We’re nonetheless years away from Volkswagen’s preliminary plans to deliver Spain’s Cupra to the U.S. by the top of the 2020s, but it surely’s already being delayed. In an announcement, the automaker mentioned it has “strategically determined to postpone” its U.S. entrance till effectively after 2030. Cupra pointed the finger at “ongoing challengers inside the automotive business and in gentle of evolving market dynamics.” It seems like Cupra is admitting that it is aware of gross sales had been by no means going to be big within the U.S., and President Trump’s tariffs on imported autos have made promoting Europe-built automobiles within the States much more of a precarious plan.
Initially, we reported that Curpa’s plan was to deliver the electrical Formentor crossover to the U.S., together with a bigger electrical SUV. We had hoped that it could deliver over a few of its very neat electrical hatchbacks, however there was little or no likelihood of that truly occurring. Ultimately, Cupra would theoretically promote a combination of EVs, hybrids, PHEVs and gas-powered autos within the U.S.
It is essential to notice that the plan to deliver Cupra right here is not fully off the desk. An government on the firm mentioned in a assertion that it wasn’t stopping its plans — simply “suspending” them. He added that the Spanish automaker will “proceed to observe market developments within the coming years to find out the perfect timing and method, aligned with the model’s long-term imaginative and prescient.”
Not so supa Cupra
To promote its automobiles within the States, Cupra teamed up with Penske Automotive. Cupra and Seat CEO Wayne Griffiths mentioned Penske’s “management within the business and expertise with the Volkswagen Group make this a really promising potential partnership.” The automobiles can be offered via one thing referred to as a “Cupra Metropolis Storage” that may service the coasts and Solar Belt states.
Seat and Cupra have had a combined begin to 2025. Cupra’s gross sales had been up 33.4% to 167,000 models between January and June of this 12 months, however on the identical time, Seat’s gross sales had been down 21.4% to 135,000 autos. Meaning its gross sales income fell by 2%, which is not nice. Nevertheless, it is a welcome quantity when you think about the group’s working revenue cratered by 90.6% to 38 million euros.
I am not completely positive what the long run holds for Cupra within the U.S. Positive, its automobiles are neat, however I am unsure they’re going to be ok or fascinating sufficient to win over American consumers who’ve by no means heard of the model of their total lives. I suppose time will inform, however we will should be affected person.
h/t: Motor1.
