Seat will continue producing the Leon and will present an updated version in 2029

Seat is betting on the existing lineup of internal combustion engine models and waiting out the uncertainty hanging over the auto industry transition to electric vehicles.

Carlos Galindo, head of the Seat product line, told Autocar journalists about the future of the Leon. According to Galindo, Seat's top priority is making the brand more "youthful."

Seat should become an "entry point" to the VW Group - a role historically held by Skoda. However, the model lineup and marketing will target a different audience than the more mature Skoda buyers.

The updated Leon will be released after the facelifted versions of the Ibiza and Arona next year, with new mild-hybrid engines for these models in 2027 and a full-hybrid powertrain for the Leon in 2028.

Details of the 2029 update are being kept secret, but it is likely related to changes in the Volkswagen Golf built on the same platform. The Golf itself is expected to undergo a significant facelift to be sold alongside the new fully electric Golf.

The Cupra version of the Leon will become electric in the next generation in the early 2030s on the same SSP platform as the Golf. Seat/Cupra will likely apply the same strategy: the Seat version will remain ICE while Cupra transitions to electricity.

Source: Autocar