Ford converted its transit cargo van into a tiny home just for Europeans, and it's the latest proof that Europe's love affair with Ford is mutual
The Big Nugget is Ford’s latest campervan that was presented in summer 2019 and will launch in spring 2020 to the European market.
Jaron Cole, the founder of Mustang Fan Club, told Business Insider that owning a Ford car overseas is something special.
Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club
Europeans admire an American-made car because it’s something they’re not used to having, Cole told Business Insider.
Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club
Fans show their love for Ford in a number of ways.Everything from European fan clubs, to online Ford blogs, to exist.
Source: MSN
There are European fans who collect old Ford models, have extensive memorabilia collections, some who own anything Ford related…
Source: Wall Street Journal
…and others who even posed next to their Ford collection on their wedding day.
Source: Getty Images
There are some individuals in Europe who even have the car brand permanently branded on them.
Source: Getty Images
Fabrizio Schenardi is one of these Ford megafans who lives in Italy.
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
Schenardi told Business Insider that he was first exposed to Ford cars when he was 8 years old. There was a small auto shop in his hometown village in Italy that worked on American cars.
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
After riding in a Mustang for the first time as a child, he was instantly hooked. "I felt like a rockstar," Schenardi said about the experience.
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
Schenardi saved up enough money to finally purchase his first Mustang in 2006.
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
That same day, Schenardi got a Mustang tattoo to commemorate his big purchase.
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
Schenardi eventually became the first European car blogger, writing strictly about Mustang cars.
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
Ford fanatics overseas often prefer to purchase their cars from America, rather than their local dealerships.
Source: U.S. News
Cole said that it's challenging to purchase a Ford car through another country.
Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club
But many European Ford fans would rather pay import and transportation fees to transfer the Ford car from America, Cole told Business Insider.
Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club
It'll still be cheaper than all the fees and such that the European countries would charge them, he said.
Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club
Unsurprisingly, the car brand recently unveiled plans to cut six of its 23 European factories and anticipates more than tripling its yearly passenger vehicle imports into Europe by 2024.
Source: Wall Street Journal, Automotive Logistics
According to Ford, its motorhome sales in Europe are up almost 15% compared to previous years, and sales have surpassed 100,000 units for the first time.
When it was time for Ford to unveil its latest motorhome, there was no question that the brand was going to give the European market priority.
Source: Ford
In addition to motorhomes, the Ford Mustang's popularity has been on the rise in several European countries.
Source: Ford
To celebrate the Mustang's 50th anniversary in late 2015, Ford released an updated version of the beloved car with a new design and engineering.
Source: Bloomberg
Although US sales of the limited edition Mustang eventually started to dip, Ford saw a major increase in foreign sales.
Source: Bloomberg
Since 2016, one in four Mustangs are now owned by drivers in China, the UK, and Germany.
Source: Bloomberg
It might seem unexpected for a European to love an American car so much, but when it comes to Ford cars, "The price and performance is one of the best in the world," Schenardi said.
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
According to Bloomberg, Ford even sold 17 Mustangs in Bulgaria, one of the smaller countries in Europe.
Source: Bloomberg
As big as their fan base is now, that wasn’t always the case for Ford and its European market.
Source: The New York Times
Ford of Europe was established in 1967, yet the brand’s global sales were significantly lower at the time.
Source: Bloomberg
The American car brand had a difficult time attracting European customers and competing with other car brands.
Source: Bloomberg
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