Spanish carmaker SEAT, which today announced the setting up of a new strategic business unit called SEAT Urban Mobility, revealed its electric scooter concept, its first two-wheeler in its 70-year history.

The new business unit will integrate all the product, service and platform-based mobility solutions and is set to market launch the e-Scooter in 2020. There is also a new e-Kickscooter concept, which  will complement the portfolio that began with the SEAT EXS in 2018. The range of products is designed for final customers (ownership) as well as fleets and sharing services (per use basis).

SEAT president Luca de Meo underlined that “this strategic business unit will enable us to focus our efforts on the user’s new mobility needs. SEAT is the micromobility centre of competence for the Volkswagen Group, and that means developing purpose designed products for all the Group’s brands, not only for SEAT. In addition, we will also deliver services and solutions for private customers and for fleets.”

The final version of the fully electric e-Scooter concept will ultimately be commercialised in 2020, and it will be available to both private users and shared services fleets. SEAT has a collaboration agreement with the Barcelona-based scooter maker Silence, which would be build them in its facilities in Molins de Rei, located halfway between Barcelona and Martorell.

The new Head of Urban Mobility at SEAT, Lucas Casasnovas, stated that “we aim to become an ally for cities and the SEAT e-Scooter concept is the answer to public demand for a more agile mobility. Our collaboration with Silence is an example of how cooperation between partners enables us to be more efficient.”

The e-Scooter concept is equipped with a 7 kW motor with a peak rate of 11 kW (14.8 hp), equivalent to 125cc, which delivers instant engine torque of 240 Nm. The scooter reaches a top speed of 100 km/h, enough to accelerate to 50 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Furthermore, its driving range on a single charge amounts to 115 kilometres, according to WMTC test results.

The battery can be removed and easily charged at home or public charging stations at an estimated cost to all customers of only 0.70 euros (Rs 55) for every 100 kilometres. In addition, the e-Scooter concept has enough storage space for two helmets beneath the seat, it is connected, and users can track its battery charge level or location via a mobile app.

A move into two-wheelers could change SEAT’s brand, moving it closer to territory occupied by BMW, Honda and Suzuki as makers of both two- and four-wheeled transport.