Also this year it was time to say goodbye to car models. Expected by some, not at all by others: Ford suddenly announced the end of October for the Fiesta. Although only finally for mid-2023, the mere fact that the small car will then be discontinued after 47 years and eight generations is already remarkable for the 2022 farewell list. Especially since the three-door Fiesta variant has been history since this year.
The Fiesta made its debut in 1976. Since then, around 18.2 million units have been sold. Here is an overview of the farewell candidates. BMW was not able to sell quite as many copies of the i3 to motorists. Around 250,000 buyers have signed a contract for the battery-electric model since 2013. 2024 was originally announced as the end of production for the small car, but BMW brought it forward. Despite upgrading the battery, its range was no longer competitive. Other vehicles of a comparable size now offer more range and comfort than the i3, which was last offered for around 40,000 euros. Instead of lightweight small cars, there are now only significantly more expensive offers for customers such as the iX1 or an electric Mini. Hyundai’s electric Ioniq also found fewer and fewer buyers. For him, as for both hybrid variants of the Korean sedan, the last hour of production struck. The electric version in particular had come under pressure in the face of growing competition – including in-house. Attention, don’t get confused: The Ioniq 5 will of course continue to be built. The practical vehicles have to admit defeat to current taste preferences – and they are aimed at SUV shapes. Compact vans such as the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, Citroen C4 Space Tourer and Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic said goodbye this year. The low-cost Dacia Lodgy model was also shelved. After all: As an alternative, Dacia has offered the combined crossover Jogger since spring. Also spacious and unrivaled in price. Sorting out is not limited to compact vans, MPVs also suffer from a lack of appreciation. As a result, Renault even took the Espace off the market. It has existed for five generations since 1984 and was once a trendsetter for family-friendly mobility solutions. But he’s not the only one concerned. VW sends the Sharan into retirement, Seat the sister model Alhambra. The end of Ford Galaxy and S-Max has already been decided. They can no longer be ordered. Until the spring, the plant in Valencia will still be processing the orders that have already been placed. However, vans are not the only victims of SUVs and crossovers. The sales figures for mid-size sedans are also falling. Which hurts profitability and in turn makes car manufacturers ponder and forces them to act. Ford has therefore taken the Mondeo out of the program. There is no successor. Notches and hatchbacks and the station wagon (tournament/traveller) popular with those entitled to company cars are now model history. Renault pulled the ripcord on the talisman. The mid-range model, which offered a lot of space, was available as a sedan and station wagon (Grand Tour), but could not really assert itself against the competitors from Wolfsburg, Cologne or Stuttgart. The Mazda CX-3 shows that SUVs are also disappearing from the market. The 4.28 meter long mini-SUV, which has been on the market since 2015, was based on the Mazda 2 small car and has since become the second best-selling Mazda model. However, small vehicles bring comparatively little profit margin. Therefore, those responsible for Mazda prefer to use the slightly longer Mazda CX-30. Although it offers more comfort and a more modern range of engines, it is also more expensive, which is good for the margin. (SPX)
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