Martorell Starts CUPRA Raval and ID. Polo Production

SEAT & CUPRA has started building the CUPRA Raval and Volkswagen ID. Polo at Martorell — the first two of four fully electric models in the Volkswagen Group's Electric Urban Car Family.

SEAT & CUPRA has begun series production of the CUPRA Raval and Volkswagen ID. Polo at its Martorell plant in Spain — the first two of four fully electric models in the Volkswagen Group’s Electric Urban Car Family. The family is a cross-brand project that SEAT & CUPRA leads on behalf of the group’s Brand Group Core, with all four models built in Spain. According to the company, the start of production caps a transformation that included investing more than €3 billion (about $3.5 billion) in the Martorell site. The institutional event marking the milestone was attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume, and SEAT & CUPRA CEO Markus Haupt.

Highlights

  • Production of the CUPRA Raval and Volkswagen ID. Polo has begun at Martorell — the first two of four fully electric Electric Urban Car Family models, all built in Spain.
  • SEAT & CUPRA reports more than €3 billion (about $3.5 billion) invested in Martorell; the shared-platform approach delivers €600 million (about $700 million) in cost savings, according to the company.
  • Volkswagen cites a WLTP range of up to 454 km (about 282 miles) for the ID. Polo; the CUPRA Raval launches with three editions and a range of around 450 km.
  • CUPRA reaches the Raval’s market launch in summer 2026; the brand reports more than 1 million cars sold since its 2018 debut and targets a 3% European market share.

Leading the Electric Urban Car Family

The Electric Urban Car Family is the first project of its scale that SEAT & CUPRA has led on behalf of the Brand Group Core. Built on a shared platform, it brings four distinct models to market while reducing production complexity and cost, the company says. Under a new cross-brand governance model, SEAT & CUPRA will continue developing the MEB21 platform from the Iberian Peninsula.

“Today marks much more than the start of production of two cars. It is a milestone for SEAT & CUPRA and clear proof of what we can achieve through teamwork. With the CUPRA Raval and the Volkswagen ID. Polo, we are not only launching the production of two models, but we are demonstrating our ability to lead and shape the future of mobility. We have completed our transformation, investing more than €3 billion in Martorell and driving a profound cultural change to become an industrial powerhouse. And we’re proud to say that we’re ready to electrify Europe from Spain,” said Markus Haupt, CEO of SEAT & CUPRA.

Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core, CEO Volkswagen Brand and Head of the Supervisory Board of SEAT & CUPRA, framed the cost case:

“The Electric Urban Car Family demonstrates how the Brand Group Core leverages synergies and fosters collaboration within the Group to deliver electric mobility at scale. The success of SEAT & CUPRA in leading a cross-brand project for the first time demonstrates the strength of our model: a shared platform that enhances competitiveness in the entry-level segment, delivering €600 million in cost savings, while realizing four clearly differentiated models. Together, these achievements create the foundation to democratize electric mobility across Europe,” said Schäfer.

Ready to Electrify Europe From Spain

SEAT & CUPRA describes the launch as the culmination of the biggest transformation in its 75-year history. The company reports investing €10 billion (about $11.6 billion) in Spain’s electrification through its Future: Fast Forward project, in collaboration with the Volkswagen Group, PowerCo, and other partners. The Martorell factory is now set up to build electric, hybrid, and combustion vehicles on a flexible production line.

“Compelling entry-level cars, affordable for many, offering space and top technology customers know from higher segments: with the Electric Urban Car Family, Volkswagen Group is stepping up the pace of electrification in Europe. We are investing several billions to make Spain a central hub of electromobility. And we are proving a clear point: even as global competition intensifies, we believe in our home market Europe – our Electric Urban Car Family will be from Europe, for Europe. It is now crucial to build on this momentum with a clear Made-in-Europe strategy that ensures a level playing field and strengthens Europe’s industrial base,” said Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group.

Inside the Volkswagen ID. Polo

The Volkswagen ID. Polo is the all-electric version of the Polo, a nameplate the company says has sold more than 20 million units. Volkswagen cites a WLTP range of up to 454 km (about 282 miles); because the WLTP cycle generally returns higher figures than the U.S. EPA standard, an EPA-rated range would likely be lower. The hatchback pairs that range with the new Connected Travel Assist, which adds automatic traffic light recognition and one-pedal driving. A vehicle-to-load function lets the car serve as a mobile power source for devices such as e-bikes, according to the company.

What the CUPRA Raval Offers

The CUPRA Raval measures around four meters long and is built on Volkswagen’s MEB+ platform with a driver-focused interior, 3D-knitted CUP Bucket seats, and dynamic light projections in the door panels. It launches with three editions and a range of around 450 km, according to the company, and reaches the market in summer 2026. CUPRA, which marks its eighth anniversary, reports more than 1 million cars sold since its 2018 launch, its best-ever first quarter in 2026, and a target of 3% market share in Europe.

The EV Report
The EV Report Staff

The EV Report is the trade publication of record for vehicle electrification. Published by Hagman Media and edited by founder Brian Hagman, it covers battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, charging infrastructure, and battery technology for an audience of automotive engineers, fleet managers, and clean-mobility investors.