The Spanish government has "zero doubts" about the continuity of the Seat brand

BarcelonaThe Spanish government is convinced that the Seat brand will survive the cuts being studied by the Volkswagen group. In an address at the Fòrum Europa Tribuna Catalunya, the Secretary of State for Industry, Jordi Garcia Brustenga, assured that he has "zero doubts" about its continuity, and has asked the German group to continue investing in the Catalan company and launching "new models." Garcia Brustenga also highlighted the "intangible" value of Seat to the region. The future of the historic brand is up in the air after the company itself admitted last week that it is analyzing the possibility of eliminating it starting in 2030.

Furthermore, after the chairman of the Seat works council, Matías Carnero, requested this Thursday in an interview with La Vanguardia that the Spanish government join the board of directors of the Catalan company, Garcia Brustenga dismissed this possibility. While the secretary explained that the direction taken in recent years towards "strategic autonomy" is making the Spanish government "rethink" entering the capital of key companies in the State, he assured that, "as long as it is not necessary," the central executive "should not enter" to become part of the companies.

In his address, he also recalled that the Catalan subsidiary of Volkswagen is a company that plays a "spearhead" role for the sector throughout the Spanish territory and that its CEO, Markus Haupt, also leads the Spanish automotive association Anfac. Garcia Brustenga wanted to highlight the resources provided by both the State and the Generalitat which, complemented by private investment, have facilitated the electrification of the Seat plant in Martorell. It must be remembered that currently what is at stake is not the Catalan car factory, but the brand: cars from the Volkswagen group, such as, for example, Cupra, will continue to be manufactured in Martorell. However, in the event that the disappearance is decided, the manufacturing of Seat models would stop.

The secretary also predicted a promising future for the automotive industry in the State because, according to him, its evolution in the world depends on electric models, to which companies must adapt. With this, Garcia Brustenga reiterated that Spain is "a country that is clear about it, with a sector that is clear about it" regarding electrification, unlike, he said, other European countries that still bet on maintaining combustion through alternative biofuels.

Willingness of the Spanish government to approve a new industry law

Regarding the industry as a whole, Garcia Brustenga reported that the new state industry law is currently in the draft bill phase in Congress, under negotiation with the political parties that are "partners" of the Spanish executive for its possible approval. The secretary detailed that the text is "quite" agreed upon and that "small amendments" remain to be finalized.

"For some time now we have been in a window of opportunity for some of the investiture partners to say: this is important, we approve this," explained Garcia Brustenga in reference to the new industry law. "Any help is welcome, let's see if we can get all the partners to feel comfortable and we can approve it before the end of the legislature; it is an opportunity," he added.