After retiring the iconic Fiesta in 2023, Ford is now considering bringing it back as an electric vehicle (EV) in partnership with Volkswagen. The Ford Fiesta EV could potentially be the perfect candidate for electrification, given its history as a top-selling small car in Europe.
The last Fiesta rolled off the assembly line at Ford’s plant in Cologne, Germany in July 2023. This marked the end of production at the facility as part of a $2 billion investment to transition to EV production. The Cologne plant is now Ford’s first carbon-neutral vehicle assembly plant globally. As part of their partnership with Volkswagen, Ford has already introduced electric versions of classic nameplates like the Explorer and Capri, both based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform.
Volkswagen’s head of sales and marketing, Martin Sanders, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating that there could be future opportunities to collaborate on technology again. While nothing has been confirmed, the Ford Fiesta could potentially leverage Volkswagen’s smaller MEB Entry platform for its electric iteration.
The MEB Entry platform is designed to power Volkswagen’s upcoming entry-level electric cars, the ID.1 and ID.2, offering a driving range of up to 279 miles (450 km). Given that the Fiesta is similar in size to the Volkswagen ID.2, an electric Fiesta could offer a unique Ford-branded design while sharing the same platform.
In December, Ford introduced the electric Puma Gen-E, an electric version of its best-selling car in Europe. Featuring design elements inspired by the Mustang Mach-E, the electric Puma offers a WLTP driving range of up to 234 miles (376 km) and up to 325 miles (523 km) in city driving conditions. Ford is also developing its own low-cost platform in California, which could potentially spawn smaller EVs like a Fiesta or Focus in the future.
While Ford’s first vehicle from the California platform will be a mid-size electric pickup slated for release in 2027, the possibility of a Ford Fiesta EV remains an exciting prospect for both Ford and Volkswagen.
