Electromobility will bring big changes for automakers and us consumers. Not only in terms of technology, but also in terms of the model portfolio. As an electric variant of the Mach-E, well-known and legendary model lines such as the Ford Mustang are hardly recognized – others are even canceled without replacement.
The latter now also applies to the small Fiesta, not entirely surprising at Ford. After 47 years, production of the bestseller, one of Europe’s most popular small cars, will be discontinued in Cologne (Germany) at the end of June. However, all Fiesta ordered will be built and delivered by the end of production. Ford keeps order books open until the remaining production volume is depleted.
Since the launch of the first Fiesta in 1976, approximately 18.2 million units have been produced in at least 13 countries. Production sites included England, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, China, India and of course the main factory in Cologne. The largest and most important Ford Fiesta markets in Europe were the UK, Italy and Germany. But the small car was also very popular here in Switzerland.
But the fiesta will be over soon. And with that, the production of internal combustion engines at the Cologne plant will also be phased out. The production volume of the one-liter petrol engine, which is currently being produced at the Cologne engine plant for other Ford locations, will be transferred to the Romanian engine factory in Craiova.
New midsize e-crossover
The end of the Fiesta in Cologne is also a new beginning. Production will be replaced by a new mid-size crossover – electric, of course. This new model line, which Ford calls “Mid Size”, will roll off the production line from 2023 at the “Cologne Electrification Centre”, which is currently being built in the factory building in Cologne-Niehl. All-electric passenger car production is expected to reach 1.2 million vehicles in the next six years.
Over the next two years, Ford will launch three new all-electric passenger car models and four electric commercial vehicles in Europe alone. The Cologne-based company wants to sell at least 600,000 electric vehicles by 2026. In addition, Ford will continue to offer the popular Puma and Kuga passenger car lines, including the current Kuga plug-in hybrid and the all-electric Puma from 2024. From 2026, Ford will have at least one plug-in or electric model in each series. And from 2030 there will only be electric Ford passenger cars.