Porsche Holding to Handle SEAT Imports in Ukraine

VIENNA – Porsche Holding, the Austrian import and retail company owned 100 % by Volkswagen, has taken control of SEAT car distribution in Ukraine.

Porsche Holding’s local subsidiary, Porsche Ukraina, already acts as importer of VW and Audi vehicles in that country.

The move to add SEAT, made earlier this month, is a part of a strategy to establish or improve the presence of VW’s Spanish subsidiary in new markets.

An independent importer previously was responsible for SEAT’s Ukrainian distribution, but the numbers were low.

Only 281 SEAT cars were sold in Ukraine this year through October, down 64.1 % from like-2011. That put the brand in 39^th place in Ukraine’s market statistics and its market share at a meager 0.16%.

Currently, the SEAT Ibiza and Altea cars are sold in the Ukraine.

“We will launch sales of the new Leon and Toledo models in the (middle) of next year,” Darya Shtimenko, head of Porsche Ukraina’s SEAT division, says in a statement.

The new importer has to expand the dealer network, as there are currently only seven SEAT dealers in the whole country. Out of the total of Ukraine’s 25 regions, SEAT is only present in six regions.

The plan is to sell about 1,500 cars in the market in 2013, with a longer range target of controlling 3% of the market in three to five years.

Porsche Ukraina sold 11,819 VW cars and 1,989 Audis this year through October. It also delivered 1,792 VW light-commercial vehicles.

Ukraine’s total new-car sales reached 180,094 units in January-October, up 2.9 % from like-2011.