Interim CEO Markus Haupt continues to lead Seat and Cupra
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 made permanent, with Haupt focusing primarily on the further growth of Cupra. 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, he is “perfectly positioned to shape the brands’ future.”
Since joining as Board Member for Production and Logistics in 2022, Haupt has driven significant progress in e-mobility. This includes a €3 billion investment in electrifying the Martorell plant and leading the “Electric Urban Car family” project, which covers four small EVs across three brands and two plants. The Cupra Raval, part of this family, is scheduled to launch in March 2026.
“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 honoured 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 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 towards electrification. That’s a future I’ve always believed in, and it’s one that we will work harder than ever to achieve.”
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 such as the A0 platform in Wolfsburg and the Volkswagen T-Roc launch in Palmela. Privately, Haupt is reported to be an avid motorsport enthusiast.
This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.
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