SEAT:CODE to be SEAT’s Software hub in Barcelona

In order to adapt to a context that is marked by change and to successfully tackle the company’s digital transformation, at the 2019 Mobile World Congress SEAT announced the creation of a software development centre. The brand has now revealed that the new laboratory will be called SEAT:CODE (Centre of Digital Excellence).

SEAT:CODE will work to boost two major dimensions within SEAT and the Volkswagen Group. On one hand, it seeks to continue to further the company's digital transformation and increase efficiency through process digitalisation. On the other, it aims to strengthen new business models centred on new concepts of vehicle mobility, connectivity and digitalisation with special emphasis on SEAT.

SEAT President Luca de Meo stated, “If we want to transform from a car producer into a mobility company and we want to engage in the so called industry 4.0, we have to make of software a core competence. The new SEAT:CODE will give a boost to this new scenario where we must be resolute and add value for our customers.The new centre will be located in Barcelona, fulfilling our dream of making the city one of the global hotspots of digitalisation.”

The company also announced the creation of its new IT structure, led by Sebastian Grams as SEAT's new CIO. Furthermore, Carlos Buenosvinos will be the CTO of the newly created centre. In this sense, the team at the Metropolis:Lab will be integrated in the new centre to continue developing innovative solutions for better mobility and to harness synergies with the team at the software development centre.

SEAT CIO Sebastian Grams emphasised, “The SEAT:CODE confirms the company's commitment to becoming a benchmark of vehicle digitalisation and of developing new mobility solutions. Moreover, this new centre will enable us to enhance synergies within the company with other teams, such as XMOBA, which are dedicated to developing and implementing new mobility concepts.”

Dr. Sebastian Grams, 39, has two degrees in Industrial Engineering and a PhD from the University of Karlsruhe. He has developed his career in the Volkswagen Group working at Audi, where he held various positions of responsibility in areas related with information technology and technical development. Since January 2019 he has also been a part of the Metropolis:Lab management team.

Furthermore, Carlos Buenosvinos, 36, has a degree in Advanced IT Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and has spent his career working in the tech sector. Until last April, he was the Vice-president for Technology at XING, Germany's professional social media, a position he held for three years. He previously held several positions of responsibility in the tech field; among others, he was the CTO of Atrápalo and Emagister.

The new SEAT:CODE will be led by CTO Carlos Buenosvinos, who will manage a team made up of more than 100 software development specialists. In this sense, the selection process to identify these new digital profiles is still active, with the aim of putting together a team that can make the SEAT:CODE a world benchmark centre of software development applied to the mobility sector.