Seat workers in Martorell express uncertainty over possible withdrawal of the brand in 2029

"Seat is the heart of Martorell, it would make no sense for it to disappear." In the staff of the Barcelona factory of the automobile company, a mixture of uncertainty and ignorance reigned this Thursday in light of the information published by the economic magazine WirtschaftsWoche about the Volkswagen Group's plans to withdraw the Spanish brand Seat in 2029 and focus on Cupra, the second brand of SEAT SA. Uncertainty, more present in the production and assembly divisions than in others such as the technological hub, was divided between those who asked to "wait and see what is said" in the Supervisory Board meetings of the German giant and those who did not know if this news "has anything to do" with the restructuring plan that contemplated the elimination of 100,000 jobs around the world [50,000 after tonight's agreement], mostly in Germany.

Martorell's union representatives asked the workers for "calm" because the Barcelona plant is "profitable" and "is at maximum production levels with 2,500 units of vehicles per day."

The president of the works council and member of the VW supervisory board, Matias Carnero (UGT), sees the plan as “unacceptable” and recalls that the company has recently received public funds for its electrification process.

"I do not contemplate Martorell ceasing to be the headquarters of Seat and Cupra," says Rafa Guerrero, general secretary of CCOO. With almost 30 years of experience in the automobile company, he assures that "the withdrawal of the brand does not make sense after so long of existence." "I don't know if this leak is part of the strategic fight between the Group and the IG Metall union over the cuts announced in Germany," says Guerrero.

"They have been gradually killing a brand as historic as Seat," complains Alberto Montolío, who despite his youth has accumulated 15 years of work in Martorell. A process that "began with the transition to German hands [in 1986, Volkswagen bought a majority stake]" and has continued with "the complete absence in recent years of an electrification project."

CGT representative on the committee, Montolío acknowledges that the staff "is concerned about the emotional side and the social impact" that there is talk of the end of Seat. "There are many people who have been working here their entire lives and who are even children of former employees," he points out.

Even so, the union member believes that "an optimistic message must be sent" because, if the news is consummated, "new models and projects" will arrive in Martorell. "This factory is one of the most profitable in Europe in energy, materials and labor and will be very well positioned for future awards," he says. "We are on the verge of negotiating a new agreement and, behind this information, there could be an intention to condition the dialogue," he adds.

Seat Components

Uncertainty also reached El Prat de Llobregat, where Seat Componentes is located, the center specialized in the manufacture of mechanical parts and transmissions for Volkswagen Group vehicles. A machine driver at this plant, where parts such as manual gearboxes for models such as the Arona, Ibiza and León are manufactured, emphasizes that "this type of car with a small engine continues to have a large audience."

"Although production and jobs are maintained, the headquarters of a large company that, despite being fully controlled by VW, had a high degree of autonomy and a highly recognized R&D center disappears," assesses economist Jordi Alberich, general advisor of the Círculo de Economía. "Seat is much more than a plant, it can develop a new car model from scratch," adds the academic.

Neither the Government of Salvador Illa nor the Catalan employers wanted to assess the leak of VW's confidential restructuring plan until there is an official announcement from the automobile group. At a time when the president of the Generalitat boasts of the macroeconomic data of the community and the return of the corporate headquarters of some large companies after the process, the disappearance of the Seat logo in Barcelona, ​​after more than 70 years of history, is not minor. The president of the Catalan PP, Alejandro Fernández, attributes it to "the consequences of a suicidal European industrial policy, full of progressive prejudices and that only benefits China." "We are very concerned about the thousands of jobs that may be lost," said the popular leader.