Seat dealers will have their first SUV to sell in 2016.

The car, currently in development at Seat’s Martorell facility, will go up against cars like the Nissan Qashqai. “This is an excellent piece of news, since it takes Seat into a new territory, in one of the largest and fastest growing segments in the world,” said Seat chairman Jürgen Stackmann today at its annual results. “The SUV is an important pillar in the future corporate strategy and is a major step forward on the road to reaching sustainable profitability for the company,” he added.

Seat made operating losses of Euro 152m in 2013. “The SUV is an important pillar in the future corporate strategy and is a major step forward on the road to reaching sustainable profitability for the company,” he added.

The new model will give Seat an entry into a fast growing segment with sales of 1 million cars in Europe. The segment has grown more than 40% over the past five years. Seat first hinted at entering the SUV market in 2011 when it showed the IBX concept at the Geneva motor show.

Original Story On Motor Trader http://www.motortrader.com/latest-news/seat-dealers-suv-2016/