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Yes I am afraid SEAT has long been on the chopping block for VAG, However for me the question is can Cupra survive on its own because it is no longer the performance brand but just a more expensive lineup. VAG Have some serious issues in Germany so there aint a lot of free cash to spare.
 
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@tracktoy - As you write, when e.g. Seat Leon Cupra was a Seat perfomance model the Cupra BRAND is not. Most of the models are mainstream cars as the Seat brand were before loosing Cupra models to Cupra brand.
Of course we have some Cupra brand models with 300 / 310 hp engine and the 5 cyl 390 hp one :) but mostly not, rather rare in Sweden!
 
1995 I bought a Rover, the brand is no more.... 😰

2014 I seriously considered buying a Saab, already an ex-brand at the time....😮‍💨

2025 I bought a SEAT.... 😖
 
The good thing is there is still good support for Rover and Saab and I expect the same for SEAT.

In these days when budgets are tight I don't understand the logic of rebranding to Cupra where the cost's increase (although it does appear discounts are availiable to shift stock). Dont get me wrong the Cupra motors are very nice but not cheap.
 
Sadly Vag group copied other groups in sub dividing their offering like Citreon and DS. If they had done their homework they probably wouldn't have done it. Seat separated out Cupra then didnt provide it at all their dealerships making it some special refined offering that only some dealers could offer. Not a very good marketing idea as far as access / location for buyers and service. Then the Cupra / Seat man walked presumably the powers that be realised it wasn't a brilliant idea. The march of Chinese EVs caught them with their pants down.

Seat won't get EVs till 2030 on the badge whilst canny Skodas do. Seat makes do with some hybrid offering. Hands off the Vag parts bin on EVs for another 4 years. Whilst the Seat factory builds the other brands EV(s). That shared production line.

Possibly a bit too much "copper worship" on the brand although I seem to recall it's a different metal now on the latest 🤔. The seats look comfortable thou on those Cupras.
 
1995 I bought a Rover, the brand is no more.... 😰

2014 I seriously considered buying a Saab, already an ex-brand at the time....😮‍💨

2025 I bought a SEAT.... 😖
Don't worry, Rover GB and Saab SE didn't have any backup as Seat have by VAG. Same modules all over the lines Skoda/Audi/VW/Seat/Cupra. It's just the bodywork that have Seat layout (simplified...)!

PS it's obvious that VAG need to down size!
 
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Don't worry, Rover GB and Saab SE didn't have any backup as Seat have by VAG. Same modules all over the lines Skoda/Audi/VW/Seat/Cupra. It's just the bodywork that have Seat layout (simplified...)!

PS it's obvious that VAG need to down size!
Indeed Seats are out of the same parts bin. What I don't like is the future vision of what you are buying as far as Seat / Cupra as it down sized. A bit like Swiss cheese in the model line up. Fine for certain car types, not so fine for others. Vag covers all the basis. For small Cupras EVs is coming on well. You look at Skoda models and wonder where that model offering is in the Seat / Cupra line up. That's their problem for the local dealer network.
 
well tonights headlines

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen's board of directors on Thursday approved a sweeping cost-cutting plan that would cut 50,000 jobs, slim the company's model line by half and end auto production at four German plants.
 
well tonights headlines

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen's board of directors on Thursday approved a sweeping cost-cutting plan that would cut 50,000 jobs, slim the company's model line by half and end auto production at four German plants.
Didn't they only want to close two :sneaky: . German efficiency. Hmmm was it two they could close without trouble and two with. Split the difference. Doing it "China speed".... 🇨🇳
 
I have zero interest in electric cars, automotive design and trends are not going anywhere that could satisfy my tastes and keep my enthusiasm alive, brands I love are dying, Chinese have taken all over the industry and I'm 58. I guess I won't be looking for a new car anymore and I'll be just trying to keep the current one in good condition for 10 years at least. The only thing I would expect from VAG or aftermarket parts manufacturers is that they keep making spare parts for my car, that's all. We'll see what happens after that, maybe I'll get a cheap scooter for basic transport 🛵
 
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Well we'll probably get taken off the road with eyesight tests for the elderly in the UK.... roll on the self drive cars. Probably those pre 2020 cars are the safest for not going wrong. Infotainment units could give in. Those pesky sensors that light up the dash would give a failure in an Mot road worthy test. 2020+ that's when things got problematic with the systems.

Anyhow for those old enough we were suppose to be driving gas turbine cars with gull wings but I'll take a reliable electric when mine pegs out.

Gas turbine cars made a nice sound and obviously burnt fossil fuels for the luddites.

 
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We don't yet know the true extent of the economic damage. Four plants and 50,000 employees in the group, and what about the suppliers? How many companies only exist because of VAG? We can't even begin to estimate the real economic damage. I work for one of the largest OEM suppliers, and we'll feel it too.
 
Well that was the problem when the motor industry crashed in the UK. Nissan was brought here as a way of evading EU quotes of Japanese imports to Europe. After Brexit its proped up by the UK Government by a sum not disclosed. Now they have one line of two not doing anything. That's where Chery if I remember correctly is interest in using it for assembly. Xpeng have a similar OEM plant in Europe. That's the new model franchise out production hiring space but not owning the factory.
 
Don't worry, Rover GB and Saab SE didn't have any backup as Seat have by VAG. Same modules all over the lines Skoda/Audi/VW/Seat/Cupra. It's just the bodywork that have Seat layout (simplified...)!

PS it's obvious that VAG need to down size!
I should have mentioned that instead of the Saab 9-3 which I missed out back in 2014, I bought a 2nd hand A4 8K which I really really missed. Hope Audi the brand will survive for the next decades....

(Seriously speaking, that "EA888Gen1 + Multitronic CVT" combination was much more loveable and pleasure to drive than my current "EA211evo2 and 7DSG" setting. The prone to failed front multilink suspension of MLB was just magnificent anytime over the MacPherson setup in MQB....)