Seat fuels British Gas push for greener driving

The first of 500 new, ultra-green SEAT Leon Ecomotives ordered by UK energy giant British Gas have been handed over.

The handover ceremony, which took place at SEAT’s modern factory and headquarters in Martorell, near Barcelona, marks the completion of the Spanish brand’s largest ever green car deal, as well as the largest single fleet deal yet for SEAT UK.

Senior representatives from SEAT S. A. and SEAT UK including Director of Export Markets Jochen Funk and Martorell factory Manager Juan Ramón Rodríguez welcomed the visitors from British Gas who included General Fleet Manager Colin Marriott.

The record-breaking deal was brokered by SEAT UK’s Fleet and Business Sales team led by Head of Fleet and Business Sales Nick Andrews, and saw the ultra-green Leon come out tops in a tender process that initially involved more than 50 models.

British Gas is the UK’s largest domestic energy supplier with more than 20 million energy and central heating services customers.

Over the next few weeks hundreds of British Gas drivers will be getting the keys to their new, second generation Leon Ecomotives – becoming in the process the first people in the country to take to the road in the new model.

This improved version of SEAT’s already impressive Leon Ecomotive brings with it both enhanced economy and further reduced CO2 emissions.  At only 99 g/km in official tests, the new model is a full 20 g/km better than its predecessor thanks to the addition of Auto Start/Stop and energy recovery functions, allied to the engineering advances provided by a new 1.6-litre common rail diesel engine.  Also integral to that exceptional economy is the Spanish brand’s use of revised gearbox ratios and recommended gear indicator.

SEAT UK Head of Fleet and Business Sales, Nick Andrews, said: ‘The handover of the very first right-hand drive new generation Leon Ecomotives to British Gas is a significant moment for us.

‘The delivery of these exciting new cars marks the culmination of months of hard work by the entire SEAT fleet and business team, not to mention the efforts of our colleagues from SEAT S. A. who helped us to meet the necessary production and handover schedule.

‘This historic deal very clearly demonstrates our determination to become a fleet manufacturer of choice.’