Ford Fiesta to stop production already in 2023

It seems that the time is approaching say goodbye to the Ford Fiesta. According to Autocar, production of this model will be stopped in Cologne, Germany, by the end of June 2023one year ahead of schedule.

The news was confirmed by the top management of the American brand. Therefore, next year will end the long career of the Fiesta, which began in 1976. The manufacturer also added that in April 2023 it will stop production of the S-Max and Galaxy models in Valencia, Spain. But why would the automaker make the decision to stop production of the Fiesta early?

The first reason is related to the sales of the Fiesta which are falling. Today, customer preferences are for i crossover / SUV models also in the B segment. The range of the house of the blue oval has gradually moved towards this category of cars so much so that the Ford Puma has ousted the Ford Fiesta as the best-selling model in Europe.

Recall that the production of the 3-door Fiesta had already been stopped last summer with the aim of rationalizing the range of this model. Already months ago, however, there was talk of the decline in sales and the future retirement of this car.

Another problem, the Ford Fiesta it only offers some mild hybrid engines. Some direct rivals, on the other hand, offer more advanced electrified solutions (Full Hybrid and electric). The Ford Puma, on the other hand, will also be offered in a battery version in the coming years. We also know that the blue oval house is accelerating its electrification plan in Europe. Apparently, the end of production of the Fiesta in Cologne will coincide with the start of construction of the electric crossover based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform.

Ford is investing to build electric cars at the Cologne plant, including the construction of a new battery assembly plant which is expected to go into operation in 2024. A second electric vehicle also on the MEB platform will be produced in Cologne starting in 2024. It is expected. that the Cologne plant will produce around 200,000 electric vehicles per year.

The electric version of the Puma, on the other hand, will be built at the Craiova plant in Romania.