Ford Fiesta to be AXED after 47 years on the market

The Ford Fiesta has been a staple of British roads since its launch in the late 70s, as well as 9 consecutive years as the UK’s bestselling car! Production of the Ford Fiesta at its factory in Cologne, Germany, will stop at the end of June, bringing to an end 47 years and eight generations of this brilliant little car. The American giant also confirmed that production of Ford S-Max and Ford Galaxy will come to an end in April.

The Fiesta is known for its amazing affordability, fuel efficiency, and fun-to-drive nature. It has also been available in a variety of body styles over the years, including a saloon, hatchback, and even a convertible! 

Why is the Fiesta getting discontinued?

There are a few reasons for this decision, the first being that Ford is currently focusing its efforts on electrification. The company has invested $11 billion (just over £9.5 billion) into electric vehicles in 2022 and is expecting them to make up 40% of its global sales by 2030.

Ford’s statement reads: “At Ford in Europe, we are accelerating our efforts to go all-in on electrification with our passenger vehicles being fully electric by 2030… We will introduce three new exciting electric passenger vehicles and four new electric commercial vehicles in Europe by 2024.”

The announcement comes as the old favourite supermini has struggled in British sales in recent years, with buyers switching over to rivals Vauxhall Corsa – the UK’s best-selling car in 2021 – or the Ford Puma crossover.

What is replacing it?

It is expected to be replaced by an electric crossover – one of four new EVs Ford has promised by 2024 and will sit between the Puma EV and the existing Ford Mustang Mach-E.

This model may be based on the Volkswagen ID 4 and be built at Ford’s new state-of-the-art EV manufacturing centre in Cologne, Germany. A similar model, expected to be based on the Volkswagen ID 5, will follow the year after.

Ford of Europe boss Stuart Rowley said in March: “Let me assure you these products will absolutely look like Fords, drive like Fords and the experiences that we provide will give customers unique purchase and ownership experiences.”

What does this mean for customers?

Firstly, it means that the Ford Fiesta will no longer be produced after 2023. If you’re currently in the market for a Fiesta, you’ll need to act fast and get in there while there is still plenty of used models out there. 

Secondly, it means that Ford will be focusing their efforts on electric vehicles going forward. So if you’re looking for an affordable and fuel-efficient Ford model, an EV may be your best bet.