9:45 am, July 7, 2023
After a historic 47-year production run, the curtain is finally set to come down on the legendary Ford Fiesta.
The final Fiesta will roll off the line at Ford’s Cologne factory later today (July 7) after the firm decided to kill off the UK’s best-selling car last October.
The plant is now set to be modified to cope with more EV production, as the Blue Oval looks to ramp up its electrified offering.
The Fiesta became an instant hit when it was introduced in 1976 as it met the demand for smaller, more efficient cars.
Ford said that more than 22 million have been produced globally but it was in the UK where the model really took off.
More Fiestas have been sold here than any other car model, and it was the country’s best-selling new vehicle every year between 2009 and 2020.
It was still the 10th most popular new car last year, with more than 25,000 registered, and it continues to regularly top the lists of best-selling used cars.
The DVLA says 1.5 million Fiestas were licensed for use on UK roads in 2022, ahead of all other models.
It has been reported that the final two Fiestas will be kept by Ford. One will be retained in Germany, while the other will go to its UK heritage collection.
The end of production comes after Ford axed the Mondeo in 2021, while earlier this year it stopped making the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers.
Production of the Focus will end in 2025.
Alex Buttle, co-founder of used car marketplace Motorway, claimed the Fiesta will remain popular with customers for many more years.
He said: ‘We continue to see high demand for the Ford Fiesta, as our dealer partners remain keen to stock their forecourts with this modern-day classic.
‘And with the average sold price of Ford Fiestas increasing by 14 per cent in the last few months alone, it’s testament to the popularity of this timeless model.
‘The ceasing of production of new Ford Fiestas may mean the end of an era, but the used car market will continue breathing life into this much-sought-after car for years ahead.’
