07/15/2019Press Release

SEAT Componentes produces new gearbox for Group brands

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Ariane Kilian

Head of Communications | Škoda Auto a.s.

+420 (730) 868 300 ariane.kilian@skoda-auto.cz

Enrico Beltz

Volkswagen Group Technology Volkswagen Group Components | Head of Communications

+49 (0) 5361 / 9-48590 enrico.beltz@volkswagen.de

Cristina Vall-Llosada

SEAT Communications, Head of Corporate Communications

+34 646 295 296 cristina.vall-llosada@seat.es

Ezequiel Avilés

SEAT Communications, Corporate Communications

+34 646 303 738 ezequiel.aviles@seat.es

Up to 450,000 new 6-speed gearboxes for Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA and Volkswagen
Thomas Schmall, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components: “Cross-brand hubs create the flexibility needed for transformation”
Dr Christian Vollmer, Vice President of Production and Logistics, SEAT: “Production could be increased to 3,500 units per day”

Wolfsburg / El Prat de Llobregat, Spain. SEAT Componentes, together with Martorell and Barcelona, one of the three production centres for the Spanish brand and simultaneously part of the production portfolio for Group Components, has started production of the new MQ281 gearbox. Up to 450,000 units can be built per year. It will be used by the brands Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA and Volkswagen. Re-sorting gearbox production goes hand-in-hand with the production start of the new MQ281. While the new six-speed gearbox is being produced in El Prat de Llobregat and Córdoba (Argentina), the MQ200 manual gearbox has been primarily relocated to ŠKODA Components in Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic). At the same time, the component plant in Kassel is concentrating on the production of the dual clutch gearbox DSG, and above all on the production of the electric drive for future vehicles built on the MEB platform.

Thomas Schmall, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components: “The start of production of the new MQ281 reveals the advantages of our new Group Components unit. We use cross-brand hubs for the configuration of our plants and for production, creating the freedom and flexibility that we urgently need for the transformation to electric mobility.”

Dr Christian Vollmer, SEAT Vice President of Production and Logistics: “SEAT Componentes is a key plant for our company and, with the assignment of this project, for the Volkswagen Group as well. With these new gearboxes, we can increase maximum production to up to 3,500 units per day and use the facility as a reference centre for efficiency, productivity and quality.”

The production of the MQ281 gearbox is in El Prat de Llobregat, close to Barcelona airport, and stands apart for its high level of integration. All aluminium parts are produced there, as well as gear wheels and shafts for which the plant has a foundry, processing facilities, assembly and test bed facilities. In 2018, almost 700,000 MQ200 gearboxes were manufactured and 56 percent of the production exported.

SEAT Componentes is one of nine Group sites that manufactures gearboxes. In addition to Prat, gearboxes are produced in Kassel (Germany), Vrchlabi and Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic), Córdoba (Argentina) and Anting, Dalian, Tianjin and Changchun (China). SEAT Componentes employs over 1,000 people and boasts a size of 155,000 square metres. With its new optimised production line, the plant currently has a maximum production capacity of 3,500 gearboxes daily.

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