It's one of the most popular cars on the road, but soon the Ford Fiesta will disappear from production lines, reports say.
Ford is expected to confirm in the coming days that the Fiesta will be discontinued by mid-2023, the BBC reports, as the manufacturer switches to focus more on electric vehicles ahead of a UK-ban on new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.
Despite the Fiesta's popularity - Auto Trader said last week that Fiestas are still among the most sought-after cars on the second-hand market - Ford has no plans to produce an electric version, the Sun reports.
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A Ford spokesman told the BBC the manufacturer is "accelerating our efforts to go all in on electrification" but would not comment on speculation about the Fiesta.
The first Fiestas were produced in Dagenham, Essex, in 1977, but these days the cars are built in Germany. They were first introduced as a fuel-efficient solution to oil supply issues in the 1970s. More than 20 million have been built since.
Expect second-hand models to remain popular even after production halts on new Fiestas.
According to Auto Trader, BMW 3 Series, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Fiesta are the most popular decade-old models among potential buyers.
Auto Trader director Ian Plummer told the PA news agency: “The aftermath of Covid means that around 40% of cars on the road will be more than 10 years old in five years’ time.
“The sheer shortage of cars, combined with the practical necessity for drivers to stay on the road, is pushing prices higher.
“As long as those market dynamics remain in place, drivers will have to get used to paying more for older cars.”
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