SEAT Hosts Visit from Minister Cristina Garmendia

MARTORELL, SPAIN – June 2, 2009: SEAT’s Martorell facilities were this morning the venue for a visit by Cristina Garmendia, Spanish Minister for Science and Innovation. The visit was a fact-finding mission to glean information concerning the current status of projects which the Spanish car manufacturer is implementing within the CENIT programme. The programme, promoted by the Spanish government, aims to encourage public-private collaboration in the field of Research & Development and innovation (R&D+i)

The Minister began her visit at the Prototype Development Centre, a state-of-the-art facility which has meant a quantum leap in vehicle manufacture since it brings together under a single roof the activities of design and development, as well as those of feasibility, productivity and production process analysis.

During the visit, reports were provided about the current status of the ‘Forma O’ project headed by SEAT, involving 13 supplier companies as well as 6 centres of technology and Universities. This ambitious initiative aims to bring out innovative techniques for the shaping of car sheet steel as well as testing new materials for the manufacture of dies.

Later, in the company of Frank Bekemeier, SEAT’s Vice-president for R&D, the Minister did the rounds of the Technical Centre’s facilities, where she was provided with detailed information concerning other projects in which SEAT takes part such as ‘MARTA’ - involving research into vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications - as well as ‘ADAPTA’ concerning research in the field of adaptative security.

Cristina Garmendia showed particular interest in the status of the ‘VERDE’ pre-project, which concerns the electric vehicle. She saw for herself the advances being made by getting into the SEAT León Twin Drive – a hybrid concept on which the Spanish brand is working towards the electric car.

Once there, the Minister visited the facilities and was briefed about the new models currently being prepared by SEAT. During her visit she also saw the one hundred or so highly-qualified engineers, designer and model-makers from all over the world totally immersed in the work they carry out in this innovative complex.