The target of 800,000 electric cars annually breaks down into 500,000 units of the VW ID. Polo and Cupra Raval at Martorell, and 300,000 units of the VW ID. Cross and Skoda Epiq at Pamplona. Markus Haupt, interim CEO of Seat, made these statements to the Spanish portal La Tribuna de Automoción on the sidelines of the IAA.
Haupt’s comments follow those of former CEO Wayne Griffiths, who in late January had said production forecasts at both plants for 2026 and 2027 were “much lower” than originally calculated. At the time, forecasts stood at around 300,000 electric small cars from Martorell and 235,000 from Navarra per year. The lower figures were attributed to the slower ramp-up of electromobility in Europe.
Haupt’s current projection does not exclude a somewhat slower ramp-up in 2026 and 2027, averaging 535,000 units per year. However, he aims to reach the 800,000 mark by the end of the decade. Haupt stressed that the cars will be “very successful” because they are “very attractive” and reflect “a natural market trend.”
At the IAA, Volkswagen showcased the upcoming small car family but did not present the final series versions. Another near-series study of the ID.2, now renamed ID. Polo, was shown, while Skoda presented a further developed version of the previously unveiled Epiq concept. For the SUV derivative, VW has now provided a first glimpse with the ID. Cross study. At VW’s preview event on Sunday, a camouflaged series version of the Cupra Raval appeared briefly, though it was not displayed later at the show.
VW has not yet revealed final technical specifications for the four models, all of which will use the MEB+ platform with front-wheel drive. These details will follow at the respective world premieres. The Cupra Raval will be unveiled first in March 2026 and is expected to go on sale shortly afterwards. The VW ID. Polo will be presented in May 2026, followed by the SUV models ID. Cross and Epiq in the summer. All four vehicles are scheduled to reach customers in 2026.
latribunadeautomocion.es (in Spanish)
This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for Ev Authority’s German edition.
