Editing SEAT (section)

=== Zona Franca ===
[[File:Centre de Formació de la Seat- a1.jpg|thumb|170px|SEAT's Training Centre in Barcelona's Zona Franca]]
SEAT's factory in Barcelona's Zona Franca started its activities in 1953 and was the production facility where the first SEAT models such as the SEAT 1400 and the 600 were built. In 1993, the car production began to get transferred to the new Martorell plant, and since then, the Barcelona factory has been producing parts such as doors, roofs, fenders and chassis.

80% of the production<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-02|title=Seat resucita su fábrica de la Zona Franca|url=https://www.economiadigital.es/empresas/seat-invierte-57-millones-para-disparar-la-productividad-en-barcelona-fabrica-zona-franca_628826_102.html|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Economía Digital|language=es}}</ref> of the parts for the MQB A0, the compact modular platform of the [[Volkswagen Group]] on which the Ibiza and Arona are based, is carried out in these facilities, as well as most of the stamped parts for all other SEAT models. The development and assembly facilities are some of the newest within the Volkswagen Group, with the ability to produce cars<ref>[http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/audi-announces-the-production-of-the-q3/ – Audi announces production of the Q3, looking for low-CO2 help] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111114932/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/audi-announces-the-production-of-the-q3/ |date=November 11, 2013 }}</ref> not only for its own brand but also for other Volkswagen Group brands, such as [[Volkswagen]] and [[Audi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/375-fabrica-de-martorell.html |title=Martorell Factory |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-29 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2010-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326035549/http://media.seat.com/en/company/375-fabrica-de-martorell.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> For example, the development and design of several Audi models (e.g. the [[Audi A1]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/SUB/312050002|title=Winterkorn considers jettisoning VW's Spanish brand &#124; Automotive News}}</ref> the [[Audi A3]] Sportback,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20030901/GERMANNEWSLETTER/309010778 |title=The A3 five-door version is design engineered at Seat |publisher=Autonews.com |date=2003-09-01 |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref> the [[Audi Q5]], etc.) and also several Audi development projects took place there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20060911/GERMAN_NEWSLETTER/60911011 |title=Seat to develop Q5 and a subcompact for Audi |publisher=Autonews.com |access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>

This plant is an industry benchmark, as it features elements such as the virtual simulation of the PXL press, 3D printing in the maintenance workshop, the automatic shifting between sealing tips of the robots in the body shop, and the automation of the logistics flow through automated guided vehicles.

The Barcelona Zona Franca site includes the SEAT Training Centre,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/19.html |title=El Centro de Formación de SEAT cumple 50 años |publisher=Media.seat.com |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-date=2011-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929003648/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/2007/19.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Zona Franca Press Shop factory, producing stamped body parts, and the Barcelona Gearbox del Prat plant, producing gearboxes not only for SEAT but also for other Volkswagen Group marques ([[Volkswagen]], [[Audi]], and [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]]);<ref name="Gearbox del Prat">{{cite web |url=http://media.seat.com/en/company/380-gearbox-del-prat.html |title=Gearbox del Prat |publisher=Media.seat.com |date=2009-03-23 |access-date=2010-03-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326040151/http://media.seat.com/en/company/380-gearbox-del-prat.html |archive-date=2010-03-26 }}</ref> the latter plant was awarded the Volkswagen Excellence Award in 2009 by the Volkswagen Group for high-quality production process and product.<ref name="Gearbox del Prat"/>