Editing SEAT (section)

== Presence in different markets ==
[[File:Seat 600 Competición.jpg|thumb|[[SEAT 600]], the first model exported by SEAT in 1965 to Colombia. ]]
In its more-than-70 year history, it was only during the period from 1953 to 1965 that the firm produced cars exclusively for the domestic Spanish market. In 1965, in a rather symbolic move, the company exported some 150 units of its SEAT 600 model (licensed version of the Fiat 600) destined for Colombia by air freight for the first time, until two years later, in 1967, SEAT reached a deal over the renegotiation of its license contract with Fiat that allowed the Spanish firm to form an international distribution network for its cars and thereafter start its export operations to more than 12 countries, entering the export market in 1969. Until the early 1980s, however, most SEAT exports were sold with Fiat badging.<ref name=SEATint>{{cite journal | journal = Autovisie | date = 1983-12-24 | volume = 28 | number = 26 | publisher = Folio Groep B.V. | location = Hilversum, Netherlands | language = nl | title = J.M. Antoñanzas (Seat): "Spanje exporteert meer auto's dan Engeland" | trans-title = Spain exports more cars than England | last = Seidler | first = Edouard | pages = 32–33 | ref = krant }}</ref> As a response to SEAT's bid for independence, Fiat committed themselves to sell 200,000 SEAT-built cars a year from 1981, compared to 120,000 the year before. At the end of 1983, just after SEAT had won its legal battle with Fiat, a quarter of the production went to Egypt and Latin America.<ref name=seidler35>[[#krant|Seidler]], p. 35</ref> In Europe, they were represented in West Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, and Greece. The UK, Ireland, and various Scandinavian markets were planned to be added in 1984. This was despite the company only being able to export the [[SEAT Ronda|Ronda]], with the [[SEAT Fura|Fura]] to follow.<ref name=SEATint/> The exponential growth in exports in the '70s happened under the leadership of Juan Sánchez Cortés and the export director José María García-Courel.

To date, the company has launched its models in more than 70 countries worldwide in accordance with the development policies of the Volkswagen Group, with almost three-quarters of its annual production representing exports for the markets out of Spain. Its core market remains Europe, while the most successful market outside of Europe in sales for SEAT is currently [[Mexico]], where the company has a dealer presence in 27 Mexican states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seat.mx/ |title=SEAT de México |publisher=Seat.mx |access-date=2013-11-11}}</ref>

In Europe, the brand has been launched in almost 40 countries across the continent. SEAT today also sells its cars in 11 countries in Asia, mostly in the Middle East and the [[Arabian Peninsula]], in 16 countries in the Americas, including North America, the [[Caribbean]], Central America, and South America, and finally Africa, mainly in North Africa. Some of its cars have been sold outside Europe, branded as Volkswagens, such as the [[SEAT Ibiza]] hatchback, known in South Africa as the [[Volkswagen Polo Playa]], the [[SEAT Inca]] panel van as the [[Volkswagen Caddy]], or the [[SEAT Córdoba]], also known as the [[Volkswagen Polo|Volkswagen Polo Classic]].

As of 2012, SEAT was planning to expand into the Chinese market,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europapress.es/catalunya/noticia-seat-desembarcara-china-2012-20110310130831.html |title=Seat desembarcará en China en 2012 |publisher=Europapress.es |date=2011-03-10 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> first with Spanish-produced models, followed later in a second phase by the local assembly of SEAT models in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundomotor/2011/03/10/empresa/1299758967.html |title=Seat prepara su entrada en China {{pipe}} Empresa {{pipe}} Motor |publisher=elmundo.es |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>

SEAT's further expansion plans in more markets outside of Europe have yet to be realised. The company was considering a possible launch in the United States in the past, although this move has never been carried out.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050509/SUB/505090793|title=VW's Seat casts an eye toward U.S. market &#124; Automotive News}}</ref> Rumours also of a SEAT model being sold as a Volkswagen in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]] to supplement Volkswagen's brand lineup there have occasionally{{when|date=March 2024}} circulated,{{where|date=March 2024}}{{by whom|date=March 2024}} but have always been unsubstantiated, and ultimately proven to be false.
In the past, other market areas where the brand was also present for a short time were Australia and New Zealand (from 1995 to 1999) and South Africa (from June 2006 to the end of 2008). Still, the brand was withdrawn from those markets due to Volkswagen's decision citing that current and expected circumstances made the ongoing importation of a niche brand unviable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seatsa.co.za/ |title=SEAT South Africa – Home |publisher=Seatsa.co.za |access-date=2009-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/News/Industry_News/6/822e95af7f5240baa7f31658054af8fd/15-09-2008%2008-09/VW%20shock%20SEAT%20to%20quit%20SA |title=VW shock: SEAT to quit SA: Wheels: News: Industry_News |publisher=Wheels24.co.za |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2008-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218193845/http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/News/Industry_News/6/822e95af7f5240baa7f31658054af8fd/15-09-2008%2008-09/VW%20shock%20SEAT%20to%20quit%20SA |url-status=dead }}</ref>
SEAT sold cars in the Russian Federation from 2007 to 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-11-18 |title=Volkswagen says to stop selling SEAT cars in Russia next year |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-autos-volkswagen-idUKKCN0J212920141118 |access-date=2023-10-12}}</ref> SEAT was reintroduced to the New Zealand market in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.motoringnz.com/news/2016/12/19/seat-completes-vws-nz-brand-set|title=SEAT completes VW's NZ brand set|last=webdesign.co.nz|first=Site designed and developed by webdesign ltd, New Zealand {{!}}|access-date=2018-09-04|language=en-UK}}</ref> SEAT re-entered the Australian market in 2022, selling vehicles under their performance marque [[SEAT Cupra|Cupra]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Volkswagen Group's Cupra sports brand to enter the Australian market: Formentor and Ateca go-fast SUVs likely starters to line-up against Hyundai Kona N|url=https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/volkswagen-groups-cupra-sports-brand-to-enter-the-australian-market-formentor-and-ateca-go|access-date=2021-03-24|website=CarsGuide|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cupra coming to Australia in early 2022 {{!}} CarAdvice|url=https://www.caradvice.com.au/936202/cupra-coming-to-australia-in-early-2022/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=CarAdvice.com|language=en}}</ref> SEAT plans to re-launch in the United States and Canada from mid-2024 to early-2027, selling vehicles under their performance marque [[Cupra (marque)|Cupra]].<ref>{{Cite news|title= Cupra confirms potential launch to North America says its looking very promising|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2023/03/cupra-confirms-potential-launch-to-north-america-says-its-looking-very-promising/|access-date=2023-03-22|website=Carscoops.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title= Cupra could be headed to the U.S.|url=https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2023/03/cupra-could-be-headed-to-the-u-s/|access-date=2023-03-24|website=www.thedetroitbureau.com}}</ref>