Ford has removed diesel variants for the Fiesta from price lists as sales of oil-burning cars fall to their lowest point in decades.
Confirmed by a spokesman for the brand, the ever-popular supermini was previously available with two 1.5-litre four-cylinder TDCi units putting out 84bhp and 118bhp.
However, both have been taken off sale to coincide with the introduction of the Fiesta MHEV, a 48V mild-hybrid version of the 1.0-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol.
At the launch of the current, eighth-generation Fiesta in 2017, Ford predicted diesel variants would account for around 9% of the Fiesta’s UK volume. The UK spokesman confirmed that volumes are indeed “very, very low” and have been declining steadily in line with market trends.
Sales of diesel cars in general have been declining for the past half-decade across Europe, with blame laid at the door of the Volkswagen Group Dieselgate scandal and subsequent shifts in public - and government - opinions on the fuel.
From a 50% market share in 2014, the fuel made up just 18.4% of sales in September 2020 as hybrids and EVs continued to gain ground.
Manufacturers are slowly killing off diesel variants of existing models; for example, Mazda confirmed last week that its 6 saloon and estate (a company car favourite that used to have a diesel-heavy mix) will become petrol-only later this year.
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Diesel Righly Confined To History
Certainly in vehicles such as the Fiesta, wonderful though it is. Why they are not all hybrid or EV in 2021 is undefeandable unless your protecting a legacy business model?
company cars
The drift away from company cars will have had something to do with the reduction in popularity of diesels. Going back a few years, when company cars were taxed on cubic capacity, a Fiesta disel was rated the same as a BMW 320i for bik. When CO2 became the basis of bik valuation, coincidental with the development of common rail injection, diesels became much more popular on fleets because they were cheaper in income tax and NI than petrols, as well as being acceptably quick.
With many people now taking a cash allowance instead of a company car, the bik advantage disappears.
Scrap All The Tax Incentives?
Surely it's time to scrap all the company car tax incentives. Not suggesting the USA is a shining light but the whole 'company car' thing does not exist here. The UK is living in the 1960's! Subsidizing to a greater or lesser extent certain fuel types/powertrains via taxation only distorts progress and inhibits innovation?
If you want a diesel, buy an
Hybrid cars
Such a shame that the hype over the fuel consumption of hybrid cars is being exposed for the farce that it is