The Last Ford Fiesta Leaves The Assembly Line In Cologne

The final Ford Fiesta will roll off the assembly line on Friday, bringing to a close nearly 50 years of history that saw it become the best-selling car in the UK.

Ford will build the final model in Cologne, Germany, before modifying its facilities to produce more electric vehicles.

When it was first introduced in 1976, it was an instant hit with people looking for smaller, more efficient vehicles.

Over 22 million have been created worldwide.

Despite a wide range of brands available, more Fiestas have been sold in the UK than any other car model, and it was the best-selling vehicle in the country every year between 2009 and 2020.

With over 25,000 registrations, it was the tenth most popular new car last year.

According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), 1.5 million were licensed for usage on UK roads in 2022, outnumbering all other models.

Ford said in October that it would discontinue production of the Fiesta after discontinuing production of the Mondeo in 2021. It also discontinued producing the S-Maxx and Galaxy people carriers earlier this year. The Ford Focus will be phased out in 2025.

The automaker is reported to be leveraging electrification to revitalize the brand for environmentally aware customers.

The first model created in the UK was in Dagenham, Essex, in 1977, however the car was actually built a year earlier in Valencia, Spain.

It was originally designed as a more fuel-efficient, small car in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.

Alex Buttle, co-founder of used car marketplace Motorway, said the car would remain popular with customers for years to come. “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,” he said.

The average sold price of a used model had increased by 14% in the last few months alone and was testament to the popularity of “this timeless model”, Mr Buttle said.

“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,” he added.

Ford will keep the final two Fiestas; one will remain in Germany, while the other will be shipped to the UK and placed in its history collection.

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