44 years ago, SEAT made a decision that would change its future forever. The company decided to create its own Technical Centre; this dream became a reality in 1975. The Technical Centre was conceived with the aim of ensuring the company’s progress, creating its own unique identity and style and constantly incorporating the most advanced technology into their models.
This year, the SEAT Technical Centre (CTS) celebrates its 40th Anniversary. The centre marked a “before and after” for the company and for the automotive industry in Spain as a whole. Since the beginning, the CTS has shaped SEAT’s DNA and has become the driving force of the company, which is currently the largest investor in R&D in Spain. The company has invested 1.4 billion euros in this area over the last five years.
Throughout its 40 year history the CTS has been constantly growing and evolving. It has not just expanded its facilities, but the workforce has also quadrupled and other significant centres and buildings have sprung up in the surrounding area. The most important of these is the Martorell factory, inaugurated in 1993, which is currently one of Europe’s most modern and sustainable factories, producing 2,100 units daily (443.000 in 2014). SEAT sells its cars in 75 countries.
