For Ford it is a very particular moment. The Blue Oval has spent money and energy to develop electric cars, but the market is not paying for now. Especially in Europe. The Old Continent has always been a friend of the American brand, which has appreciated many of his creations, from the Capri to the Escort, through Mondeo and obviously Fiesta. At the end of the 90s, then, the Ford Focus spiritual heir of the Escort which immediately managed to conquer the international audience, becoming one of the best-selling C segments, rivaling the Golf on equal terms. No mean feat for the time. Now, after a career spanning over twenty years, Ford Focus is also ready to give thegoodbye to price lists.
The long goodbye
For Europeans, led by Italians, it wasn’t easy to say goodbye even to the Fiesta, one of the most loved small cars of all, but giving up the Focus too is yet another low blow. The Detroit manufacturer has a very specific plan in mind, which is to present a more American line even in our latitudes. With this in mind, valuable products such as the Bronchus or theExplorer, which however are far from the construction and product philosophy shown throughout the history of Ford in Europe. In any case, no second thoughts. The die has been cast, forward with electric (which is proving to be a bloodbath) and goodbye to thermals. So the Focus will also be archived without replacement from 2025. These are its last months of glory.
Martin Sanderhead of Ford Europe, confirmed that “There is no plan to extend the life of the Focus” after 2025. All that remains is a beautiful memory of this car which was also appreciated in the world of competitions, especially with the first generation, which enchanted rally enthusiasts thanks to the reckless driving of Colin McRae and to the mythical Martini Racing livery.
Ford goodbye to the Focus and forward with electric
Therefore, the future of mobility will be 100% electric. At the moment even politics says so, while the market is not absolutely moving in this direction. Martin Sander, CEO of Ford Europe, is always convinced that tomorrow will be on tap and declared: “In the long term we firmly believe that BEVs will be the future and we think there will be a significant increase in sales volumes. By the end of 2024 we will have a whole range of electric vehicles, both in the passenger and commercial vehicle sectors. We are quite flexible to adapt to the market. For the next few years users will have a wide choice, our customers have the power to choose what they want”.
Therefore, the American manufacturer will strive to provide a range of increasingly electric, or rather exclusively electric, vehicles. Among these, many proposals with a stars and stripes flavour, with SUVs and off-road vehicles of rare grandeur and power. Ultimately, we need to forget about the small and compact Fords that made hearts beat until yesterday, with the Focus in the front row.
