The Ford Fiesta could stop being produced in 2023. The popular utility vehicle, launched on the market in 1976, has been one of the most successful cars on the European market for decades; however, its eighth generation has been completely overshadowed by the success of the Puma SUV. In the first half of 2022, its sales have fallen by 44%, ranking tenth in its category (segment B).
According to a recent report, the production of the Fiesta in Cologne (Germany) will be interrupted in the short term to make way for two electric crossovers based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB modular platform. One of them will derive from the Volkswagen ID.4 and will be intended to indirectly replace the Focus, which will cease to be manufactured in Saarlouis (Germany) in 2025.
The second will be a sports crossover related to the Volkswagen ID.5. Conceived as a kind of scale version of the Mustang Mach-E, it could return to the mythical name Capri. These models will launch in 2023 and 2024 respectively. The Fiesta for its part does not seem to have any electric heir.
The reasons for this decision could be several, from the low profitability of small cars to the still high development and production costs of electric models. However, it is confirmed that in 2024 the oval firm will launch an electric version of the Puma, which will become the company’s access electric car.
The Ford Fiesta will say goodbye after 47 years of sale
Although we must not rule out that the “Forfi” ends up returning in a few years, at the moment its replacement is not a priority for Ford, which aspires to become a 100% electric brand in Europe from the year 2030. Everything indicates that the final decision will be announced very soon.
“We are accelerating our efforts to bet on electrification and therefore review our vehicle portfolio in line with our business strategy. We do not comment on speculation and will share more information in the coming months . “
Since the Fiesta uses the same B2E platform as the Puma and Courier, its electrification would be viable from a technical point of view, since both the SUV and the van will have 100% electric versions. Another possibility would be to bet on a joint development with Volkswagen, which has a specific electrical platform for the B segment ( MEB Small ), which will be used in the replacements for the SEAT Ibiza (CUPRA Raval) and the Volkswagen Polo (Volkswagen ID.2). ). However, it doesn’t look like any of these options are going to materialize any time soon, so we’ll have to say goodbye to the Ford Fiesta until further notice.
