German leisure vehicles are in strong demand throughout Europe

German manufacturers of leisure vehicles continued to feel the effects of the global crises in 2022. Motor caravan production buckled, due in particular to a lack of vehicle chassis, and at 74,962 units produced 9 percent fewer vehicles than in the previous year. Caravan production increased by 12.5 percent (54,325 units). Across all sectors, 129,287 leisure vehicles were produced, down 1.1 percent compared to the previous year. Foreign demand for German motor caravans and caravans remained high in 2022, with a total of 54,601 vehicles going into export.

German-made motor caravans and caravans continue to be very popular in Germany and abroad, and companies’ order books are well filled. However, due to faltering supply chains and staff shortages, German manufacturers were unable to exceed the previous year’s total production: A total of 129,287 leisure vehicles rolled off the production lines. This represents a drop of 1.1 percent compared to the historic all-time high from 2021. Of this, a total of 54,601 units (export ratio: 42.2 percent) were exported – a slight drop of 0.5 percent compared to 2021.

 

Fewer motor caravans produced

The main factor behind the lower overall figures was the production shortfall in the motor caravan sector. In the past twelve months, 74,962 motor caravans were produced in Germany, a decline of 9 percent. The division suffered in particular from the shortage of vehicle chassis. Despite a very strong order backlog, numerous motor caravans could not be completed due to a lack of parts or could not even go into production due to a shortage of base vehicles. Accordingly, low vehicle inventories were also shipped abroad: 28,278 exported motor caravans (export ratio: 37.7 percent) represent a drop of 12.7 percent compared with the previous year.

Caravan production and export increases

The low production volume of the motor caravan division had an impact on the production of caravans. As the caravan division is not dependent on chassis, numerous manufacturers producing both vehicle types used their open production capacities to build even more caravans. As a result, caravan production increased by 12.5 percent to 54,325 units. Of these, 26,323 caravans were exported, resulting in a 17.2 percent increase in exports. The export ratio was 48.5 percent.

“Caravanning is very much in vogue throughout Europe and demand for German motor caravans and caravans made in Germany has been very high for many years and will remain so. With around 55,000 exports, we are down on the previous year’s record, but in view of the major challenges in production, this is still a very solid result. If the supply situation eases as anticipated in 2023, customers abroad will also benefit from an improved supply of vehicles and shorter delivery times,” explains Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of the Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD).