It’s no secret we love our Fords here in America. The F-150 is a legendary workhorse, the Mustang is an icon, and the Explorer is a benchmark in the SUV segment.
Ford’s U.S. October sales figures are proof of that. Retail sales were up 13 percent compared to October 2014. In fact, last month’s figures added up to Ford’s best October in 11 years.
An increase in overall F-Series sales of three percent certainly contributed to that, as did sales of more than 10,000 Mustangs (a 121-percent jump). Moving 30 percent more Explorers last month relative to October of 2014 also had a positive effect.
That’s all well and good, but Ford’s a global automaker. How’s it doing on the other side of the world, such as in India, where consumers can buy vehicles such as the Figo Aspire, Figo, and EcoSport?
Two words: the same.
Scratch that. Better.
According to NDTV, “Ford India on Monday reported a 75.58 per cent increase in total sales at 20,420 units last month. It had sold 11,630 units in October 2014.” Domestic sales went up 49 percent to 10,008 units in October compared to the same month last year; exports rose by more than 5,500 units to a total of 10,412.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
