Ford Ponders Low-Cost Fiesta World Car

Ford Motor Co. is mulling plans to develop an inexpensive Fiesta-size small car for emerging global markets, Automotive News Europe reports.

CEO Alan Mulally tells the online newspaper that a so-called "value B" car would fill a hole in Ford's global product lineup. But he adds that the company has no firm plan yet to develop such a car.

Ford already sells a less expensive model than the Fiesta the Ka in Europe. But ANE opines that the Ka, which shares its platform with the Fiat 500 city car, is too small to satisfy buyers in some markets.

If the company moves forward with a value B model, the car would be marketed under the Ford brand, Mulally says. He tells ANE the company has no interest in creating a new low-cost brand, such as Renault SA did eight years ago with the Dacia marque. Dacia began with the Logan sedan and has since added hatchback, minivan SUV and wagon variants.