CUPRA IS READYING a mix of larger vehicles to target North America as it looks to grow its global presence following a record year of sales.
CEO Wayne Griffiths has confirmed that the new cars will ride on the Volkswagen Group’s SSP platform – effectively a fusion of VW’s current MEB and PPE architectures. This means the cars will arrive towards the end of the decade, given that the platform isn’t due until 2028 at the earliest.
They will be electrically powered (Cupra’s last combustion car will be the 2024-bound Terramar SUV) because the Spanish firm “will not be looking to go to America with combustion cars”, said Griffiths.
Cupra’s North American push remains on course for around 2030, confirmed Griffiths, who added that its entry into the market “will be linked to the timetable of Cupra becoming a fully electric brand”. This has already been cited as happening “by 2030”.
Asked why the firm can’t launch there now with the likes of the VW ID 3-based Born, Griffiths said: “You need a car in the US that is fit for the US, and US electric cars are generally bigger, so it will be a next generation of electric cars that would be based on the SSP platform from VW.
“So in terms of technology, there is a timing aspect, and the other aspect is that we have to be able to afford to do it. The investments for making cars ready for America are considerable and I think we need to be stronger first in Europe.”
He added: “Our priority will be to get Cupra up and running first in Europe. The US story is still very early days.”
In the meantime, Cupra has just launched in Australia and New Zealand. A North America push could also open the door to the Chinese market, given that customers in both territories have a similar preference for large cars.
The news comes off the back of a record year for the five-year-old marque, which last year recorded 150,000 deliveries. In its first four years combined, Cupra sold around
