CUPRA celebrates one million cars
One million cars in seven years sounds like a slogan, yet for CUPRA it’s reality. The brand that began in 2018 as SEAT’s sporty alter ego has grown into one of Europe’s fastest-rising carmakers. Admittedly, when you consider that much of SEAT’s sales volume shifted under the CUPRA badge, the figure loses a little of its shine.
The milestone car, a matt-finished Formentor e-HYBRID, recently rolled off the Martorell production line, marking a significant moment for Spain’s automotive industry. The anniversary model pairs a new 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 272 horsepower (200 kW). A larger 19.7 kWh net-capacity battery also extends the hybrid’s electric range.
To celebrate the achievement, CUPRA is raffling one Formentor e-HYBRID among its employees. The winner will drive the car for three years before it joins the brand’s historical collection — a gesture honouring the people who made CUPRA’s rise possible.
Meanwhile, the Martorell plant, birthplace of the first CUPRA, is undergoing its biggest transformation to date. Production Line 1 is being retooled for the electric era, backed by an investment of around 3 billion euros. From 2026, it will build both the all-electric CUPRA Raval and the Volkswagen ID. Polo. Alongside it, a new 300-million-euro battery module assembly facility underlines Spain’s position as a cornerstone of Volkswagen Group’s electrification strategy.
CUPRA’s first million may be partly inherited, but its direction is unmistakably forward. The next million will come not from rebranding, but from the current driving force of Europe’s electric future.
