As one chapter closes, one other one is about to open. Ford is ending manufacturing of its top-selling Fiesta mannequin subsequent week because it gears up for an all-electric future. The compact automotive was retired to release much-needed house at its Cologne, Germany, plant to construct Ford’s new electrical Explorer SUV.

Ford ends Fiesta manufacturing for electrical Explorer

Ford revealed final yr it could be dropping the enduring compact automotive from its lineup prior to anticipated because it accelerated its transition to EVs.

In keeping with Autocar, the final Fiesta mannequin will roll off the meeting line on July 7, 2023. After 47 years and eight generations, the Fiesta period is ending in favor of an electrical future.

The transfer got here after the American automaker introduced it could change into an all-electric model in Europe by 2030, with 9 EV fashions in its lineup by 2024. Ford teamed up with Volkswagen in 2020 to speed up EV manufacturing within the area with plans to make use of VW’s MEB platform to launch its personal branded electrical fashions.

Ford expects the partnership to double deliberate quantity to 1.2 million models over the following six years.

After teasing a brand new medium-sized crossover EV, Ford lastly launched the absolutely electrical Explorer SUV in Europe in March, anticipated to begin at lower than $50,000 (€45,000).

The five-seat household SUV fuses American design with premium German Engineering leading to a classy, purposeful mid-size crossover.

Following a $2 billion funding to remodel its plant in Cologne, Germany, Ford opened the “Cologne Electrical Car Middle,” its first carbon impartial manufacturing facility on June 12. The brand new high-tech manufacturing facility is designed to supply next-gen EVs for the European market, beginning with the electrical Explorer.

Martin Sander, normal supervisor of Ford Mannequin E Europe, mentioned, “We determined to construct our first high-volume electrical automobile right here in Cologne,” talking with Autocar in December. Sanders added:

There comes the purpose the place we want the house for building, as a result of we’re turning the Fiesta plant into a completely battery-electric plant. Because of this we needed to decide that we have now to cease Fiesta manufacturing.

The Fiesta was one in every of a number of ICE autos Ford retired (together with the S-Max and Galaxy minivans) to make manner for EVs, together with the electrical Explorer.

Ford beforehand mentioned it can solely promote EVs within the area from 2030. The automaker goals to promote 600,000 electrical vehicles yearly by 2026 as it really works towards changing into an EV-only model in Europe by the top of the last decade.