Registrations of New Caravans and Motor Caravans in Europe on the Rise Once Again

Caravanning is a more popular and appealing activity than ever before among Europeans. With a 5.3 percent increase in sales for the period January through April, relative to the same period last year, the strong sales result for new leisure vehicles in European come on the heels of last year’s outstanding performance for the European leisure vehicle market. In the first four months of 2019, a total of 79,634 new leisure vehicles were sold in the European market, with virtually all national markets registering sales increases. The national markets with the most robust sales increases thus far this year are Germany (+13.7 percent), Spain (+38.2 percent), Belgium (+11.0 percent) and Switzerland (+15.1 percent). The French market continues to be on a par with the excellent sales registered in 2018, while sales of new leisure vehicles during the first quarter of this year declined in the United Kingdom (-0.9 percent) due to the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit and the negative economic impact this situation is already having.

Record demand for motor caravans

The record demand for motor caravans that was seen in 2018 is continuing unabated this year. The 50,842 new motor caravans sold in the first four months of this year translate into a strong 6.2 percent rise over the same period last year. Moreover, sales of new units in the vast majority of national motor caravan markets are on the upswing. Germany, which is by far the national market with the highest sales, registered an astonishing increase of new registrations of 14.8 percent in the first four months of this year. This also means that the German market is headed for its ninth consecutive record-breaking year. Sales in France, which is the second most successful market, have been as strong thus far this year as they were in 2018. Despite the turmoil being generated by Brexit, sales of motor caravans rose by 4.7 percent in the United Kingdom, which remains the third strongest caravanning market in Europe. In the first four months of 2019, enormous sales increases were also registered in Switzerland (+31.9 percent), Belgium (+12.2 percent) and Sweden (+26.0 percent). These three national markets, along with Austria, are also poised for record-breaking sales in 2019. However, sales of motor caravans in Italy declined during the first four months of this year relative to the same period last year, when, in the wake of a series of market consolidations, an extremely large sales increase was seen.

 

Solid growth in registrations of new caravans

New registrations of caravans for the first four months of this year also rose considerably, by 3.6 percent, relative to the same period last year. In the European market as a whole, a total of 28,792 new caravans rolled out of dealer showrooms during the first quarter of this year. The majority of the national caravan markets continues its positive sales trends of 2018. The highest sales figures for caravans, as for motor caravans, were seen in Germany, where a total of 10,111 new caravans rolled out of dealer showrooms. This represents an increase of 11.3 percent relative to the same period last year. Because of the Brexit and the economic uncertainty currently plaguing the United Kingdom, and the resulting reluctance on the part of British consumers to spend their disposable income, caravan sales (which tend to be affected by economic ups and downs more than motor caravan sales) have dropped noticeably (-5.0 percent) again. With 6,848 new caravans in the first four months of this year, the United Kingdom, which for decades was the sales leader in this sector, is now in second place in the European caravan market. Sales of new caravans in the key Dutch market rose a respectable 4.2 percent to 2,717 units, whereas sales in France amounting to 2,756 caravans were on a par with last year’s strong performance.

 

“With more than 200,000 new leisure vehicles sold, 2018 was one of the most successful years in more than a decade for the European caravanning market. This positive trend is continuing this year, and we are anticipating solid growth in both vehicle segments and in the majority of European markets in the coming months,” said Jost Krüger, General Secretary of the European Caravan Federation (ECF).

 

This press release contains some estimates and preliminary figures. Last updated: 17 June 2019.

The European Caravan Federation
The European Caravan Federation (ECF), which is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is an umbrella organization that represents the interests of the national associations of the European leisure vehicle industry. François Feuillet and Jost Krüger are, respectively, president and general secretary of the ECF. Founded in 1964, the ECF is composed of 12 national organizations, each of which represents the interests of the manufacturing arm of the leisure vehicle industry in each of the EU member states. The ECF is the lobbying organization in Brussels for the European leisure vehicle industry. In this capacity, the ECF lobbies EU legislators on political, economic, and technical matters that are of concern to ECF members. The ECF’s head office is located in Zurich, Switzerland.

About Caravaning Industrie Verband e. V.
Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD) is the trade association for the industrial arm of the German leisure vehicle sector. Our members include German and European leisure vehicle manufacturers, numerous leisure-vehicle supply vendors and service providers, as well as public institutions and associations. Founded in 1962, CIVD represents the interests of the German leisure vehicle industry for all matters of concern to its members, through lobbying and other communication measures directed at German and European political institutions and government authorities. The CIVD is also the ideal sponsor for CARAVAN SALON, the world’s largest vehicle leisure industry trade show. In this capacity CIVD plays a pivotal role in promoting the progress and development of the European leisure vehicle industry.