printOverview
In 2009 the Federal Republic of Germany experienced the worst economic
crisis in the countryÊs history. The German leisure vehicle industry
was of course affected by the crisis, with total sales declining by 21.4 percent
for the year to 4.11 billion euros, compared with 5.22 billion euros in
2008. Hardest hit were new leisure vehicle sales, which decreased from 2.9
to 1.82 billion euros - a 37.4 percent loss. Accessory sales fell by slightly over
16 percent to 429 million euros. However, the used leisure vehicle sector
bucked this trend, registering a nearly 3 percent sales increase to 1.86 billion
euros.
German leisure vehicle exports, which are normally very robust, were extremely
hard hit, with export sales of only 22,580 caravans (down 29.8 percent)
and only 11,451 motor caravans (down 37.5 percent), compared to a
total of 32,165 caravans and 18,309 motor caravans in the prior year. Thus
exports accounted for sales of approximately 60 percent of all new caravans
and 50 percent of all new motor caravans in Germany in 2009.
Prospects
Expectations for the German and European leisure vehicle industry
are relatively cautions for this year, with vendors anticipating a sales decline in
the single digit range. However, leisure vehicle makers are anticipating a slight
rise in both production figures and sales owing to greatly reduced inventories.
Nearly 60 percent of caravan manufacturers predict that sales will fall, whereas the remaining 40 percent expect a slight increase. 40 percent of the vendors predict that caravan exports will remain unchanged, 30 percent are anticipating a slight increase, and the remaining 30 percent expect sales to decline slightly. Motor caravan manufacturersare somewhat more optimistic, however. 78 percent are anticipating unchanged or slightly increased sales, whereas the remaining 22 percent predict that sales will dip slightly. As for exports, 48 percent of motor
caravan manufacturers predict that exports will remain at 2009 levels, 38 percent are even predicting a rise inexport sales, and only 14 percent are anticipating a drop in exports.
Ralf Daelen
Commercial Director
Regina Vischer
Statistics, Adress Administration
Sabine Messinger
Statistics, Adress Administration
