I've heard this somewhere else too, but heres the first time I've seen this on the web:

http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=87730

But what concerns me about this article is that FIAT never owned SEAT in the first place.

My local dealership has now taken on SEAT, as well as Fiat and Alfa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAT

apparantly was a part of the empire, a long time ago.....

turboned said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAT

apparantly was a part of the empire, a long time ago.....

Click to expand...

baaa baa baaa, dum de dum, dum de dum..... baaa baaa baaa, dum de dum...

yea, seat were defs part of the fiat empire a while back. you used to get seat uno's in spain.

i only realised it was no longer the case about a year ago

Yep I remember those seats that look like pandas.

Not sure if it would be a good move for fiat or not.

List of older Seat models here....
http://pereka.iespana.es/p_seat.htm

makes you wonder....vag group which covers vw/audi/seat/skoda as the main brands then lambo, bugatti and bentley plus something i cant remember

all on the face of it are doing well, with strong loyalty from customers, and the image to match....each of the 4 major arms of the group has it's own well defined target audience and products, with a massive amount of cost savings with common parts and economies of scale

so why sell off one the major parts? to a company that is barely back on its feet, if at all.....fishy?

The problems VAG have, is that alot of people in Germany are buying Japanese cars now instead of cars like Seats and VWs.

I think they just bought the rights to the design. They definately build a Panda and a 600

LanciaMad said:

Yep I remember those seats that look like pandas.

Click to expand...

Think that was the 'marabella' or something like that?

T14086 said:

Think that was the 'marabella' or something like that?

Click to expand...

I think your right there T14 it certainly rings a bell

Seat made a Seat badged Panda. When VW bought Seat they made some changes (new front, bumpers etc) and called it the Marbella to get around fiats copyright.

According to this site they actually made a Seat Panda..

In God mode..

And here's a spoof Seat Panda advert (Yes, I know it's a repost )

https://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=13727&cat=836

My local Alfa dealer has a Seat arm alongside (Sidlow Gatwick).

Shame the news story gives no indication of why Fiat would buy Seat. I think the 2 companies are pitched at the same market, maybe that is the point, bring Seat in, increase market share but reduce develop by using the same underpinnings and components. Seat is a step down from many of VW companies so maybe they will concentrate on the prestiege end of the market shedding the likes of Seat and Skoda?

seat were definately part of fiat. Most of the articles and adverts here
http://pereka.iespana.es/p_seat.htm show fiat models. Even the seat badge looks alot like the fiat badge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it would be good to be honest, as seat have long been known to be cheap vw's, and it would be quite cool to have, say, a seat grande punto, that would be cheaper than a fiat but just as good.

Jon.

surely this is a benefit.

Some of the build quality done by VW on Seats, well some of that mustve rubbed onto the seat techs, surely the build quality may improve on fiats?

Thing is everyone thinks Audi is the same as VW and Seat and Skoda right? Wrong! One of my good mates loves Audi's and says that they are built and finshed better hence the premium.

Fiat could share parts but build quality remains the responsibilty of the plant.

My local Stealership has been twinned with a Seat place for sometime now so looks like this deal has been on the table for some time.

Liam

Just to clarify this a bit, Fiat never owned Seat. Seat just built Fiats under licence.