PXL press begins operation at SEAT Martorell, boosting EV production

SEAT has launched the PXL press at its Martorell plant, capable of stamping 4 million parts a year for models like CUPRA Raval and Volkswagen ID. Polo, marking a step in electrification.

In Martorell, Spain, a new chapter has begun for SEAT S.A., as the company launches its PXL press line—one of the most advanced in the world. After forty months of design and construction, the installation is now operational, shaping body parts for current models and preparing for the production of components for the electric CUPRA Raval and Volkswagen ID. Polo.

This facility marks a decisive step in SEAT’s transition to electric mobility. With a force of 81,000 kN and up to fifteen strokes per minute, the PXL line can stamp four million parts per year. Full automation allows die changes in just five minutes, dramatically increasing production flexibility.

The project represents both an engineering and organizational milestone. The press rests on a nine-meter-deep pit and twenty-meter foundations, capable of absorbing the pressure equivalent to a seven-story building. Construction took more than three years and required close coordination between engineering, IT, logistics, and maintenance teams.

The new system is tightly connected to the factory’s digital transformation. Each stamping cycle generates thousands of data points, feeding a network that will later enable predictive maintenance and process optimization. Together with other ongoing projects—such as the €300 million battery-assembly facility and a 600-meter conveyor bridge—the press forms the backbone of an integrated electric-vehicle manufacturing hub.

For the workforce, the PXL has been both a challenge and an opportunity. Extensive training programs prepared employees for digital operations, and management highlights a shift in mindset toward the electric era. The factory now stands as a tangible symbol of that change.

In the coming years, Martorell is set to become a cornerstone of Volkswagen Group’s urban EV production. Series manufacturing of the CUPRA Raval is scheduled for 2026, followed by the Volkswagen ID. Polo.