Half a century of history makes SEAT one of the youngest car manufactures in the world. But as we're sports driven we're also fast learners, so in that time we've managed to chalk up some impressive figures and carve out a cheeky, yet respected name for ourselves in an ever competitive car industry. Coupled to our unconventional approach is also an intimate and highly cherished relationship to the development and tradition of Spain. Click a link for more on the last 50 years of SEAT. At the start of the 1950s there were few cars on the streets in Spain. On October 26, 1948 the Spanish Government had signed an alliance with Fiat. A year and a half later, on May 9, 1950, the "Sociedad Española de Automoviles de Turismo" (SEAT) was officially founded. The first SEAT ever rolled off the Zona Franca assembly line on November 13, 1953. It was a 1400 model, of which almost 100,000 were to be produced by 1964. Daily production was 5 cars per day, but at the beginning some days they produced 2, others 4. Spain had to wait until 1957 for a real popular car: the little "600". In 1958 there was a waiting list of 100,000 units... the delivery time was around 4 years. Production of the 600 stopped in 1973 after almost 800,000 were produced. Meanwhile other successful models were launched: the 850, in 1966, and in 1968, the 124. This model was known for two milestones in the company's history: The one millionth SEAT produced and the first-ever car advertisement on Spanish television. In 1971 a promotional race formula was created to promote young Spanish drivers. The official SEAT rally cars were painted yellow and black - similar to the colours of the Barcelona taxis - and through their success in motorsport came to be known as the 'Rallying Taxis'. In 1972 a record-breaker was launched: the 127. In the following 12 years it set a production record of over 1.2 million units - this figure was only beaten in 1992 by the Ibiza. From 1973 the energy crisis in the Middle East slowed down sales in most markets. SEAT could not survive alone, and Fiat, to which SEAT had been associated from the beginning, was the natural choice as a partner. However, the Italian Group itself was facing a crisis. In May 1980 FIAT announced their withdrawal from the agreement. SEAT now faced the challenge of a rapidly renovating its model range and creating a new export dealer network. The first step was an immediate change in the Corporate Identity, soon followed by the production of the first 'independent' SEAT: the Ronda. It was also the first model to be sold abroad by the new company. SEAT breathed again and the Ibiza was born - the first model developed by SEAT as an independent brand. And then came Volkswagen... Quality and technology became key words for SEAT cars and its future development. After the success of a 1982 cooperation agreement, SEAT officially became a brand of the Volkswagen Group in June 9, 1986. This was soon followed by another key event, the opening of the Martorell plant on February 22nd, 1993. Later that year the first in a succession of new SEAT models was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show: the Cordoba. The 2-door Cordoba SX and the Inca followed in 1995, when total production reached the 10 million mark. Then came the MPV Alhambra and the Cordoba Vario station wagon. That same year SEAT Sport won the first of three consecutive titles in the 2-litre class of the World Rally Championship. A sporty image is an integral part of SEAT's role within the Volkswagen Group and it's a mantle the company proudly wears. At the end of 1998 the new Toledo brought a new face to the company's cars, which was followed in March 1999 with a new corporate identity. The blue colour gave way to silver and red that better expressed the new brand values: design, quality, technology and sportiness. These new values bore fruit in the same year when the all-new Leon placed SEAT in Europe's best-selling market segment. And other groundbreakers were also ready to hit the road: First came the new Alhambra - SEAT's first 6-cylinder engine, over 200 horsepower and a 5-speed sequential gearbox (tiptronic). Then the Salsa was born. Presented at the Geneva Motor Show as a concept car, it set dreams alight and even the usually indifferent press were enthusiastic to see it hit the road. So at 50 years young and more than 12 million cars built, SEAT is firmly focused on building from its rich history to an ever more successful, SPORTS and DESIGN-filled future.