Opel overtaken – Cupra’s conquesting continues

Glenn Brooks

Mon, Apr 14, 2025, 11:28 AM 6 min read

Can Cupra do no wrong? SEAT S.A.’s profits powerhouse is selling so many cars that it even rose to position six in Europe’s largest national market during March. Which means it was not only ahead of Ford but Opel too, data from Germany’s KBA show.

Audi remained safe in fifth in its home country, a long way ahead (17,608 versus 9,617) but Opel was down by 26.1% to 9,581 and Ford by 17.5% to 8,752 compared to March 2024. And all these brands have several new models. Cupra’s year-on-year gain is a remarkable 128.5%.

Things are in fact even sunnier than what the national registrations number-crunching organisation notes. As BestSellingCarsBlog recently pointed out, the KBA includes Cupra León sales within its number for the SEAT brand. Why? Because each has a model of that name. The recent climb to sixth place is Cupra’s best ranking yet, and follows an advance to position ten in both January and February.

EVs bounce back in Germany (though not Tesla)

Germans have always been quite keen on both SEAT and Cupra cars, while a few pieces of good fortune and planning have really helped things along. EVs are suddenly back in favour, the Born rising by 41.1% to 1,753 sales in March. But it’s the Formentor (4,417), taking fifth place overall, and a new model, the Terramar (2,347), which are mostly to thank for the brand’s stellar month. Imagine that both the VW Polo (2,335) and Mercedes C-Class (2,216) were outsold by this SUV.

The UK is another strong market for Cupra, March deliveries (6,182) rising by 55% and Mini beaten (6,086) though not year-to-date (13,049 compared to 10,032). Market share is now 1.7% and the brand has claimed 20th position versus 22nd in March 2024. Not even Dacia (9,261) or BYD (9,271) could keep up in Q1.

Same MQB Evo platform and factory as Audi Q3

Manufactured by Audi Hungaria on the same production line as its near-twin, the equally new Audi Q3, the Terramar is also off to a strong sales start in most other European markets. Series production of right-hand drive cars lagged build for LHD countries by several months but the ramp-up is now well and truly underway.

Just like the Q3, the Terramar offers several turbocharged four-cylinder engine choices. Similarly, there is no EV option. Buyers who prefer an electric model may instead select either the Born hatchback or the Tavascan, a coupe-SUV.

Ever more Cupra models

Cupras straddle the B/C/D segments, being between 4.2 and 4.6 metres long (4,519 mm for the Terramar), the brand clearly having settled on this as its sweet spot. A larger SUV will likely come by decade-end though, especially if US market entry goes ahead.