What are the consequences of the end of the Fiesta for Ford?
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What are the consequences of the end of the Fiesta for Ford?
- Ford stopped production in Europe of its B-segment Fiesta sedan in 2023, without replacing it, a strategy in line with its policy practiced in the United States, namely to eliminate all sedans and concentrate on SUVs.
- The Ford Fiesta hatchback has been a very important model for Ford Europe, ranking in the top five best-selling models in Europe between 2009 and 2019 (second best-selling model between 2012 and 2015), and even the top-selling model in the UK between 2009 and 2020.
- In terms of production, the Ford Fiesta peaked in 2009, with 500,000 units produced, before gradually falling to 400,000 units in 2011, 300,000 in 2017 and 240,000 in 2019.
- After the arrival of the small B-segment SUVs, EcoSport and then Puma, the Fiesta continued to decline: 140,000 in 2020, 53,000 in 2021, 81,000 in 2022 and 65,000 in 2023. In total, nearly 6 million Ford Fiestas were produced in Europe between 2005 and 2025, and three times more if we count the years since the origins of the Fiesta (1976).
- Ecosport and Puma SUVs have not offset the drop of Fiesta sales, as these two models have totaled only one million units produced in Europe since 2017. Ford has therefore recently decided to provide a successor to the Fiesta by launching in 2028 a new battery electric B-segment car based on the Renault 5 E-Tech which will be produced at Renault in Douai, but it is clear that the quantities envisaged will never approach those of the old Fiesta.
Kia's factory in Zilina (Slovakia) is converting to electric vehicles
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Kia's factory in Zilina (Slovakia) is converting to electric vehicles
- Kia's Žilina plant, operational since 2007, has until now produced internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles (Ceed, ProCeed, XCeed, Sportage). A major change is coming this fall 2025, as the first battery electric cars (Kia EV4) will be produced there. The Žilina plant in Slovakia is thus following the strategy already implemented at Hyundai's Nosovice plant in the Czech Republic, which has been producing the battery electric Hyundai Kona since 2020.
- Kia plans to produce 180,000 battery electric vehicles per year at its Slovakian site in Zilina from 2027 onwards, representing 60% of the plant's capacity, while Hyundai currently produces only 10% battery electric vehicles (Hyundai Kona) at its Nosovice plant, which has identical production capacity (300,000 vehicles per year) and has not communicated any targets for 2027.
- Kia's Zilina plant has been a resounding success, with production volumes frequently exceeding 200,000 units per year (for 16 out of 19 years) and even surpassing 250,000 units per year (for 7 out of 19 years). This success is primarily attributable to the Sportage SUV, which has enjoyed considerable popularity in Europe over the past decade (all models produced in Zilina are sold in Europe).
- After the EV4 model (C-segment sedan) was introduced on the Zilina assembly lines in September 2025, the EV2 model (B-segment SUV), which will be officially presented in January 2026, will be added during 2026. Logically, the EV3 model (C-segment SUV) should be produced at this site from 2027.
The European light utility vehicle market declined by 8.5% over the first nine months of 2025
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The European light utility vehicle market declined by 8.5% over the first nine months of 2025
- The European market for light utility vehicles (30 countries: EU + UK + Switzerland + Norway) suffered a decline of 8.5% in the first nine months of 2025, to 1,355,508 units compared to 1,481,637 in the first nine months of 2024.
- When comparing these figures with those of the European passenger car market, we observe that the LUV market is in negative territory over nine months, while the passenger car market is stable over the same period.
- It is noted that five major countries account for nearly 75% of European LUV sales in 2025: France (264,366 units in the first nine months of 2025, -8.3% compared to 2024), the United Kingdom (241,783 units, -9.9%), Germany (196,739 units, -6.0%), Italy (141,418 units, -6.1%) and Spain (138,628 units, +13.3%).
- It's worth noting that France is the European country that buys the most light utility vehicles (265,000 units) because it benefits from a vehicle category that is not very popular in other countries: sedans and SUVs with reduced tax rates, adapted for transporting goods and integrated into the LUV category. These models represent 12.5% of the French LUV market (33,000 units).
- By engine type, diesel models still account for the vast majority of LUV sales in Europe during the first nine months of 2025, at 82%. Petrol models represent only 5% of LUV sales in Europe over the same period. Battery electric models reach just 10% of LUV sales in Europe during this period, half the share of passenger cars. The remaining 3% comprises plug-in and full-hybrid LUVs.
The Renault-Volvo agreement on vans could be reviewed
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The Renault-Volvo agreement on vans could be reviewed
- The agreement between Renault and Volvo Trucks on the design, production and marketing of battery electric delivery vans of Flexis design could be reviewed as the two parties no longer seem to agreed on their cooperation.
- This agreement between Renault (45% ofFlexis ' shares ), Volvo Trucks (45% of Flexis ' shares ) and the logistics company CMA CGM (10% of Flexis ' shares ), made it possible to launch a whole new generation of battery electric vans under the Renault and Volvo Trucks brands, featuring the distinction of integrating the batteries into the chassis, thus offering a perfectly flat floor.
- Three Renault-badged models were planned (Estafette, Trafic, Goélette), one of which was recently unveiled (Trafic), as well as three Volvo Trucks-badged models ( Step-in Van, Cargo Van, Panel Van). Flexis estimated the market for these three vehicles at 15,000 units in the first three years, while Inovev projected 25,000 units by 2030 for the entire Renault and Volvo Trucks range.
- Today, the battery electric light commercial vehicle market represents 10% of the total light commercial vehicle market , equivalent to approximately 180,000 vehicles out of a total of 1.8 million light utility vehicles sold in Europe (30 countries: EU + UK + Switzerland + Norway) throughout 2025. While this battery electric light commercial vehicle market did grow by nearly 67% in the first nine months of 2025, it is significantly behind the European Commission's directive. This growth in 2025 only slightly reduces the gap to the targets.
- Flexis ' market share over the next three years in the entire European market for battery electric light utility vehicles : 2.5%.
The GM group has ceased producing BrightDrop electric pickup trucks
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The GM group has ceased producing BrightDrop electric pickup trucks
- The GM group ceased production of BrightDrop electric vans in May 2025 primarily due to much lower than expected demand which led to underutilization of the CAMI plant in Canada (Ontario) aggravated by the end of certain tax incentives in the United States, which made the model economically unviable.
• The market for electric delivery vans has not experienced the growth anticipated by the GM group. Despite initial interest from major companies such as FedEx and Walmart, orders have not met expectations.
• The Canadian plant (which formerly produced Suzuki models) was operating well below capacity, increasing operating costs. Production therefore ceased in May 2025, after 23,000 units had been produced since January 2024.
• The elimination of tax credits in the United States and the evolution of trade rules have reduced the attractiveness of the model.
- Consequences:
• For the GM group: a step back in its strategy to sell electric utility vehicles, with a reallocation of investments towards other market segments.
• For Canada: the CAMI plant in Ingersoll is plunged into uncertainty, putting more than 1,200 jobs at risk.
• For the market: the slowdown in sales of electric utility vehicles illustrates the challenges of the energy transition in commercial transport, where costs and the lack of incentives are hindering adoption.
- In summary, GM ended the BrightDrop experiment because the market wasn't ready, tax incentives disappeared, and the plant couldn't operate profitably.
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