Markus Haupt confirmed as CEO of Seat: Focus on electromobility and Cupra

VW Group Markus Haupt Remains Permanent CEO of Seat And Cupra

2025-10-14 From Andreas Grimm | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

The appointment had been hinted at since the IAA Mobility: Interim CEO Markus Haupt will retain responsibility for the Spanish brands. The subsidiary is facing critical steps.

Markus is the new Chairman of the Board (CEO) of the Spanish car manufacturer Seat S.A.(Image: Seat/Jordi Play) — Markus is the new Chairman of the Board (CEO) of the Spanish car manufacturer Seat S.A.
(Image: Seat/Jordi Play)

After half a year as interim CEO, Markus Haupt is now officially the Chairman of the Board of the Spanish manufacturer Seat and thus in charge of the Seat and Cupra brands. Haupt had been steering the automaker since April 1, after his predecessor Wayne Griffiths unexpectedly resigned shortly after presenting positive figures. Haupt now assumes his role "permanently with the full support of the Board," according to a company statement.

At the IAA Mobility in Munich in September 2025, Markus Haupt represented the Cupra brand (Seat was not present as a brand) and passionately introduced the Tindaya concept and the Cupra Raval. Haupt has strong ties to Spain and Seat S.A.: he studied in Barcelona and began his career in the Volkswagen Group at Seat in 2001. He held various positions in Spain for the Group, including President of Volkswagen Navarra and Managing Director of the Pamplona plant.

Focus on Brand Development for Cupra

In 2022, he returned to Seat as Board Member for Production and Logistics and initiated groundbreaking projects. Under his leadership, the forward-looking "Electric Urban Car Family" project was developed, which includes the joint production of the Cupra Raval, Skoda Epiq, and VW ID 2. This initiative aims to become a key component in making electromobility accessible to a broader audience across the Group's brands. The Cupra Raval is set to be launched in March 2026. Most recently, he oversaw the conversion of Spanish production facilities for these products.

As with his predecessor Wayne Griffiths, Haupt's primary focus will also be on further building the Cupra brand to maintain momentum in sales growth: Between January and August 2025, Cupra delivered 216,000 vehicles, achieving a 36 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year. "We are facing exciting changes in the transition to electrification—a future I firmly believe in and one we will work harder than ever to achieve," says Haupt.

Seat Faces Important Model Premieres

"Markus brings more than two decades of experience with various brands and in different markets within the Group," explained Thomas Schäfer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Seat and Cupra, regarding the personnel decision. In addition to the Cupra brand, Haupt is tasked with advancing the core brand Seat. In this respect, he takes on brand leadership at a crucial moment. The best-selling models Seat Ibiza and Seat Arona are being completely revamped—the world premieres of the new generations are imminent.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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