Seat CEO Markus Haupt confirmed that the Spanish brand remains a crucial part of Volkswagen Group's strategy. Even as Cupra experiences rapid growth, the company has no plans to phase out Seat and will continue expanding its model lineup.

According to Haupt, the brand already has a roadmap for refreshing its vehicles. Mild hybrid versions of the Ibiza and Arona are slated for 2027, with full hybrid Seat Leon models planned for 2028. Further updates to the Leon family are expected by 2029.

Within the group, Seat and Cupra are seen as complementary brands. Seat will focus on affordable models with partial electrification, while fully electric vehicles remain under the Cupra umbrella for now.

The shift toward hybrid technology should help the brand meet European CO2 emissions standards while maintaining customer interest. Company officials note that electric vehicle demand isn't growing as quickly as expected, and customer willingness to pay premium prices for EVs is declining.

Fully electric versions of some Seat models could theoretically emerge in the future. For instance, an electric Ibiza isn't being considered before 2029, since such solutions currently remain too expensive.

Overall, Seat will continue developing affordable, partially electrified models that could appear on new car lists for 2026 and beyond, maintaining its role as Volkswagen's volume brand.