SEAT obtained the best financial results in its history in 2016. SEAT's profit after tax grew to 903 million euros due to the extraordinary effect of selling the subsidiary VW Finance, S.A. to Volkswagen AG.

"Higher levels of sales, higher mix and cost optimisation lead us to profitability. We as a team are very proud of our 143 million euros operating profit," said SEAT Chairman Luca de Meo. "SEAT has become a solid company that moved clearly from recovery to a consolidation phase."

2017 is looking to be a very special year for the company, when it will complete the biggest product offensive in its history with the sale of the fifth-generation Ibiza, which is going to reach dealers starting this summer, and the launch of the Arona, the brand's new compact crossover, in the second half of the year. Both models, produced in the Martorell factory, will join the Ateca, which was launched in 2016, and the Leon facelift, which has been on sale since last January.

SEAT Vice-President for Finance, IT and Organisation Holger Kintscher underscored that "the 2016 results mark a turning point and reflect the effort put in in recent years. We are back in the black, for both the operating result and profit after tax. We are where we are as a result of everyone's effort."