Pulman Group’s Sunderland Seat dealership has made the Catalonian brand’s one millionth UK car sale – 36 years after it first entered the market.

The millionth car, a SEAT Leon e-HYBRID plug-in hybrid (PHEV), was sold by the Cupra, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen franchisee to a private customer and the moment was hailed as “a tremendous milestone” by Seat UK managing director Richard Harrison.

“The UK is one of SEAT’s largest and most significant international markets,” he said.

“This is a tremendous milestone and comes at a time when Seat offers its most diverse range of vehicles yet.

“Our SUV family – Arona, Ateca and Tarraco – have sold extremely well within the UK, while legacy models – Ibiza and Leon – continue their longstanding popularity.”

Harrison added: “It’s fitting that the one millionth car is a Leon e-HYBRID as it symbolises Seat’s journey towards electrified powertrains.

“With a range of petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, and six models to choose from, all our UK customers can easily find a Seat to suit their needs.”

The UK is Seat’s third largest market, after Spain and Germany.

The first models it brought to the market – back in 1985 – were the first-generation Ibiza and the Malaga saloon, which achieved combined first-year sales total of 405.

The Volkswagen Group-owned brand’s record year in the UK came in 2019, when its registrations totalled 68,800 vehicles.

Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) data for the year-to-date to the end of October show that registrations have already passed 40,000 this year, which the brand said was “close to surpassing the full-year 2020 COVID-effected figures”.

Seat currently offers PHEV versions of the Leon and Tarraco SUV, CUPRA Leon and Formentor, as well as the all-electric Born.

The introduction of the CUPRA brand in 2019 and the MÓ eco-mobility brand in 2021 has further quickened the pace at which the Seat brand has increased sales and electrified its line-up.