A really profitable chapter in Ford of Europe’s historical past got here to an finish on July 7 when the ultimate Fiesta subcompact hatchback rolled off the meeting line in Cologne, Germany.
However there’s nonetheless hope for followers of small Ford runabouts in Europe. Whereas the interior combustion engine-powered Fiesta is gone for good, Ford says electrification may provide an opportunity to carry the nameplate again sooner or later.
Ford Europe’s passenger automobiles boss Martin Sander stated in an interview with Automotive Information Europe that the automaker will not be ruling out constructing a battery-electric alternative for the Fiesta.
If that had been to occur, the Fiesta EV would probably be a model of Volkswagen’s upcoming inexpensive small EV, Sander stated. When requested whether or not Ford would take a model of VW’s MEB Entry platform for small EVs, he stated the automaker has “a really constructive and optimistic cooperation with Volkswagen and we’re probably exploring alternatives to take that to the subsequent degree.”
“Nothing has been determined, however I do not need to rule that out,” Sander famous.
26 Pictures
Ford already has a cope with Volkswagen Group to construct two electrical autos primarily based on the German carmaker’s MEB platform. One in all them is the Ford Explorer electrical compact SUV, which will probably be constructed on the similar Cologne plant because the outgoing Fiesta.
The SUV will arrive in European dealerships early subsequent yr with a price ticket of round 45,000 euros, or simply underneath $50,000. Beginning subsequent yr, Ford’s Cologne EV Middle may even begin making a second MEB-based mannequin described as a “sports activities crossover” – almost definitely the coupe-styled model of the electrical Explorer.
The Cologne manufacturing unit has had a $2 billion revamp to construct EVs primarily based on VW Group’s MEB platform, so theoretically it might accommodate manufacturing of a small EV derived from Volkswagen’s upcoming sub-25,000 euro ($27,700) EV previewed by the ID.2 all idea.
Ford exited the small automotive market in Europe after the prices of assembly ever-stricter emissions requirements grew to become too excessive to make financial sense. “Smaller autos are smaller margin. We do not need the dimensions of the Volkswagen Group or Stellantis in Europe. Small autos like Fiesta usually are not the heartland of Ford Motor Firm,” Sander stated.
After all, electrification might change that, so it stays to be seen if Ford, which has pledged to go all-electric in Europe by 2030, will attain a cope with Volkswagen on utilizing its MEB Entry platform for small EVs.