Remember yesterday’s announcement from VW Group regarding the €4.2 billion investment in Spain for building new models?
Well, it appears that the money won’t be used just to manufacture new Seat models, as reports cited by Automotive News Europe say production of the next-generation Audi A1 may be moved from Belgium to Spain.
According to union officials, the move is part of a production reshuffle, with the Brussels plant to get another model instead – rumor has it the replacement model could be an electric car.
By shifting Audi A1 output to Seat’s plant in Martorell, near Barcelona, VW Group would cut costs since it could build cars based on shared platforms in a single factory. The Spanish plant builds the Audi Q3, Seat Ibiza, Leon and Altea. The current generation Audi A1 (pictured) is expected to be replaced in 2018 or 2019.
Audi is investing €500 million in the Brussels plant between now and 2019 and the 2,500 employees have “every reason to believe the plant has a future,” said plant spokesman Jurgen Thysmans. The facility built 115,000 Audi A1s last year, with the 2015 forecast standing at 116,000 units.
A decision on the production changes is expected toward the end of the third quarter.
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