SEAT has been tasked with designing a range of small, cheap electric cars on behalf of parent company Volkswagen Group, the Spanish firm has confirmed. Set to go on sale in 2023, the entry-level range will be based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, which will underpin the forthcoming ID. hatchback and several other electric cars.

Prices should start from under £17,000, with the cars measuring around four metres in length; similar to the current Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza superminis. “SEAT is a crucial building block for the future of the Volkswagen Group,” said group CEO Dr Herbert Diess. “It is a successful and important player again, based on close cooperation and synergies as well as joint technology and product development.

“The small electric platform is a great illustration of this. It enables us to realise the first electric vehicle that is especially designed for urban journeys available for less than €20,000.”

No performance targets have been revealed at this stage, although it’s feasible that the cars’ batteries will be relatively small in order to keep costs down. A range of around 120 miles is possible, making the line-up suitable for urban environments as opposed to longer-distance travel.