Covering 5,000 m², the plant recovers parts and components from vehicles to give them a second life, reducing the use of raw materials and minimising the company’s environmental impact

• The institutional inauguration was attended by André Kleb, Chief Production Officer (CPO) for the Iberian Peninsula at the Volkswagen Group’s Brand Group Core, and representatives from national, regional and local authorities
• The SEAT & CUPRA car dismantling plant project has received funding from the Circular Economy PERTE programme, reflecting a joint effort to support decarbonisation and reduce raw material use in the automotive industry
• This facility also strengthens Barcelona’s role as a hub for technological innovation and sustainable urban mobility

SEAT & CUPRA inaugurated its new Circular Economy Hub in the Zona Franca with an institutional visit that reaffirms the company’s commitment to sustainability and to the city of Barcelona. The event was attended by André Kleb, Chief Production Officer (CPO) for the Iberian Peninsula at the Volkswagen Group’s Brand Group Core, who welcomed Hugo Morán, Spanish State Secretary for the Environment; Jordi García Brustenga, Spanish State Secretary for the Industry; Pol Gibert, Secretary General for Business and Labour for the Generalitat de Catalunya; Pere Navarro, special State Delegate to the Barcelona Zona Franca Consortium; and Alejandro Dorado, Circular Economy Spanish Commissioner.

“This Circular Economy Hub is a clear example of how innovation, industry and sustainability can and must go hand in hand, generating economic, social and environmental value. It also demonstrates the commitment of SEAT & CUPRA to transforming the industry from Barcelona, with a long-term vision. All of this is made possible thanks to the dedication of our teams and our collaboration with partners and institutions, whom we thank for their support as we work towards building a more sustainable future”

André Kleb, Chief Production Officer (CPO) for the Iberian Peninsula at the Volkswagen Group’s Brand Group Core

Created by adapting the historic SEAT & CUPRA Workshop 7 in Barcelona’s Zona Franca, the Circular Economy Hub operations started in December 2025. The total area of the workshop is 5.000 m², with an internal dismantling area and warehouse of 3.000 m² and an external car handling space.

At a first stage, this plant focuses on the dismantling and recovery of parts and components from SEAT and CUPRA cars prior to mass production. Vehicles first undergo a drainage and decontamination process, after which reusable parts and components are dismantled, packaged and stored for commercialisation. Waste materials are managed in a dedicated area within the facility.

The SEAT & CUPRA vehicle dismantling plant project has received funding from the Circular Economy PERTE programme, promoted by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, as part of a joint effort to address decarbonisation and reduce the use of raw materials in the automotive industry. SEAT & CUPRA’s Circular Economy Hub further reflects the company’s commitment to Barcelona’s economic and industrial development. Following the agreement signed in 2024 between the company and Barcelona City Council to foster innovation and advance circular economy initiatives, the inauguration of this new facility strengthens Barcelona’s position as a centre for technological innovation while actively supporting the transition towards more sustainable urban mobility.

The Circular Economy Hub of SEAT & CUPRA is a beneficiary of the 2024 grant programme for promoting the circular economy in businesses, issued by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The opinions and content expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the entities financially supporting the project.