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Ford’s European arm doesn’t do sentimental. Through the years it’s killed off well-known, long-running names just like the Escort and Cortina, axed a complete class of automobile from its lineup by binning the Mondeo, and now it appears just like the little Fiesta might be about to go the identical approach.
The Fiesta hatchback has been a mainstay of Ford’s Euro lineup since 1976 – solely the Transit can declare an extended run – however a narrative within the British motoring press suggests Ford is poised to announce its demise.
Auto Categorical reviews that Ford will name time on the Fiesta later this week, with the ultimate automobiles leaving the Cologne manufacturing unit in Germany in the course of 2023 as a part of the automaker’s transfer towards an electrified lineup. The Fiesta has already been compelled to look at as its newer, extra trendy Puma crossover sister muscular tissues in and steals a few of its gross sales, and Ford lately confirmed that the Puma can be obtainable as an EV from 2024.
However the Puma EV will likely be inbuilt Romania on a distinct platform to petrol-engined Pumas. The EV structure is shared with the Transit Courier and Tourneo Courier electrical vans, however the identical report claims that Ford has no plans to rework the Fiesta into an EV utilizing the identical element set.
Associated: Ford Confirms European EV Vary With 4 Crossovers And 5 LCVs By 2024
To make issues worse for the Fiesta, Ford is popping the Cologne manufacturing unit the place it’s constructed into an EV heart that can produce a brand new technology of electrical automobiles born out of a tie-up with Volkswagen, and utilizing the VW Group’s MEB platform. That leaves the Fiesta with no dwelling, and doubtless with no spot in Ford’s lineup.
Axing the Fiesta may appear to be a radical transfer given how effectively it has bought through the years. Britain’s best-selling automobile ever (largely all the way down to its near-50-year run), the Fiesta has racked up virtually 5 million UK gross sales and till very lately was typically at or close to the highest of gross sales charts. However demand has fallen markedly over the past couple of years and the rumored announcement solely underlines how briskly issues are transferring within the automotive world.
We reached out to Ford for a remark and can replace the story once we hear again.
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