Tourism: Corona pandemic is fueling motorhome boom

In view of the ongoing corona pandemic, motorhomes and caravans are in greater demand in Germany than ever before. In the first seven months of this year alone, around 75,000 recreational vehicles were newly registered, as the Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD) reported in Düsseldorf on Wednesday.

The high level of the previous year was exceeded by another 6 percent. “Caravanning has arrived in the middle of society,” said CIVD managing director Daniel Onggowinarso.

Overall, the industry hopes to sell 120,000 mobile homes this year, twelve percent more than last year. But this is not yet certain. Because, like many other German manufacturers, the manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans are currently suffering from problems in the supply chain. “Many components and raw materials are currently hardly available due to the pandemic and stagnant supply chains, so that we can sometimes not meet the continued very high demand,” said the industry spokesman a week and a half before the start of the most important industry fair, the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf.

Caravan manufacturers in particular have hundreds of vehicles in stock that are practically finished but cannot be delivered because a certain part is missing – sometimes just the drinking water filler neck or a window pane.

In view of the high demand, the delivery times for self-configured motorhomes and caravans are already nine to twelve months, according to Onggowinarso. Immediately available vehicles are rare. In addition: If you want to order a motorhome now, you have to expect to dig deeper into your pocket. “The prices rise because the supply chains dictate higher prices for us,” says the CIVD managing director.

Good for the industry: its customers have at least rejuvenated somewhat during the pandemic. While the average age of touring vehicle owners was last at 53 years, young families are now again interested in motorhomes and, above all, caravans. “We estimate that 30 percent of customers who last bought a vehicle are newcomers,” said Onggowinarso. This already has a noticeable impact on the design of the vehicles.

“Many who have not dealt with the form of travel before have a different claim,” reported the industry spokesman. They expected digital offers in the mobile home as well, as well as easier operation of the vehicle overall. It fits into the picture that now more than half of the newly registered motorhomes are converted box vans based on the VW Transporter, the Fiat Ducato or the Renault Trafic.

Compact and comparatively affordable, such vehicles are the ideal introduction to caravanning in the eyes of the industry. “Once you have a van, you quickly want something bigger,” believes Onggowinarso.

And when it comes to that, the market currently has more to offer than ever. The offer ranges from small caravans for two in a retro design to world travel vehicles with all-wheel drive and 630 hp engines. And when it comes to accessories, there are hardly any wishes left unfulfilled. Dishwashers can now be found in luxury motorhomes as well as rain showers. And if you want to arrive safely, you can make your journey easier with a navigation device that takes the dimensions of the motorhome into account when planning the route.

The motorhome and caravan manufacturers expect additional impulses from the world’s largest trade fair, the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, which opens its doors to the general public on August 28th. 645 exhibitors present their innovations there.

However, the success of the industry also has its downsides. Parking spaces for the mobile homes are gradually becoming scarce. In the past five years, the number of recreational vehicles on German roads has risen by 35 percent to around 1.4 million. But the expansion of the infrastructure for caravanning fans has not kept up. The number of parking spaces in Germany only increased by 5 percent in the same period, reported the CIVD managing director. The CIVD is now promoting the construction of new RV sites.