Ford has a cult following in Europe, and its superfans take their love for the brand to the next level
Some Europeans just can't get enough of Ford.
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Source: MSN
Ford's devoted global fan base has grown over recent years.
Peter Dench/Getty Images
Source: MSN
Jaron Cole, the founder of Mustang Fan Club, told Business Insider that owning a Ford car overseas is something special.
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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.
Peter Dench/Getty Images
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 exists.
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Source: MSN
There are European fans who collect old Ford models, have extensive memorabilia collections, and some who own just about anything Ford related…
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Source: Wall Street Journal
…and then there are others who even included their Ford collection in their wedding photos.
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Source: Getty Images
There are some individuals in Europe who even have the car permanently branded on them.
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Source: Getty Images
Fabrizio Schenardi is one of these Ford megafans who lives in Italy.
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Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
Schenardi told Business Insider that he was first exposed to Ford cars when he was eight years old. There was a small auto shop in his hometown village in Italy that worked on American cars.
Fabrizio Schenardi
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.
Fabrizio Schenardi
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
Schenardi saved up enough money to finally purchase his first Mustang in 2006.
Fabrizio Schenardi
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
That same day, Schenardi got a Mustang tattoo to commemorate his big purchase.
Fabrizio Schenardi
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
Schenardi eventually became the first European car blogger, writing strictly about Mustang cars.
Fabrizio Schenardi
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
As big as Ford's fan base is now, that wasn't always the case for Ford and its European market.
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Source: The New York Times
Ford of Europe wasn't established until 1967.
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Source: Bloomberg
The American car brand had a difficult time attracting European customers and competing with other car brands.
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Source: Bloomberg
But today in Europe Ford is an in-demand car brand.
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Source: Ford
Ford fanatics overseas often prefer to purchase their cars from America, rather than their local dealerships.
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Source: U.S. News
Cole said that it's challenging to purchase a Ford car through another country.
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Source: Jaron Cole/Mustang Fan Club
Certain European countries have regulations, fees, and taxes.
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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.
Carl Court/Getty Images
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.
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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.
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Source: Wall Street Journal, Automotive Logistics
Out of all of Ford's car models, motorhomes are a hot commodity in Europe.
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Source: News Atlas
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.
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Source: Ford, The News Wheel
More recently, self-employment is on the rise in Europe…
Ford
Source: Ford, The News Wheel
...and Ford's Transit vans have become the backbone of business there.
Ford
Source: Ford, The News Wheel
Ford recently converted its transit cargo van into a tiny home that's only available in Europe.
Ford
Source: Business Insider
This is the fourth motorhome that Ford has released just for its European fans.
Ford
Source: Ford
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.
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Source: Ford
In addition to motorhomes, the Ford Mustang's popularity has been on the rise in several European countries.
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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.
Steve Zak Photography/Getty Images
Source: Bloomberg
Although US sales of the limited-edition Mustang eventually started to dip, Ford saw a major increase in foreign sales.
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Source: Bloomberg
Since 2016, one in four Mustangs is now owned by drivers in China, the UK, and Germany.
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Source: Bloomberg
According to Bloomberg, Ford even sold 17 Mustangs in Bulgaria, one of the smaller countries in Europe.
Carl Court/Getty Images
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.
Fabrizio Schenardi
Source: Fabrizio Schenardi
After Ford’s campervan release to the European market and the global Mustang fascination, it seems Ford is paving the way for other American car brands' international presence.
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Ford has a lot of love for Europe, and the feeling is mutual.
Ford fan clubs, blogs, and memorabilia collections are popular in Europe.
Some megafans have even gone so far as to tattoo the brand onto their bodies.
Meet some of Ford's megafans and see how the love affair has blossomed.
