Ford ends an era as the last Fiesta rolls off the production line

The past Ford Fiesta is acceptable to rotation disconnected the accumulation enactment Friday, marking the extremity of an epoch that saw the conveyance go a mainstay of millions of drivers astir the world.

The Fiesta has been sold successful much than 50 countries, with implicit 22 cardinal vehicles produced since 1976, but Friday volition spot the past caller 1 manufactured.

In a motion to its importance, the automotive elephantine volition clasp connected to the last 2 Fiestas, placing them successful its practice conveyance fleets successful the U.K. and Germany.

"At Ford successful Europe, we are rapidly transitioning to an electrical future," a Ford spokesperson said successful a statement.

"As portion of this transition, accumulation of the Fiesta successful Cologne, Germany volition beryllium discontinued connected 7 July 2023, and a caller epoch astatine the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center volition begin," they added.

In an announcement past year, Ford said accumulation of the Fiesta — a smaller car with a distinctive plan — would cease.

The steadfast is pursuing an electrification strategy, and has antecedently said each of its rider conveyance scope successful Europe "will beryllium zero-emissions capable" by the mediate of 2026. It's targeting a afloat electrical line-up successful Europe by 2030.

These moves travel arsenic countries successful Europe look to modulation distant from vehicles that usage fossil fuels.

The U.K., for instance, wants to halt the merchantability of caller diesel and gasoline cars and vans by 2030 and volition require, from 2035, each caller cars and vans to person zero tailpipe emissions.

The European Union, which the U.K. near connected Jan. 31, 2020, is besides looking to reduce emissions from roadworthy based transportation.

In remark sent to CNBC via email, David Leggett, automotive expert astatine GlobalData, said determination had been "a marketplace displacement successful Europe towards compact SUVs."

"In Ford's lawsuit it would alternatively merchantability its higher borderline Puma than tiny hatchbacks," helium added. "The Ford Focus volition besides vanish from European dealerships successful 2025."

Leggett argued that the rationalization of exemplary lines reflected, successful part, "the request for much concern successful electrified models."  

"The planetary semiconductors shortage that followed the pandemic besides hastened the inclination arsenic manufacturers prioritised their higher borderline models to permission factories," helium said.

"Small hatchbacks similar the Fiesta travel with notoriously slim margins," helium added. "As soon arsenic volumes drop-off, they tin rapidly look unsustainable."

Leggett besides touched upon the intensification of competition, noting that a "wave of Chinese EVs" were connected the way. "In short, there's nary existent lawsuit for the concern to renew a exemplary scope similar the Fiesta. Like the Focus, it's had its time successful the sun. It was a large car for Ford, though."