Cupra starts manufacturing the Born in Germany

Cupra is now starting series production of its first all-electric Born model at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau. With the sales launch in November, Cupra will introduce a new sales strategy with the agency model. In addition, customers will have the option of purchasing the Born by subscription.

++ This article has been updated. Kindly continue reading below. ++

The Born was first introduced in 2019 as ‘el-Born’, at that time still as a Seat. Subsequently, the model was moved internally to Cupra and the production version of the Born was then presented this May. The model will roll off the production line in Zwickau alongside the VW ID.3, VW ID.4, Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron. All of them are MEB-based vehicles. According to a Seat press release, daily production output is currently up to 1,400 units, resulting in an annual capacity of approximately 330,000 electric cars.

The Cupra Born features an optional ‘e-Boost’ function that briefly increases power by 20 kW to 170 kW. However, this extra feature will not be available until 2022. The rest of the Cupra Born’s specifications are based on those of the VW ID.3: i.e. 110 or 150 kW rear engine output, plus three battery stages with 45 kWh, 58 kWh or 77 kWh usable energy content. In the case of the Cupra, this should provide a standard range of 340, 420 or 540 kilometres. The 110 kW is available with the small battery, the 77 kWh model is only available with 150 kW. With the 58 kWh battery, customers can choose the engine power.

In Germany, the compact car will start at 37,220 euros there, resulting in a price of 27,650 euros after the environmental bonus. In Spain, the vehicle will launch at 31,600 euros, while the more powerful version (150 kW engine and a battery with 62 kWh ) will start at 36,720 euros.

“From the end of this year, two variants with the ‘e-Boost’ function are expected to be available for order. These vehicles will be available with the 58-kWh battery, but also with the 77-kWh power storage unit. Cupra has not yet announced prices for these two variants, which are to be delivered from February 2022.

The entry-level model – like the ID.3 with a 45 kWh battery and 110 kW engine – should then be available in the second quarter of 2022. How far the base price will drop below the current 37,220 euros for the 58 kWh model is also not yet known. In May, 32,700 euros were mentioned. Even in the upcoming base model, the Born is said to feature front sports bucket seats, 18-inch wheels, keyless go, a lane departure warning system, front and rear parking sensors, and full LED headlights and taillights.

With its sporty focus and features such as 18-inch alloy wheels and sports bucket seats, the Cupra Born is positioned slightly higher than the ID.3. The comparable VW model, the ID.3 Pro Performance, is currently listed at €36,690. Adjusted for equipment, however, the Born is cheaper – the ID.3 Pro Performance, for example, comes with steel rims ex works.

When the Born goes on sale in November, Cupra will introduce a new sales strategy – the agency model familiar from the VW ID.3 and ID.4. In future, customers will order directly from the manufacturer, the dealer will only act as an intermediary (or agent). In addition, the Seat brand has announced its intention to offer the Born on a subscription basis. However, the company does not provide further details. The move does not come as a surprise: Volkswagen had only announced at the beginning of the month that it intended to offer cars on a subscription basis in Germany. The ID.3 and ID.4 models will be the first.

Cupra recently announced its intention to become a fully electric brand by 2030. The Born is to be followed by the Cupra Tavascan in 2024, and then the production version of the UrbanRebel Concept in 2025. According to the Cupra CEO, the small electric car in particular is “one of the strategic pillars of the company” – after all, the e-small car is to be produced together with the series version of the ID. Life will be built in Spain at the Martorell plant. Against this background, Seat announces that it has sent a team of engineers to Zwickau to gain experience for the future production of electric vehicles at the Martorell plant. From 2025, more than 500,000 electric cars per year are to be produced there for various Group brands.

Update 16 December 2021

Cupra has announced the price of the brand’s first all-electric performance hatchback Born in the UK, with first deliveries expected towards the end of Q1 2022. Cupra Born will be available in four battery outputs and three trims. The 58kWh 150 kW model, starting from £33,735, will be the first to be available from retailers and delivered to UK customers, with additional batteries following soon thereafter during 2022.

Update 26 April 2022

Cupra’s first fully electric model Born will soon be on its way to Australia, the brand announced. The Cupra Born will go into production for Australia in the last quarter of this year and will start deliveries early in 2023. Pricing and specification will be confirmed shortly.

insideevs.com, cupramedia.co.uk (update), seat-mediacenter.com (update April 2022)