Ford says Fiesta won't return for the 2018 model year

Jul 22, 2017, 2:12am ET

\"Demand for such vehicles is declining, and we are reacting accordingly,\" explained one of Ford\'s top engineers.

When Ford introduced the updated Fiesta last fall, it made absolutely no mention of the U.S.-spec model. One of the company's top engineers has just revealed that's because the smallest member of the Blue Oval's American lineup will not return for the 2018 model year.

"The previous model was a global Ford product, and with the new generation, we are targeting only Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In North America -- especially in the U.S. --, China, and Latin America, the demand for such vehicles is declining, and we are reacting accordingly," explained Robert Stiller, Ford's B-segment vehicle program manager.

AutoEvolution reports Fiesta sales have dropped significantly in the last few years. They peaked in 2013, when 71,073 examples were sold in the United States. Last year, Ford only managed to move 48,807 Fiestas.

Dropping the Fiesta in the United States makes it no longer necessary to build a four-door sedan model, which saves the Blue Oval money. Moving forward, the city-friendly Ford will exclusively be available as a two- or a four-door hatchback.