Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/587664
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2015 VII Motoring SEAT sales increase nearly 5% until September SEAT'S worldwide sales went up by 4.9% in the first nine months of 2015. Until September, the compa- ny sold 308,400 vehicles, which is 14,400 more than in the same pe- riod last year (294,000). The com- pany's sales continue to follow the positive trend begun in 2013, and are being boosted by the Leon and the Ibiza, as well as the Alhambra. Furthermore, sales of the Toledo, Mii and Altea are also going up. Between January and September this year, SEAT sales have risen by 29.5% compared to the same pe- riod in 2012 (238,200). The Leon is currently spearhead- ing deliveries of the brand. Sales of the company's wildly popular compact model went up by 5.8% to reach 122,400 units, 6,800 more than in the first nine months of 2014. The family estate version of the Leon (ST) is consolidating its success with a 34.6% increase (to- tal: 44,100). The Ibiza is also mak- ing progress, and with a 3.3% rise deliveries reached 119,100 units until September. The Alhambra posted the highest growth in per- centage, 13.7%, and is the third best-selling model in the range, with 19,400 units sold until Sep- tember. Jürgen Stackmann, Chairman of SEAT's Executive Committee, expressed his satisfaction with the way sales are progressing: "We have been growing stead- ily since 2013 thanks to the posi- tive evolution of all our models and a broader range. This year we have updated models such as the Ibiza, Alhambra and Toledo, and we have launched the new CON- NECT range, which equips our models with the best features in terms of connectivity". Stackmann pointed out that "we will continue to expand our lineup, starting with the company's first SUV in 2016". Solid growth in main markets So far this year, SEAT has in- creased deliveries in Western Europe by 5.8% (243,100; 2014: 229,700). Germany is the largest market, with 66,700 vehicles sold, or 4.8% more (2014: 63,700). SEAT is listed among the ten best-selling brands in the German market, with a 3% share. In Spain, SEAT grew by 17.8% and added 9,300 more units (61,500; 2014: 52,200), spurred on by the recovery of the car industry. Italy is the third Western Euro- pean country posting the highest growth, with sales figures reach- ing 11,900 vehicles, or 24.7% more (2014: 9,500). Central and Eastern Europe is clearly posting better than aver- age performance. The region grew by 9.2% (20,200; 2014: 18,500), largely due to markets such as the Czech Republic, where sales went up by 15.5%, for a total of 6,300 vehicles delivered (2014: 5,400), and Poland, even better at 31.7% more (6,000; 2014: 4,500). Mexico (+11.0%; 17,400), Turkey (+50.8%; 11,000) and Israel (+40.7%; 6,500) were also among best-performing markets between January and Sep- tember, and are positioned in the top ten selling countries of SEAT vehicles. Martorell manufactures close to 33,000 more vehicles Production in the Martorell plant went up by 10.0% in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2014, reaching 360,300 vehicles, or 32,700 more (2014: 327,600). The positive de- velopment of the Leon, Ibiza and the Audi Q3 has made 2015 the year with the highest production figures in Martorell since 2002. In addition, it remains the high- est-volume car production plant in Spain. SEAT's manufacturing figures in Palmela (Portugal), Bra- tislava (Slovakia) and Mladá Bole- slav (Czech Republic) went up by 10.5% until September, totalling 54,400 vehicles in the three facili- ties (2014: 49,200). VW - Malta www.volkswagen.com.mt Continental Cars Ltd, Testaferrata Street, Msida | Sales: 23476 315/6/7 | Mobile: 9943 3330 | E-Mail: vw@ccl.mizzi.com.mt Mizzi Motors Showroom, Ghajnsielem, Gozo | Sales: 2155 6942 | Mobile: 9978 2000 | E-Mail: jcassar@mizzimotors.com.mt 5 Year Warranty Parts & Labour 12 Year Body Warranty