The European division of the American manufacturer Ford has announced that the production of the Mondeo model in Europe has ended. The last model of the middle-class sedan left the assembly line of the Valencia plant on April 4.
Ford is preparing an SUV that will replace the current Mondeo in Europe
ENTER THE PHOTO GALLERY
Launched in 1993, the Ford Mondeo was the manufacturer’s first global car in Dearborn. Launched on the European market to replace the Ford Sierra, Mondeo has had very good sales figures in its 29 years of existence. About five million units have been sold so far.
However, its market share has begun to decline due to the growing popularity of SUVs among European customers. Thus, Ford officials have decided that their C-segment sedan will no longer have a replacement on the “old continent”. Instead, the Americans launched it earlier this year the fifth generation Mondeodedicated exclusively to the Chinese market.
A Ford spokesman said Ford is trying to meet the ever-changing needs of European customers. And this in the context of a completely electric future. In 2020, 39% of all Ford models sold were SUVs and crossovers, an 8% increase over the previous year.
The ones from Ford is currently working on a replacement for Mondeo. It’s a compact SUV that looks a bit like the sedan on both the outside and the inside. However, it seems that the future model will make a move to the luxury segment, and will use premium materials. At the same time, it is expected to receive a fully digital dashboard.
A new hybrid engine will be produced in Valencia
Following the withdrawal of Mondeo from the European market, the Ford range in Europe will only include the Fiesta and Focus models in the non-SUV B and C segments. Both have recently received versions of mild-hybrid engines and are to be upgraded towards the end of this year. Moreover, by 2026 they will also receive hybrid plug-in propulsion.
It remains to be seen what will happen when the two hatchbacks reach the end of their life cycle. Ford has proposed that the European range be fully electric by 2030, which is why it is unlikely that new models with heat engines will appear by then.
Officials of the “blue oval” also announced that the 2.5-liter Atkinson hybrid petrol engine will be built at the Valencia plant. It will be available on Kuga, Galaxy and S-Max models from the end of 2022. The engine is currently built in Chihuaha (Mexico).
–
