Martorrel site is now producing the second generation of Audi A1

SEAT SA is commencing production of an all-new car at its Martorell facilities in Spain. However, its plant won't be assembling a new SEAT car. The Spanish carmaker is now assembling the next generation of Audi’s small city car – the new 2019 Audi A1.

The sight of SEAT producing Audi vehicles isn't surprising as both carmakers are members of the larger Volkswagen Group. In addition, the A1 isn't the Audi vehicle produced at SEAT’s Martorrel site. In the middle of 2011, the VW Group assigned the SEAT facility to produce the Audi Q3 luxury subcompact crossover. Since then until July 2018, the Martorrel site had been producing the previous generation of the Audi Q3 and total Spanish production of the subcompact crossover reached nearly 800,000 units.

When the second generation of the Audi Q3 was unveiled, it was decided that the production of the subcompact crossover will be moved from Martorell to the Gyor facilities in Hungary. On the other hand, the previous generation of the A1 was assembled in Brussels. The idle manufacturing capacity at Martorrel left by the Audi Q3 might have prompted the VW Group to transfer the production of the second generation from Brussels to Martorell.

According to SEAT, the new Audi A1 is being produced exclusively at its Martorell site. Shipped to all markets where the small city car is sold, the new Audi A1 is contributing to the factory’s export volume that has already gone beyond 80 percent. Likewise, the production of the new A1 at Martorrel is expected to further improve the synergies and efficiencies with models underpinned by the same platform as the Audi small city car – VW Group’s MQB A0 modular architecture – such as the SEAT Ibiza and the SEAT Arona.

These recent developments mean that SEAT’s Martorrel site is now in-charge of producing three new models the past 18 months. In early 2017, the Martorrel factory commenced production of the fifth generation of the SEAT Ibiza small city car. A few months later, SEAT’s Spanish factory started assembling the all-new SEAT Arona mini crossover. With these models being produced at Martorrel, the site is ensured of a high production volume in next few years.

The addition of a new model and the subsequent increase of production volumes at SEAT’s Martorrel site also meant corresponding boost of the factory’s workforce. In fact, more than 500 employees were hired and given a permanent contract in 2018 alone. These new employees will also be assigned to work on strategic projects related to car connectivity and to SEAT digitalization. They will also be working on the development and launch of the all-new SEAT Tarraco mid-size SUV.

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Audi A1 production starts at SEAT in Martorell

Production of the Audi A1 is already underway in Martorell. The new sporty compact model is being made exclusively at the SEAT plant and distributed to all the markets where it is sold, making a positive contribution to increasing the factory’s export volume, which is already above 80%.

Audi allocated the A1 to Martorell following the production success of the Audi Q3. Production of the Audi Q3 started in mid 2011. Since then until last July almost 800,000 units were manufactured in Martorell. This figure even exceeded primary expectations. The previous generation of the Audi A1 was made in Brussels, while the new Audi Q3 is now being made in Hungary’s Györ factory.

SEAT Vice-president for Production and Logistics Dr. Christian Vollmer explained that “having the manufacture of the Audi A1 allocated here at Martorell is an acknowledgement of the excellent work carried out by the SEAT Martorell team on the production of the Audi Q3 in recent years. The Audi A1 will be made under the highest quality standards, confirming the Audi Group’s commitment to the Martorell factory as a strategic production location for the Volkswagen Group’s global network.”

Peter Kössler, Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics at AUDI AG: “Over the last years, the Martorell plant with its highly qualified employees has produced our Audi Q3 and made this model a great success. The plant has gained a lot of experience with our extremely quality-oriented Audi production system. Therefore, Martorell is for us the ideal place to manufacture our new Audi A1, one of our strategic pillars in this segment.”

The new Audi A1, the second premium model made in Spain following the Audi Q3, will be made in two shifts on the revamped Line 3 using the MQB A0 platform. This is the platform where the Ibiza debuted in 2017. The Audi A1 will contribute to maintaining the high volume output at the Martorell facility, which is the factory that produces the most vehicles in Spain.

Furthermore, the Audi A1 will enhance the synergies and efficiencies with the models that share its platform in Martorell, the Ibiza and the Arona. In addition to producing the new Audi A1, SEAT also participated in its development, which enabled the creation of high-skilled employment.

Martorell, a new model lineup

With the addition of the Audi A1, production at the Martorell factory has included three new models in the past 18 months, beginning with the fifth generation Ibiza in early 2017, which was joined a few months later by the new urban crossover SEAT Arona. These launches make it possible to anticipate a high production volume in upcoming years.

In 2018 alone, more than 500 workers were recruited with a permanent contract. The reinforcement of SEAT Group’s workforce responds to the increase of production and models at the Martorell factory and for strategic projects related with car connectivity and the company’s digitisation, as well as for the development and launch of Tarraco.