The Cupra Tavascan is to be produced in China and exported to European markets, including the UK, starting in 2024.
The new SUV-coupé, unveiled in near-production-ready guise at a Cupra brand presentation in June, is planned to become the firm's second dedicated electric car, following the Cupra Born hatchback launched in 2020.
The sister model to the Volkswagen ID 5 and Skoda Enyaq iV is also set to be the first electric model from Cupra's parent company, the Volkswagen Group, to be produced in China for export to other markets.
Details remain scarce ahead of official confirmation of the move, but sources have revealed to Autocar that the Tavascan will hail from the Volkswagen Group’s new factory operated by a joint venture with Chinese car maker JAC in Anhui, China.
Presently in the final stages of construction, the new Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company site is planned to begin pilot production of the new Cupra EV in the second half of 2023, with exports to Europe set to begin by mid-2024.
The new factory, in which the Volkswagen Group holds a 75% stake, is expected to become an important production hub for MEB-based EVs following investments estimated at over €3 billion (£2.5bn) since the Volkswagen Group and JAC joined forces in 2020.
Along with the joint production activities, the Volkswagen Group and JAC have established an R&D centre for MEB-based models on the site of their Anhui factory.
This is claimed to be involved in the development of the MEB-Small, an entry-level version of the Volkswagen Group’s EV platform earmarked to underpin a range of models from the Cupra, Skoda and Volkswagen brands.
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@scrap. Exactly.
The Cupra Tavascan is to be produced in China and exported to European markets.
Fat lot of use being a member of the EU has done for the Cupra workers in Spain and Czech Republic. But there's another elephant in the room - these 'Green' planet savers from a EU manufacturer, are going to be shipped half way around the world to get here.
You couldn't make up stuff like this.
So you missed the bit about the €7billion investment in Cupra in Spain? Which, reported elsewhere, is the major part of a €10billion investment by VW in Spain for EV car and battery manufacture with a new battery plant being built near Valencia, employing 3000, which is the third of six battery plants being built by VW in Europe (with a Czech plant expected to be announced by the end of the year). Seat has also received €877million from the EU Pandemic Recovery Fund so, I am fairly sure, for Spanish Cupra workers at least, being a member of the EU is indeed a fat load of use.
As for shipping you understand, yes, that this is a global market? The wherever they ar ebuilt the cars will be shipped around the world. It doesn't get smaller just because they are built on your doorstep.
But, hey, at least the UK has Britishvolt. SMH.
This is how large scale European car manufacturing dies. Once the suppliers all refocus on East Asia it won't be viable anymore. Tariffs are needed but seemingly won't happen.
Of course the industry will die in the UK first thanks to Brexit stupidity. As more factories close everyone apart from the niche / luxury players will find it harder and harder to compete.
Nice, get Brexit in, it's only been 6 years. The european manufacturers would have closed the UK plants first either way, so Brexit makes half of no difference here.
And the good thing is we can choose to buy whichever is the best car from where we choose rather than being subject to the EU's tariff of choice.
Except that, from 1st January 2024 cars for sale in the UK are likely to become at least 10% more expensive due to rules of origin and will remain that way unless, or until, more stuff starts to get made here. Batteries, for example. LOL. Though I am interested in learnig from you how we exercise the choice you mention above. From which extra-EU trade agreement? The one with Japan where we are at the mercy of quota surplus? Or the one with...umm, no.