something that goes beyond our ambition as a company and as a Group: to lead electromobility in Europe.”
Markus Haupt
CUPRA Raval: the beginning of a new era for the brand
The CUPRA Raval, which will have its global debut in Barcelona in March 2026, will be the first model of the Electric Urban Car Family to reach the market. With a striking design, electrifying performance, and unconventional features, it redefines the capabilities of the new generation of electric vehicles. Based on Volkswagen’s MEB+ platform and with front-wheel drive, the CUPRA Raval offers a dynamic and exhilarating experience focused on the driver. At just 4 metres long, it is compact, yet thanks to its road handling, generous interior space and practical spacious boot, it’s engineered not only for city life, but for much more.
The CUPRA Raval will be available in three exclusive launch editions that reflect the brand’s DNA from different perspectives: VZ Extreme, with 166 kW of power and a range of approximately 400 km; Dynamic Plus, with 155 kW and up to 450 km of range; and Dynamic, also with 155 kW and 450 km, as the most accessible option. With a starting price of €26,000, the CUPRA Raval is positioned as a highly competitive rival in its segment, democratising electrification without sacrificing emotion and distinction.
With the opening of the new battery system assembly plant, SEAT & CUPRA reinforces its commitment to put Spain on electric wheels as the only company that designs, develops, produces and sells cars in the country. From Martorell, SEAT & CUPRA is paving the way towards a more sustainable and accessible mobility and building a better future for the next generations.
Change needs drivers and SEAT S.A. is steering the future of mobility. As the only company in Spain that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets cars, SEAT S.A. is a cornerstone of the nation’s automotive industry and the driving force behind its electrification.
As the company undertakes the biggest transformation in its 75-year history, SEAT S.A. is turning Spain into a European hub for electric vehicles. Through the Future: Fast Forward project, and in collaboration with the Volkswagen Group, PowerCo, and other partners, the company has invested €10 billion into the country’s electrification. The company is also leading the Electric Urban Car project for the Volkswagen Group’s Brand Group Core and will begin producing 100% electric vehicles, including the CUPRA Raval, at its Martorell plant from 2026.
A member of the Volkswagen Group, SEAT S.A. sells vehicles under the SEAT and CUPRA brands including the iconic SEAT Ibiza and the company’s bestselling model, the CUPRA Formentor. With over 13,000 professionals and three production centres in Martorell, El Prat de Llobregat, and Barcelona, the company exports over 80% of its vehicles to more than 70 countries.
