In full-year 2022, Seat car sales slumped while Cupra deliveries almost doubled worldwide with Germany, Spain, and the UK the largest markets. The Cupra Formentador and Seat Arona were the top-selling models.
2022 (January to December): Seat SA sales dropped by 18% to 385,600 cars delivered worldwide. While Seat-branded car sales were down by 40%, the more profitable Cupra-branded car sales increased by 93%. The Cupra Formentador was the company’s best-selling car model worldwide in 2022.
SEAT Sales Worldwide by Brand in 2022
In 2022, global sales by Seat SA and its brands Cupra and Seat were as follows:
| 2022 | 2021 | % 22/21 | |
| SEAT S.A. | 385,600 | 470,500 | -18.1% |
| CUPRA (brand) | 152,900 | 79,300 | +92.7% |
| SEAT (brand) | 232,700 | 391,200 | -40.5% |
In full-year 2022, SEAT S.A. delivered 385,600 vehicles worldwide — an 18.1% decrease on 2021 (470,500) blamed mostly on shortages of semiconductors and other essential parts. Faced with a global shortage of parts, SEAT SA prioritized higher-margin Cupra models over Seat cars. Although sales were lower, it benefited the financial position of the company and increased speculation that the Volkswagen Group is uncertain about the future of Seat as an independent brand.
Germany continued to be SEAT S.A.’s leading market, with 105,300 vehicles sold, a 1.2% increase on 2021 (104,100). Spain held its position as the company’s second-largest market with 62,900 cars sold, 23.1% less than the previous year (81,800), followed by the United Kingdom, with 36,600 sold, 27.9% less than in 2021 (50,700). Italy overtook France as the company’s fourth largest market, reaching 25,300 units sold, 8.6% less than 2021 (27,600), while deliveries in France fell 31.1% from 31,200 to 21,500. Beyond the top five countries, sales grew 7.6% in Portugal to 7,800 units.
The company’s global production, including production of the Audi A1, remained at similar levels to 2021 with 478,954 cars manufactured, a drop of 1.1% on the previous year (484.046). Production at the company’s Martorell plant decreased by 4.8% to 366,764 due to supply shortages.
Cupra Sales by Model and Country in 2022
Cupra’s bestselling and first standalone model, the CUPRA Formentor, sold 97,600 units in 2022, accounting for 63.8% of the brand’s sales and more than a quarter of SEAT S.A.’s sales. Meanwhile, CUPRA’s second-most popular model, the CUPRA Born, marked its first full year on the market with 31,400 units delivered. Since its creation in 2018, CUPRA has sold close to 300,000 vehicles.
CUPRA’s key European markets were Germany (58,400; 89.9% higher than 2021), the UK (14,400; +87.4%), Spain (13,600; +23.9%), Italy (11,300; +83.9%), France (7,600; +86.5%), Austria (5,400; +157.6%) and Switzerland (5,000; + 38.3%). Globally, CUPRA saw significant growth in Mexico (4,300; + 120.0%), Turkey (2,800; + 879.6%) and Israel (2,700; + 138.8%).
In 2022, CUPRA’s ambitious global expansion took on new momentum with its entry into the Australian market and the new City Garages in Lisbon, Rotterdam, and Sydney. In 2023, the brand looks set to expand this global network with new openings in Berlin, Madrid, and Paris.
Cupra Sales by Model and Country in 2022
232,700 SEAT cars were delivered in 2022, a 40.5% decline from 2021. The SEAT Arona maintained its position as the brand’s bestselling model (71,000 units; -33.5% on 2021), followed by the SEAT Ibiza (51,300; -46.4%), and the SEAT Leon (41,500; -47.3%).
SEAT’s largest markets were Spain (49,200; -30.4%), Germany (46,900; -36.0%), the UK (22,200; -48.4%), Italy (13,900; -35.2%) and France (13,900; -48.8%). The brand hit a major milestone in 2022 when it sold its millionth SUV.
Global Worldwide Car Sales by Brand in 2022 (Full Year)
→ USA Car Sales by Brand in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
→ Global Worldwide Car sales by Brand in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
Global worldwide sales by brand in 2022:
- Audi
- Bentley
- BMW
- Bugatti
- Cupra
- Hyundai
- Kia
- Lamborghini
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mini
- Porsche
- Rolls-Royce
- Seat
- Skoda
- Tesla
- Volkswagen Group (including Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Seat / Cupra, Porsche, Skoda, VW)
- Volkswagen Group Electric Car Sales
- Volvo
NOTE: “Sales” as reported by the various brands generally refer to deliveries and not necessarily sales to the customer or final registration. Terms and definitions may vary. All statistics are provided by respective car manufacturers unless clearly stated otherwise.
