The Supervisory Board has appointed Markus Haupt as the new Chief Executive Officer of Seat and Cupra with immediate effect. Haupt has served as interim CEO since 1 April and will now take on the role permanently.
When Wayne Griffiths unexpectedly left the Seat CEO position in spring, the Supervisory Board of Seat and Cupra appointed Markus Haupt, previously Head of Production, as interim CEO.
This arrangement is now permanent, with Haupt focusing primarily on Cupra’s continued growth. The Seat brand now has a complete portfolio and a growing international following.
“Markus brings over two decades of experience across multiple brands and countries within the Group,” said Thomas Schäfer, Chair of the Seat and Cupra Supervisory Board. “His deep expertise in production, logistics, and strategic planning makes him the ideal leader to drive the company’s electrification strategy and Cupra’s continued growth.”
Having overseen the conversion of Seat and Cupra production facilities to the Volkswagen Group’s urban electric vehicle family, Schäfer added that Haupt “is perfectly positioned to shape the brands’ future.”
Progress in e-mobility
Since joining the Board as a Production and Logistics Board Member in 2022, Haupt has driven significant progress in e-mobility. This includes a €3 billion investment to electrify the Martorell plant and lead the ‘Electric Urban Car Family’ project, which covers four small EVs across three brands (VW, Cupra, Škoda) and two plants.
The Raval, the Cupra part of this family, is scheduled to launch in March 2026. The EV models planned for the other brands are the VW ID.Polo, the crossover ‘Cross’ version of the latter, and the Škoda Epiq.
“My passion for cars began early and has guided my career, from working on prototypes at the Volkswagen Group to now leading Seat and Cupra as CEO,” said Haupt. “I am honored to steer the company through its most significant transformation, including the launch of groundbreaking models like the Cupra Raval and our shift toward electrification.”
He also acknowledged that challenges lie ahead: “There will be challenges ahead, but I’m sure that with a shared vision, a commitment to transformation, and a unified team going in the same direction, we will be successful. We are on the cusp of exciting changes as we transition toward electrification. That’s a future I’ve always believed in, and it’s one that we will work harder than ever to achieve.”
More than 20 years
Over more than 20 years with the Volkswagen Group, Markus Haupt has held leadership positions across multiple brands and countries. After studying in Barcelona, he started his career at Seat in 2001, playing a key role in launching the Audi Q3 at the Martorell plant.
He later led production projects, including the A0 platform in Wolfsburg and the Volkswagen T-Roc launch in Palmela. Privately, Haupt is reported to be an avid motorsport enthusiast.
