Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • With Opel profitable again, CEO looks to international expansion
      Car exhasut Berlin.jpg
      German automakers react positively to weaker Euro 7 regulations
      Polestar raises $550m to help fund product expansion
      The Audi Q4 e-tron quattro has a prominent grille, big wheels and defined wheel arches. Shown is the Audi Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro.
      Audi attacks EV mass market with Q4 e-tron
    • Car exhasut Berlin.jpg
      German automakers react positively to weaker Euro 7 regulations
      Polestar raises $550m to help fund product expansion
      The Audi Q4 e-tron quattro has a prominent grille, big wheels and defined wheel arches. Shown is the Audi Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro.
      Audi attacks EV mass market with Q4 e-tron
      Ford's VW-based EV will be an SUV, report says
    • Nidec challenges Bosch, Continental, Siemens for e-motor lead in Europe
      AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE PODCAST: April 15, 2021 | CLEPA exec explains why supplier bullishness is on the rise
      Chip stock-MAIN_0.jpg
      Renesas resumes operations of damaged clean room
      4BIDEN-MAIN_i.jpg
      U.S. Senate readying legislation on semiconductors, Biden says
    • The Audi Q4 e-tron quattro has a prominent grille, big wheels and defined wheel arches. Shown is the Audi Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro.
      Audi attacks EV mass market with Q4 e-tron
      Citroen C5 X.jpg
      European brands seek China boost after COVID
      The Fiat New 500 lineup now includes (from left) a three-door model, a cabriolet and a two-door.
      Fiat will add van version of New 500 small EV amid slow sales
      The Astra ranked ninth in European sales last year in the mainstream compact segment. The current model is shown.
      New Opel Astra will have plug-in drivetrain, station wagon variant
    • Car exhasut Berlin.jpg
      German automakers react positively to weaker Euro 7 regulations
      Audi's plant in Gyor, Hungary, VW Group's biggest engine factory, built 1.6 million engines in 2020.
      VW brand will phase out combustion engines, CEO says
      The sales rollout of the ID4 is starting in Europe, the U.S. and China
      The UK's conflicting stance on EVs
      Valeo joins Bosch, GM, others in pledge for carbon neutrality
    • With Opel profitable again, CEO looks to international expansion
      Spain offers EV subsidies
      Stellantis brands dominated van sales in EU in 2020, figures show
      VW cars Germany
      German sales rise 36% in March but fall 6% in the first quarter
    • Volvo CFO Bjorn Annwall
      Volvo promotes Europe boss Annwall to finance chief
      andersson.jpg
      Bo Andersson steps down from Yazaki
      John-Krafcik-bloomberg.jpg
      Krafcik leaves Waymo after 5 years as CEO
       Daimler's new chairman, Bernd Pischetsrieder, with Manfred Bischoff
      Daimler's shareholders approve former BMW, VW CEO Pischetsrieder as chairman
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Frankfurt Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Mobility
    • Segment Analysis
    • Latest Launches
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
    • Path out of chip shortage: New capacity, new thinking -- and patience
      Apple, Nio, other auto newcomers get creative to avoid Tesla's 'production hell'
      Photo illustration for cloud computing
      How Amazon, Google are transforming the auto industry
      EV-only future looks closer than ever in Europe
    • Opel CEO explains what's next for the brand after 'challenging' 2020
      Ford of Europe plans more changes to reposition business for EV-focused future
      Renault CEO bets on 'winning horses' for turnaround
      Nvidia CEO says software will soon define the car, drive profit
    • Suzuki races into plug-in-hybrid sector with most powerful model
      Sales of the New 500 have been slow since the vehicle's launch last year.  The three-door New 500 hatchback is shown.
      Fiat's New 500 is zippy, agile but pricey
      Nidec challenges Bosch, Continental, Siemens for e-motor lead in Europe
      The Audi Q4 e-tron quattro has a prominent grille, big wheels and defined wheel arches. Shown is the Audi Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro.
      Audi attacks EV mass market with Q4 e-tron
    • BlueCruise-MAIN_i.jpg
      Ford answers Tesla's Autopilot with 'BlueCruise' hands-free system
      How a U.S. tech firm aims to save 1 million lives
      WeRide robotaxi fleet in China
      Nissan-backed startup to test driverless vehicles
      France could offer cash to scrap cars for electric bikes
    • Smart EQ ForTwo electric being charged
      Minicars race toward electric future
      EVs make huge gains helped by incentives, tougher CO2 rules
      EVs, surging SUVs to hit Europe's biggest segment
      Wagons hold market share, but costly EV shift looms
    • The Audi Q4 e-tron quattro has a prominent grille, big wheels and defined wheel arches. Shown is the Audi Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron quattro.
      Audi attacks EV mass market with Q4 e-tron
      AudiQ4.jpg
      Audi Q4 e-tron key to challenging Tesla
      The Astra ranked ninth in European sales last year in the mainstream compact segment. The current model is shown.
      New Opel Astra will have plug-in drivetrain, station wagon variant
      Mercedes EQS camouflaged
      Daimler CEO expects solid returns from flagship EV
    • Vitesco's optimism about EV shift grows as spinoff nears completion
      How GKN is transforming to gain from e-powertrain shift
      Marelli CEO expects e-powertrains to provide long-term boost
      Veoneer boss expects to reach key milestone this quarter
    • Europe sales by model, February: Tesla, Ferrari, Lotus, Aston Martin rise despite down market
      Top 10 sellers by market, 2 months: Skoda Octavia makes the cut in 18 out of 27 countries
      Nissan Qashqai
      Turkey sales, February: Nissan, Fiat, Skoda report strong gains
      Russia sales, February: Market bounces back with small increase
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
    • Sales of the New 500 have been slow since the vehicle's launch last year.  The three-door New 500 hatchback is shown.
      Fiat's New 500 is zippy, agile but pricey
      How a U.S. tech firm aims to save 1 million lives
      Volvo Google infotainment
      Volvo expands upon positive Google experience
      Volvo front grille
      Volvo targets top talent in U.S., China with generous parental leave policy
    • Understanding the impact of design on marketing, brand and user experience
      Ex-Aston Martin CEO Palmer calls on UK to intensify battery commitment
      Why Apple must target the $230B luxury car market
      Apple car: Who will build it? Magna Steyr possible candidate
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • view gallery
      9 photos
      Rimac's Croatian campus
      mercedes_eqs_int_6.jpg
      view gallery
      12 photos
      Mercedes EQS Interior
      Green Peugeot 308 1.jpg
      view gallery
      17 photos
      Peugeot 308
       bmw_i4_6.jpg
      view gallery
      6 photos
      BMW i4
    • koenigsegg-gemera-front-quarter-passenger-01.jpg
      view gallery
      14 photos
      Koenigsegg Gemera
      view gallery
      21 photos
      Fiat New 500
      view gallery
      11 photos
      Aston Martin V12 Speedster
      view gallery
      13 photos
      Audi A3 Sportback 2020
    • At the Beijing show, sales rebound and EV boom mix with murky outlook
      3BEIJING-MAIN_i.jpg
      Beijing show to highlight competition for local EV makers
      Beijing auto show delayed due to coronavirus
      Maserati will unveil Ghibli hybrid at Beijing show
    • view gallery
      11 photos
      Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS
      view gallery
      11 photos
      Renault Captur
      view gallery
      5 photos
      Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB 53
      view gallery
      10 photos
      Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe
    • view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux SA2.0 SUV
      view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux A2.0 sedan
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Seat Tarraco
      view gallery
      7 photos
      Toyota Corolla station wagon
    • view gallery
      8 photos
      MG Cyberster concept
      view gallery
      4 photos
      Nio ET Preview
      view gallery
      7 photos
      Infiniti Qs Inspiration concept
      view gallery
      5 photos
      BMW 3-series LWB
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress Conversations
    • ANE Shift
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
    • ANE Leading Women
    • Watch Again
      • July 9: EU green deal in the COVID-19 new normal
      • July 16: Assisted or Autonomous Driving
      • July 23: Challenges in Electrification
      • July 30: The Road Ahead for Europe
    • Meet the 2020 winners
    • Watch the 2020 Rising Stars awards again
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Cloud: A springboard for future competitiveness
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
June 13, 2018 01:00 AM

VW's Seat brand wants to join robotaxi revolution

Andrea Malan
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    As the European auto industry embraces mobility services, Seat wants to be in the driver’s seat as part of parent Volkswagen Group’s push into robotaxis.

    Seat will start reviewing "the way we build cars and start to build cars and vehicles designed for a service,"  Arantxa Alonso, Seat's head of business development, told Automotive News Europe in an interview.

    For example, she said, an urban environment requires agility, speed and easy parking capabilities. That means a purely urban vehicle would not have to satisfy certain requirements for driving on highways.

    "Our r&d department should be able to deliver the first prototypes by the end of this year and we might show them a few months later," Alonso said. Those prototypes might not even be a car but a mixture with something else, she said.

    “We have to think laterally,” Alonso said, “because otherwise, someone could come and disrupt us. Disruption comes fast and is hard to predict."

    Robo-taxi operators

    The research includes robotaxis. “We want to be one of these robotaxi operators of the future,” Alonso said, adding, “We are mainly focusing on private, end-to-end mobility.”

    Alonso: Seat wants to be a robo-taxi operators.

    Seat is not alone in its robotaxi ambitions. Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has promised to start a robotaxi service by 2022. The French automaker offered a peak at its vision in March at the Geneva auto show when it unveiled its EZ-GO driverless electric vehicle. In addition, Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have formed an alliance and are seeking to work with technology companies such as Google and Uber Technologies that are experimenting with self-driving cars.

    Seat’s parent, Volkswagen Group, is considering launching a fleet of robotaxis for ride-hailing in the future as part of plans to expand its mobility services business.

    Volvo is betting driverless vehicles will make up one-third of its deliveries by the middle of the next decade, with sales growth propelled in part by demand from robotaxi operators.

    General Motors plans a commercial launch of fleets of fully autonomous robotaxis in multiple dense urban environments in 2019. Ford aims to have self-driving vehicles on the road by 2021 as part of ride-hailing fleets. Alphabet's self-driving unit Waymo is testing a robotaxi service.

    Will Seat’s new vehicles be autonomous?

    “Obviously,” Alonso said. “At the beginning, they will have some autonomous functionality, starting from the ability to park themselves.”

    As regards full autonomy, Alonso said, “The technology is there, as (Google’s) Waymo shows.”

    Seat is trying to get a quick foothold in the new mobility services, starting from its home base of Spain and expanding in the next few years into other southern European countries, such as Portugal and Italy, Alonso said. All the services would be under the umbrella of a new company called Xmoba Ventures, starting with the car-sharing company Respiro.

    Respiro already is operating in Madrid. Other Spanish cities will follow within a couple of years, maybe with a quick expansion to Portugal because it’s across the border, Alonso said. Italy might follow in 2020, followed by France. Connection to specific cities and local partners will be an important factor in deciding the time frame.

    The brand name Respiro — which means “breath” in Spanish —most likely will be exported, at least to Portugal and Italy.

    Another building block of Seat’s strategy in mobility is Just Moove, an app that allows a customer to manage all mobility needs, from paying tolls to parking, refueling and taxis. Public transportation is expected to be added later. The aim of the service is to enable the customer to have an instant picture of mobility expenses and be able to better plan them.

    The main hurdle, Alonso said, is that most companies are reluctant to lose control of the access to their customers.

    “We believe disruption will start in urban areas, where the use of mobility as a service will gradually replace car ownership, and then extend to rural areas,” she said. “Even car lovers will abandon their cars because of the cost factor.

    “Mobility as a service can reduce the cost of transportation by a factor of 10 if compared with a new car, two to four if compared with a fully amortized car. How fast the disruption will happen will strongly depend on regulations.”

    Seat’s efforts will be coordinated with other parts of the VW Group. Among the main fields of connectivity, autonomy, sharing and electrification, Seat leads the group in connectivity and joins other group brands in car-sharing activities, with a responsibility for southern Europe.

    “Through this coordinated effort,” Alonso said, “we hope to spread our activities quickly.”

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    2020 Eurostar winner Frank Bekemeier
    Recommended for You
    2020 Eurostar winner Frank Bekemeier
    2020 Eurostar winner Frank Bekemeier
    2020 Eurostar winner Jürgen Weissinger
    2020 Eurostar winner Jürgen Weissinger
    2020 Eurostar winner Nicolas Racquet
    2020 Eurostar winner Nicolas Racquet
    Cloud: A springboard for future competitiveness
    Sponsored Content: Cloud: A springboard for future competitiveness
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • 2020 Media Kit
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Frankfurt Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Mobility
      • Segment Analysis
      • Latest Launches
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress Conversations
        • Watch Again
          • July 9: EU green deal in the COVID-19 new normal
          • July 16: Assisted or Autonomous Driving
          • July 23: Challenges in Electrification
          • July 30: The Road Ahead for Europe
      • ANE Shift
      • ANE Rising Stars
        • Meet the 2020 winners
        • Watch the 2020 Rising Stars awards again
      • ANE Eurostars
      • ANE Leading Women
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Cloud: A springboard for future competitiveness
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us