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Seat's future remains undecided, according to brand chief Markus Haupt, who says a phase-out is one scenario on the table but not the only one. Speaking at the Paris motor show, the Seat and Cupra CEO pointed to continued investment, including new mild-hybrid engines for the Ibiza and Arona next year, as proof the Spanish brand still has a role.

His comments come as parent Volkswagen Group restructures, with documents seen by Autocar suggesting the Seat brand could be axed by 2029.

Haupt acknowledged the reports that emerged from the VW Group restructure but pushed back on the idea that the outcome is settled. "There is not only one way" for Seat, he said, adding that "we have different scenarios on the table, and yes, there is a scenario where a phase-out of Seat could be reality".

Even in that scenario, he moved to reassure owners: customers "can be relaxed", because the brand would still provide 15 years of service for its vehicles. "So there is no real panic about any decision, totally the opposite".

Why Seat's future is under scrutiny

The brand has been the subject of speculation for some time, largely because of the rise of its higher-margin sibling Cupra. Seat's current line-up has narrowed to just two models, the ageing Ibiza and Arona.

The wider context is a major Volkswagen Group restructure that could cut half of the group's model variants, and Autocar has seen documents indicating the Seat brand will be axed by 2029.

Investment continues for now

Haupt argued the brand is performing, not fading. "The Seat Ibiza is our best-selling car in Spain, and the Seat brand has grown share in some markets, so the brand is strong".

He also cited product plans as evidence of commitment: "Next year, we'll launch mild-hybrid engines for Ibiza and Arona, and that is proof we believe in this brand, because we need this brand. Seat is part of our strategy, and we keep investing in Seat".

Regulation will decide the timeline

Asked what would determine Seat's fate, Haupt said there is no fixed date for a decision. CO2 rules already play a big role, he said, but "starting in 2030 it will be even harder".

He flagged flexibility in the rules as a factor that "could directly impact our decision-making", alongside the geopolitical environment, the customer experience and the speed of electrification. "We are working with the scenarios, and I think any date will be determined by regulation and customer behaviour".

The practical upshot for buyers is that a Seat purchased in the next few years would be supported for a long time even in the worst-case scenario, since Haupt has committed to 15 years of service provision. The open question is whether regulators give VW the flexibility to keep a budget brand alive alongside Cupra, or whether the group's variant cull makes two brands in that space redundant.

Jeep will bring back the Renegade in Europe, with a next generation of its smallest SUV due by the end of the decade. The announcement came at the Paris Motor Show as part of a plan to grow to as many as six models in Europe by 2030, covering the B-, C- and D-SUV segments and reaching about 90 percent of the continent's SUV market.

Jeep has not said when the new Renegade will debut, which powertrains it will offer or what it will cost. What the brand has confirmed is a multi-energy approach and a 4x4 version for every model in the European range.

A second life for a 2 million-unit seller

The original Renegade launched in 2014 and has since sold more than 610,000 units in Europe alone, with worldwide sales above two million. It also served as the entry point that brought buyers to the brand who might never have considered a Jeep otherwise, trading some Wrangler capability for a smaller footprint and a lower price.

Purists have long argued that a small crossover related to the Fiat 500X is not a real Jeep, but the sales record made the case for a successor. Jeep clearly agrees, because the nameplate is now central to its European plan despite the crowded small SUV segment it is re-entering.

STLA One platform and multi-energy powertrains likely

Jeep has not confirmed the technical basis of the next Renegade, but it is expected to ride on Stellantis' STLA One platform, a modular architecture built to support a wide range of body styles and propulsion types. That flexibility would let Jeep offer the small SUV with different levels of electrification while sharing components across brands to contain development costs.

The brand's European roadmap emphasises powertrain choice rather than a single technology, so gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric variants are all possibilities. Jeep has committed to none of them publicly yet.

The 4x4 pledge could be the differentiator. Rivals increasingly push front-wheel-drive configurations in smaller SUVs, while Jeep plans a four-wheel-drive version of every model it sells in Europe.

Where the Renegade fits in the six-model plan

The Avenger already anchors the B-SUV segment with nearly 300,000 sales since launch, and the latest Compass covers the C-SUV space. At the top, the all-electric Recon will lead Jeep's return to the D-SUV segment, with a further new model due in 2028.

The renewed Renegade slots into that structure as the brand's smallest offering, and Jeep says every model in the range will be available with 4x4. Beyond 2030, the brand is studying new models inspired by its heritage, including the original Willys.

No American comeback confirmed

Jeep dropped the Renegade from the United States lineup after the 2023 model year, citing declining sales and a shift toward larger segments. The announcement makes no mention of bringing the next generation to North America, so for now the revival is a European project.

Pricing for the new Renegade has not been announced. Jeep has also not given a debut date beyond the by-2030 window, so buyers will have to wait for the brand's next round of reveals for specifics.