Recession-Proof Fiesta Offers Hope for the Industry

AUTO CENTRAL – March 17, 2009: With new car registrations down by 21.9% in February, unemployment in the car industry at an all-time high, and the public having to tighten their belts during the recession, these are not good times for the motoring industry.

But here’s some positive news for one manufacturer at least. The Orange Cars channel has put together a list of the Top 10 best-selling cars in Britain since 1965 – and the Ford Fiesta, one of Britain’s most popular cars and the current best-selling car of 2009, remains one of the most popular motors in Britain ever, with 3,510,584 units sold.

With the successful launch of the seventh generation of the Fiesta last year, the supermini which sells an average of 85,000 units a year takes second place in our list, compiled with the help of Matthew Croucher, economic manager at The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. In fact, the Fiesta is swiftly catching up to another Ford, the Escort, which tops the list with its total of 4,105,192 units sold.

Some might even call the popular Fiesta recession-proof because it has continued to sell well despite the country now being in its third recession since the model first launched in 1976. If the Fiesta can survive that many recessions, remaining in the Top 10 best-sellers ever since its launch, it offers hope to newer models some fear will disappear because of the credit crisis, and hope for the future of the motoring industry in general.

Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain managing director, said: "All-new Fiesta is leading the small car heartland which is so much in the spotlight in this climate. New Fiesta's track record speaks for itself: UK's top selling car every month since it went on sale in October and increasing sales year on year."