UK growth drives SEAT sales
SEAT has reported its best set of results since 2001, driven by strong growth in the UK.
The brand’s global sales grew by 13.7% in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, to stand at a total figure of 246,500 vehicles.
In the month of June, SEAT sold 45,200 units, an increase of 12.6% against the same month in 2016 (40,100).
SEAT vice president for marketing and sales Wayne Griffiths said, ‘In the first half of 2017 we reached the highest sales in 16 years. We continue to make double-digit progress and have established ourselves as one of the fastest-growing brands in Europe. Our growth is based on solid results in most markets, which are beginning to show the initial results of the biggest product offensive we launched in 2016 with the Ateca and continued at the beginning of the year with the updated Leon. With the new Ibiza and the new Arona, we are confident we can continue this positive development.’
SEAT sales went up in the first half of the year thanks to the excellent results in the major European countries, which all posted double-digit improvement. Spain led the growth with 54,100 cars sold (+21.2%), followed by Germany in second place with 48,600 SEAT vehicles delivered (+10.2%) and the United Kingdom third (29,500; +20.5%). France (13,300; +18.2%) and Italy (10,500; +14.6%) are also among the countries which increased sales by more than 10%.
In the UK, SEAT has posted impressive registrations of 29,941 year-to-date, 4,857 more than the same timeframe in 2016, including striking True Fleet sales growth of 63%. In June, the Barcelona-based brand delivered stellar growth of 15% compared to the previous year.
Commenting on SEAT UK’s continued expansion, director Richard Harrison said, ‘Our sustainable growth plan is really starting to pay off. The effort which the entire UK team is putting in, both at head office and dealer level, is paying huge dividends, which is clearly evident by the fact that we’ve smashed sales records in five out of the last six months alone.
‘We’re the fastest growing volume manufacturer, up just shy of 20% year-on-year, and on track to post the best sales results our brand has ever achieved. Against a backdrop of other car brands slipping back, the performance of the SEAT team is really impressive.’
