Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Money & Work • Automotive

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta is a subcompact car produced by Ford from 1976 to 2023.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

The Ford Fiesta is a subcompact car produced by Ford from 1976 to 2023. It became one of Ford's most successful nameplates, with final assembly in Cologne, Germany.

History

Introduced in 1976 as Ford's first small front-wheel-drive car, the Fiesta was built through seven generations. It was sold in multiple markets worldwide and remained in production for 47 years until 2023.

Design and market position

The Fiesta was primarily a hatchback, with sedan variants offered in some markets. It competed in the supermini segment against models like the Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Polo, and Toyota Yaris.

Sales and end of production

The Fiesta sold over 15 million units by July 2011, with later reports exceeding 20 million produced. Ford ended production in 2023 as part of a shift away from small passenger cars, with the last car built in Cologne.

In short

  • Produced from 1976 to 2023 across seven generations.
  • One of Ford's best-selling nameplates, with over 20 million built.
  • Final car assembled in Cologne, Germany, in July 2023.
  • Primarily a subcompact hatchback, sold in many markets.
Canadian angle

The Fiesta was sold in Canada in earlier model years and is relevant to Canadian readers as a common used-car and subcompact reference point, especially for buyers comparing small hatchbacks and fuel-efficient city cars.

Quick questions

What is the Ford Fiesta?
The Ford Fiesta is a small car, classified as a supermini or subcompact, that Ford produced from 1976 to 2023.
When was the Ford Fiesta first introduced?
It was introduced in 1976.
When did Ford stop making the Fiesta?
Ford ended Fiesta production in 2023, with the final car built in Cologne, Germany.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta
    Supports: Production dates, seven generations, class, and sales total by July 2011.
  2. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fiesta
    Supports: End of production in July 2023 and final car built in Cologne.
  3. Ford Media — https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/Europe/documents/en/2021/2021FordFiesta_EU.pdf
    Supports: Recent Fiesta variant details and continuation of the model into the early 2020s.
  4. Auto Express — https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/fiesta
    Supports: Body styles, engine lineup, dimensions, and market positioning.
  5. CarGurus UK — https://www.cargurus.co.uk/research/articles/ford-fiesta-models
    Supports: Historical significance, transverse front-wheel-drive layout, and end of production in 2023.
  6. Cars.com — https://www.cars.com/research/ford-fiesta/
    Supports: Model-year body styles and North American production history.