Aboutcamp BtoB - issue 42

With 2024, we embark on the 14th year of this magazine’s life. Every issue is available on our website, including the first one with just 12 pages. “What you are holding in your hands is not a promotional flyer, but a real newspaper. Written by professionals and dedicated to manufacturers of recreational vehicles,” was stated in the brief space dedicated to the Editor’s note. It was back in 2011 that we embarked on an extraordinary journey, one that leads us today to extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire caravanning industry. First and foremost, our sponsors, the companies that produce components, who have understood the value of quality B2B communication as guaranteed by the journalistic work of our contributors scattered around the world. We have colleagues in Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, (France is missed, but

Contents

Interviews

• 26 Alexander Leopold EHG

Columns

• 48 Lamilux

The camper’s skin

• 32 Armin Mäder Tabbert

applications are open), North America, Australia, Japan, and naturally in Italy, where this newspaper is produced then distributed all over the world, because Aboutcamp BtoB is a global newspaper. We become aware of this when we travel to international shows and are welcomed with great warmth and affection. This happens regularly at European fairs, but it has also happened in Melbourne, Elkhart, Tokyo, and recently during our visit to Istanbul. The market in Turkey is quite surprising and is developing rapidly. You will find an extensive report on the Karavanist Fair in this issue. And we also report on the German CMT fair in Suttgart, which serves as a barometer for the market in Europe. Germany, with its extraordinary registration numbers, is the driving force of all of Europe. Operators seem satisfied with the market trend, which is slowing down, but for now, does not worry the industry. We invite you to delve into this issue, which is brimming with interviews, reports, technical analysis, and a wealth of information.

Antonio Mazzucchelli

• 50 CTA Quality, flexibility, sustainability

• 52 Gok

Pressure regulation systems

• 54 AMA Composites Advanced solutions for the future

• 56 Vetroresina

Style & features

• 38 Fabrizio Giugiaro GFG Style

• 58 AL-KO VTE Integrating past and future

• 62 Thetford Sustainability drives Thetford

• 64 Teleco Improving service battery charging

• 66 Lippert Versatile and customised solutions

• 70 Indel B Air, light, refrigeration

• 44 Ariane Finzel DCHV

News from the world

• 20 Updates from leading markets

Reports

• 72 Karavanist Istanbul

Let’s discover a market that has skyrocketed in just few years: Turkey

• 92 CMT Stuttgart

CMT again proves to be a “mood lifter”

• 104 Germany

Overview of the largest European RV market Market

N ews

Fit Your Camper 2024: the first fair dedicated only to RV accessories

Fit Your Camper (www.fityourcamper.it) is a new show purely dedicated to accessories for motorhomes, caravans and vans. It is aimed at both industry professionals and the public and takes place from 4 to 7 April, 2023 at the Lariofiere exhibition centre at Erba, near Como in northern Italy. There will be a wide range of national and international exhibitors displaying their latest creations in terms of equipment, accessories and aftermarket components for motorhomes, caravans and vans.

“Fit Your Camper” is not just a product fair: it will also be a place for learning and entertainment. Technical areas will be dedicated to product and service presentations, while the entertainment area will host speeches and discussions on topics related to motorhome and caravan travel, with the participation of experts, influencers and journalists in the sector.

already confirmed their participation, including, to name just a few: Airxcel, AL-KO and AL-KO VTE, Brunner, CBE, Eberspächer, GOK, Filippi1971, Indel B, Lippert, Macrom, Sr Mecatronic, Teleco, Thetford, Thule, Viesa, Vitrifrigo. Many other brands will be represented by leading Italian and European distributors such as Dimatec, Ges International, Vecamplast, Campertools, Contec Group, who will showcase products from Truma, Fiamma, Webasto, VB Airsuspension and Efoy, among others, at their stands.

The first two days of the fair are reserved for industry professionals, offering them an exclusive opportunity for networking, discovery and business. Aboutcamp BtoB would like to invite industry professionals to its welcome booth where the team will be delighted to see you.

Nearly all of the most relevant brands in the sector have

Editorial

Editor in chief: Antonio Mazzucchelli direttore@aboutcamp.eu

Senior editor: Renato Antonini

Art director: Federico Cavina

Editorial team: Paolo Galvani - Terry Owen

John Rawlings - Enrico Bona - Peter Hirtschulz

Steve Fennell - David Guest - Bartek Radzimski

Irene Viergever - Giovanni Ricciardi

Giorgio Carpi - Andrea Cattaneo

Web team: Maurizio Fontana - Gabriel Lopez

Advertising

Sales International: direzione@fuorimedia.com

Sales Italy: Giampaolo Adriano

+39 338 9801370 adriano@fuorimedia.com

Web edition

Tickets are free for all trade professionals and can be booked here: https://www.fityourcamper.it/en/biglietti-pro/

Aboutcamp BtoB helps professionals in the caravan/RV and leisure industry around the world keep up to date with all the latest business news and market trends in this sector. It’s the most well informed source of B2B information in the caravan industry, with a unique global perspective and an international team of correspondents delivering daily news online at www.AboutcampBtoB.eu, a bi-monthly e-newsletter, and a high quality print magazine delivered (free) in Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, China, Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile. The Aboutcamp BtoB magazine is published four times a year with features including exclusive interviews with senior management from the industry, reviews of the major exhibitions around the world, and reports about the latest market trends, plus in-depth profiles of OEM suppliers who specifically manufacture components for this sector. With all the recent acquisitions, new technological developments and more and more consumers buying leisure vehicles around the world, Aboutcamp BtoB is essential reading for everyone working in any business related to the caravan industry. While so many flock to the internet, and have an inbox full of emails, Aboutcamp BtoB decided to print a paper magazine so that it gets more noticed, read, appreciated and discussed; so, we wish you happy reading!

Aboutcamp BtoB is also a website updated daily with news and information dedicated to RV builders and OEM producers. The website is supported by a professional newsletter sent monthly to the professionals in the RV sector. We also strengthened our presence on LinkedIn, where we manage the business page of the magazine but also the group “Caravanning Professional” which allows us to develop direct and informal relationships with decision-makers in the RV industry.

On our website is possible to read online the print edition of all Aboutcamp BtoB issues at: www.aboutcampbtob.eu/read-the-magazines

Fuori Media srl

Viale Campania 33 - 20133 Milan – Italy

Ph +39 0258437051 - E-mail: redazione@aboutcamp.eu

Internet: www.aboutcampbtob.eu

Amerimax for Mobility joint venture

Lippert has announced that is entering into a strategic alliance with Euramax for Mobility, the largest European supplier of aluminum products for recreational and transportation vehicles, through its affiliate, Amax Mobility, LLC, to form a new joint venture: Amerimax for Mobility. With over 50 years of experience in partnering and supplying custom aluminum sidewalls and panels to the recreational and transportation OEM markets, Lippert and Euramax are combining efforts to provide one of the most diverse product catalogues, including a wide range of new products, as well as industry-leading customer service, for the recreational vehicle and transportation OEM markets. The combined product lines of Amerimax for Mobility will of-

fer a complimentary range of products from traditional metal fabricated panels, prepainted aluminum sheets and coils with a width up to 103 inches, to highstrength premium laminates, as well as fiberglass reinforced polyester panels. The new joint venture combines Lippert’s deeply rooted North American RV industry relationships with Euramax for Mobility’s extensive manufacturing expertise. Amerimax for Mobility’s North American OEM customer base can expect immediate manufacturing and supply chain advantages, most notably an increase in manufacturing capacity and product availability that will bring customer experience and service to all new levels. Amerimax for Mobility has also strategically expanded the geographic footprint of its service locations to provide world-class customer service at three locations in Elkhart County, Indiana, as well as single locations in Mansfield, Texas; Stayton, Oregon; and Perris Valley, California.

Winnebago: first quarter fiscal 2024 results

The financial results for Winnebago Industries, Inc. in its Fiscal 2024 first quarter (ended November 25, 2023) show total revenues of $763.0 million, a decrease of 19.9% compared to $952.2 million for the Fiscal 2023 first quarter. This decrease was primarily driven by lower unit sales related to market conditions, product mix, and higher discounts and allowances compared to prior year, partially offset by carryover price increases related to higher motorized chassis costs. Gross profit for the Fiscal 2024 first quarter was $115.8 million, a decrease of 27.8% compared to $160.4 million for the Fiscal 2023 first quarter. Gross profit margin decreased 160 basis points from prior

year to 15.2% primarily as a result of volume deleverage and higher discounts and allowances. Operating income was $39.1 million for the Fiscal 2024 first quarter, a decrease of 54.5% compared to $85.9 million for the first quarter of last year. Fiscal 2024 first quarter net income was $25.8 million, a decrease of 57.1% compared to $60.2 million in the prior year quarter. Revenues for the Towable RV segment were $330.8 million for the Fiscal 2024 first quarter, down 4.8% compared to the prior year, primarily driven by a reduction in average selling price per unit related to product mix and targeted price reductions, partially offset by unit volume growth. Revenues for the Motorhome RV segment were $334.4 million for Fiscal 2024 first quarter, down 28.0% from the prior year, primarily driven by a decline in unit volume related to market conditions and higher levels of discounts and allowances, partially offset by product mix and price increases related to higher motorized chassis costs.

Pininfarina-designed electric motorhome stars at CES 2024

The iconic Italian design house, Pininfarina, has partnered with AC Future, an innovator in developing futuristic living solutions, to conceptualize and design an electric RV called the eTH – Electric Transformer House which was shown to the public at the CES 2024 show in Las Vegas in January. The eTH is more than just an RV, and offers a sustainable living platform, providing an extraordinary travel and living experience with various expandable structures tailored to everyone’s living habits and preferences. Each product features Starlink connectivity, copilot assistance, and customizable interior and exterior colour options to provide an optimal living, working, and travelling experience. Among eTH’s distinctive features are moveable walls, which expand to 400 sq ft at the push of a button to significantly enhance the living space, redefining the concept of a home on wheels. The retractable solar panel roof captures and converts sunlight into electricity, generating +25kWh, and prioritizes sustainable living. Further, eTH’s Atmospheric Water Generator system converts moisture from the air with up to 50L of ambient clean water daily. In addition to its expandable walls, eTH boasts collapsible and modular furniture that condenses for easy driving and parking — striking a balance between maneuverability and spacious living. It can also serve as both an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and a moving office. All of eTH’s features as well as the vehicle itself are powered entirely by green energy with 7 days of off-grid capabilities.

Aboutcamp BtoB is media partner of interzum forum italy

Aboutcamp BtoB has partnered as a media partner of interzum forum italy, the new major international appointment signed Koelnmesse for subcontracting and interior design sector. A biennial event that will alternate with interzum Cologne and will be held at the Fiera di Bergamo on 6 - 7 June 2024. The format is innovative: a two-day event in which the latest innovations will be presented in a modern and functional exhibition area, and where sector operators will have the opportunity to keep up to date with the latest trends, thanks to a rich and articulated program of high-level congresses - talks, trend stages, product stages - that will see the participation of prestigious Italian and international speakers. On June 6 at 1:00 PM, our senior editor Renato Antonini will speak at a talk titled “LIFESTYLE TREND-

SETTING: living, working, sailing, and cruising, moving.” The speaker lineup includes Giulio Salvadori, Director of the Internet of Things, Connected Car & Mobility, and Smart City Observatories at the Digital Innovation Observatories - School of Management - Politecnico di Milano; Sergio Buttiglieri, Style Director at San Lorenzo (+ Matchmaking); and Edi Snaidero, President of EFIC (European Furniture Industry Confederation) and kitchen sector representative within FederlegnoArredo. Renato Antonini, architect and journalist, started his career as a designer. But soon he decide to dedicate full-time to his passion: recreational vehicles, particularly motorhomes. Since 1997, he has been working as a journalist, specializing in the specific theme of RVs. “The world of recreational vehicles is undergoing rapid transformation; motorhomes and caravans still represent the main categories, but new derivative types are emerging, implying dif-

ferent internal living layouts and multiple furnishing solutions” says Renato Antonini. “The ways of usage are also changing. The difference is not only in the color tones of the decorations; today’s challenge revolves around the relationship between lightweight design and cost. New materials are entering the scene, and home automation is taking its first steps on RVs. The industry partly embraces trends from the home furnishing sector and partly creates its own language, resulting in specialized products. Motorhomes and caravans are no longer just holiday vehicles; they have become multifunctional spaces, perfect for remote work as well as supporting various sports activities”.

Sonja Gole retires from Adria Mobil

After almost 28 years of managing Adria Mobil, Sonja Gole, has decided to retire and left the company at the end of February. She will be succeeded by Gregor Adler. Adler has a Bachelor degree in economics (University of Ljubljana) and has extensive, long-term experience in various companies and management positions. Based on the confirmation of the company’s supervisory board, Gregor Adler took over the management of Adria Mobil in the position of General Manager as of March 1st, 2024. Sonja Gole has been connected with Adria Mobil throughout her entire professional career, and in 1996 was entrusted with the most important function – at that time she became the General Manager and took over the leadership of Adria Mobil. At that time the company only had 186 employees, and Sonja Gole and her team laid new foundations for the business strategy and reorganized both the business model and the sales network across Europe. In the following decades Sonja Gole managed to stabilize the company and successfully lead it through all the turbulent periods of crises, economic fluctuations and geopolitical friction. The sales network expanded, the amount of products sold grew and the Adria brand became more and more recognizable, respectable and desirable among customers. Adria Mobil is today recognized as one of the most reputable manufacturers in the European industry of recreational vehicles, while its products are among most desired in Europe and produced in one of the most technologically advanced production facilities in the industry.

Mercedes: longwheelbase versions

Mercedes-Benz product range expanded in small van segment: sales launch for long-wheelbase versions of the Mercedes-Benz T-Class and Mercedes-Benz Citan Tourer and Marco Polo camper module. The Mercedes-Benz T-Class and the Citan Tourer are around 42 centimetres longer than before, with a vehicle length of just under five metres. The flexible Marco Polo camper module is now also available from dealers in Germany. It makes it possible to transform standard-length small vans into a micro camper and back in no time.

Extension of driving licences to 4.25 tonnes gets one step closer

Further progress has been made towards an extension of the B driving licence to 4.25 tonnes for motor caravans by the European Parliament. In its first reading on the reform of the Driving Licence Directive, the European Parliament approved an extension of the B driving licence to 4.25 tonnes for motor caravans and in December 2023, the second EU institution also gave the green light for the driving licence amendment the caravanning industry has been calling for. The exact framework conditions for the extension of driving licences will be negotiated in the trialogue between the Commission, Council and Parliament after the new elections to the European Parliament (6 to 9 June 2024). An extension to 4.25 tonnes offers the opportunity to make sustainable and family-friendly travel by motor caravan accessible to millions of people in the future. The European caravanning industry has been campaigning for years through its umbrella association, the European Caravan Federation (ECF), to extend the weight limit of the B driving licence to 4.25 tonnes for all motorhomes.

Laika wins top awards for its Kreos motorhome

The Erwin Hymer Group brand, Laika, is celebrating receiving two awards for its new Kreos motorhome range. Kreos is the flagship of the Laika motorhome range and it won “Best Luxury Motorhome” category at the Motorhome Awards 2024 in the UK. It also received a “Special Mention” at the German Design Award in the “Excellent Product Design – Automotive Parts and Accessories” category. Introduced in August 2023, the Kreos H 5109 was developed from concepts by the Italian design studio “GFG Style”: a choice that focuses on quality and the continuation of a fruitful relationship that began in 2021 with the design of the Kreos L 5009. The Motorhome Awards, in association with Creation Personal Finance, are organised every year by the magazines “MMM”, “What Motorhome” and “Campervan”. The German Design Award is a prize of absolute international standing that has been organised by the German Design Council since 2012 and is awarded to those who present innovative projects in the field of design.

Dometic full year 2023 results show organic net sales declined by 12 percent

Dometic’s latest financial results report that tougher market conditions caused full year 2023 organic net sales to decline by 12 percent.

President and CEO, Juan Vargues said: “We are very proud of the results that we have achieved in a very challenging 2023. Thanks to our dedicated employees around the globe, we continued to take several important steps on our strategic transformation journey while we at the same time took necessary short-term cost reduction actions to protect margins and cash flow. In a challenging market environment, impacted by geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty in combination with high inventory levels, we continued to demonstrate that we have become a resilient, fast-moving and more effective company. Due to the tough market situation, full year 2023 organic net

sales declined by 12 percent, while the EBITA-margin before items affecting comparability showed solid year-on-year improvements in the second half of the year and ended at 12.5 percent for the full year. Reducing working capital was a top priority and operating cash flow of SEK 5.2 b for the year was our strongest ever. The long-term trends in the Mobile Living industry are strong, however it remains difficult to predict how the current macroeconomic situation and market conditions will impact the business in the short term.”

Four RV companies named as some of America’s Most Responsible Companies

Newsweek has named no less than four big companies in the RV industry, Winnebago Industries, Thor Industries, Lippert and Cummins, as some of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2024. For the fifth year, Newsweek has partnered with global research and data firm Statista for its annual list of America’s Most Responsible Companies. Out of 600 of the largest corporations in the United States, the highest scoring company involved with the RV industry were Cummins, ranked 195, Lippert (LCI Industries), ranked 221, and Thor Industries and Winnebago Industries ranked equal at 476. Corporate responsibility encompasses environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). However, at the core is the idea that businesses should support the communities in which they belong.

Filippi 1971 opens new warehouse in Australia

In addition to its new website it recently introduced for its OEM customers in Australia, Filippi 1971 has now opened a new, larger warehouse in Epping, Melbourne to increase the amount of stock it can store and provide a quicker delivery service to RV manufacturers. The new 1,000 m² warehouse is in Epping, Melbourne, which is closer to the Victorian caravan industry than the previous one in Thomastown, meaning it can provide quicker deliveries and demonstrate Filippi 1971’s commitment and service level to its customers in Australia.

Leisure-Tec Australia becomes distributor for Vitrifrigo fridges

Leisure-Tec Australia is now a distributor for the Italian refrigeration manufacturer, Vitrifrigo, adding to its portfolio of caravan, motorhome, camping and 4WD premium products. Leisure-Tec Australia CEO, Paul Widdis, said: “With Vitrifrigo being added to its distribution in Australia, we can provide caravan and motorhome manufacturers with the opportunity to provide their customers with a world-leading premium brand, as well DIYers and 4WD enthusiasts. Vitrifrigo,” he continued, “have a world class reputation in refrigeration and the new Chromelock series of light weight fridges we have added to our product portfolio range, will add reliability and durability to caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, vanlifers and 4WDs, and more importantly keep food and drinks nice and cold and fresh.”

THOR Industries Q2 fiscal 2024: net sales of $2.21 billion

The second quarter 2024 fiscal highlights for THOR Industries include consolidated net sales of $2.21 billion (compared to $2.35 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2023) and a consolidated gross profit margin of 12.3%.

North American Towable RV net sales were down 11.9% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the prior-year period, driven by a 10.2% increase in unit shipments offset by a 22.1% decrease in the overall net price per unit. The decrease in the overall net price per unit was primarily due to the combined impact of a shift in product mix toward travel trailers and more moderately-priced units along with price compared to the prior-year period. North American Towable RV gross profit margin was 7.4% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 6.4% in the prior-year period. The increase in gross profit margin was primarily driven by a decrease in the material cost percentage, due to the combined favorable impacts of product

mix changes and cost-savings initiatives, partially offset by higher labor and manufacturing overhead percentages.

North American Motorized RV net sales decreased 22.8% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the prior-year period. The decrease was primarily due to an 18.4% reduction in unit shipments, partly due to independent dealer restocking in the prior-year period, as well as a 4.4% decrease resulting from changes in product mix and net price per unit as current-year shipments trended toward more moderately-priced units and included elevated sales discounts compared to the prior-year period. North American Motorized RV gross profit margin was 10.6% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 14.5% in the prior-year period. The decrease in the gross profit margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was primarily driven by an increase in sales discounts and chassis costs as well as an increase in manufacturing overhead cost

as a percentage of net sales due to the reduction in net sales.

European RV net sales increased 20.9% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the prior-year period, driven by a 3.9% increase in unit shipments and a 17.0% increase in the overall net price per unit due to the total combined impact of changes in foreign currency, product mix and price. The overall net price per unit increase of 17.0% includes a 4.1% increase due to the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes.

European RV gross profit margin was 15.3% of net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to 14.1% in the prior-year period. This improvement in the gross profit margin for the quarter was primarily driven by net selling price increases, product mix changes and a reduction in labor costs as a percentage of net sales.

Over 95,000 visitors to the UK’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show

Against a backdrop of a difficult economic climate, 95,647 visitors headed to the UK’s 2024 Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham between 13-18 February. This compares to 108,000 visitors to last year’s show.

Karen Dodd, Marketing Director at NCC Events, said: “We are really pleased with the outcome of the Show. The economic environment is

challenging at the moment, so it was great to welcome so many visitors to the event and in turn, sales for our exhibitors. The appetite for spending quality time touring and exploring the outdoors whether it be camping under canvas, in a caravan, campervan or motorhome, is as popular as ever. We’re looking forward to building on the success of the Show to deliver an even greater choice of products, travel inspiration, advice and activities for visitors in 2025 – watch this space!”

Ben Parking, Sales Director at Coachman, said: “The Show was very well attended and we’re really happy with what we sold. We’ll definitely be back in October with even more vehicles.”

Slavica Sterk, Managing Director at Adria, said: “The Caravan Camping

& Motorhome Show is always a great start to the year for Adria, generating the start of the Spring sales. The Show has a great energy and is full of enthusiastic prospective buyers who share our passion for the great outdoors. The Show is the best opportunity for visitors to see all things camping under one roof, and also great for us as manufacturers to showcase all of our ranges to tens of thousands of people over just a few days. It was a great Show with strong sales figures and a strong customer demand for Adria vehicles, and we are all looking forward to the next show in October 2024.”

Many exhibitors will be returning to the NEC later this year to see the new for 2025 model launches from UK and European manufacturers and dealers at the Motorhome and Caravan Show, 15-20 October 2024.

Billed as the UK’s biggest leisure vehicle showcase, tickets are now on sale at https://mcshow.co.uk

AL-KO opens new centre in Sweden to serve Scandinavia

AL-KO Vehicle Technology (VT) has expanded its service centre in Skene near Gothenburg, Sweden, into a fully equipped AL-KO VT customer centre to serve the entire Scandinavian region. The opening has extended its European network of customer centres to eight sites (which are in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and three in Germany). The new customer centre covers 980 m² and is located 50 kilometers south of Gothenburg. It offers a customer reception area and a showroom as well as a large, fully-equipped workshop. It sells and fits products from the group’s brands of AL-KO, E&P, CBE and SAWIKO, including towbars, bicycle and motorbike carriers, levelling systems, air suspensions, maneuvering aids, stability aids and solar panels. It also offers caravan payload-increase services and classic service and repair work on chassis and braking systems.

RV Industry Association: federal legislative priorities

The RV Industry Association’s Government Affairs team has shared its 2024 federal legislative priorities. It has four main goals for the year: reauthorizing the Generalized System of Preferences; reforming competitive needs limitations through the CNL Update Act; passing the outdoor recreation package; and passing the Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act. The definition of motor vehicle in the federal tax code inequitably impacts certain segments of the RV industry. While floor plan financing interest charges on motorhomes remains fully deductible, towables— which make up 85% of RVs— are now limited to deductions of only 30% of interest expenses based on earnings before interest and tax. This is unfair and was not the Congressional intent behind changing the definition of motor vehicle. The Government Affairs team continues to urge Congress to pass House and Senate Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity legislation. Progress was made on this issue during the summer and fall of last year.

FIAT Ducato voted Motorhome Base Vehicle of the Year 2024 by readers of Promobil

For the 16th year in a row, readers of the motorhome magazine “Promobil” in Germany have voted the FIAT Professional Ducato as the “Best Motorhome Base Vehicle of the year” in its annual readers’ choice awards. Promobil readers could choose from 270 motorhome series divided in 10 different categories, and a total of

23 vehicles were nominated as base vehicle. The Recreational Vehicle sector represents a significant proportion of the total production of the Fiat Ducato and this award for “Best Motorhome Base Vehicle 2024” confirms the trust customers have in FIAT Professional Ducato as their leisure companion. The cornerstone of the Ducato’s success is the strategy of designing the vehicle as a platform for extensions right from the development stage. The FIAT Professional Ducato has been manufactured at the Atessa plant in Val di Sangro (near Pescara, Italy) for more than 40 years. Today, the community of Ducato-based motorhome owners has grown to over 1 million members who travel all over Europe.

KOA reports another year of growth in 2023

Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) had a successful year of growth in 2023 with 12 independent park conversions secured and eight new construction contracts last year, contributing to its growth in branded locations to 511 across North America. The 20 agreements are attributed to the KOA franchise development team’s dedicated efforts, which mark a significant rise from 14 agreements in the previous year and underscores the organization’s resilience and adaptive strength in the evolving travel, camping and outdoor hospitality industry. “KOA is the go-to partner for conversion and new build campgrounds,” said Chris Fairlee, chief acquisition officer. “The equation is easy for owners to see how our brand and services set them up for success and create operational efficiencies.”

KOA maintains a pipeline for future expansions, including six parks in the process of converting to a KOA-branded campground and 26 new construction franchise campgrounds, plus three owned properties earmarked for development. With a healthy franchise renewal rate of 95%, KOA

could easily reach 550 campgrounds in the next few years.

“The combination of high renewal rates amongst our existing franchisees, along with the healthy influx of new franchisees and new campgrounds, is a clear indication that KOA is meeting the needs of our customers – both campers and franchisees alike,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. “Our comprehensive range of services, from marketing and KOA.com to campground design and our proprietary Property Management System, K2, we are undoubtedly valuable at every stage of our franchisees’ business lifecycle. I am incredibly proud of what our teams have accomplished and am excited for what 2024 and beyond holds for KOA.”

Thetford top for Toilet Systems

In an annual survey, readers of the German RV magazine, Promobil, who voted for their best brands of 2024 put Thetford as number one in the Toilet Systems category (again) by an overwhelming majority. They also placed Thetford second in the Refrigerators and Cool Box category. There are few brands in any market that have been a market leader for such a long period of time, which suggests high customer satisfaction.

A fair and balanced approach to EVs

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia is calling for a ‘fair and balanced approach to electric vehicles’ in relation to the proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) in Australia. Stuart Lamont, CEO of Caravan Industry Association of Australia, has pointed out that the Australian caravanning industry is just one industry which can be expected to be heavily impacted and a unintended casualty of an aggressive and accelerated move towards a low emission environment. “We can certainly argue surprise at some of the hard line targets and timings which have been suggested, and what appears to be a lack of consideration for a range of other technologies which could also assist in better outcomes for the planet – in many cases the infrastructure needed to support electrification of Australia’s new vehicle fleet in the regions and between regional centres simply appears to be insufficient for what is required in the timeframes needed, let alone allowing for other low emission technologies such as hydrogen or bio fuels to be able to be commercially developed in time to meet the Government’s speedy desires,” commented Stuart Lamont.

Kia’s Platform Beyond Mobility concept vehicles at CES 2024

Kia has revealed its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) future strategy at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Kia’s PBV business will initially be based around the introduction of an all-new modular vehicle, previewed by the Kia Concept PV5, and includes commercial vehicle variants that might be of interest to the RV sector. Kia says its PBVs are a ‘total mobility solution’ that combine fit-for-purpose EVs with advanced software solutions based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s software-to-everything, or SDx, strategy. As a Platform Beyond Vehicle, Kia PBVs will open the door to new businesses and lifestyles by redefining the concept of space thanks to advanced, tailored interiors that provide ultimate freedom and flexibility. The launch of Kia’s PBV business will see the brand commit to providing a varied range of customised vehicle types to meet customers’ individual

requirements. Phase one will see the introduction of the Kia PV5, a versatile EV optimised for major domains such as hailing, delivery and utilities that features conversion capability for diverse

customer needs. Enhanced data connectivity between vehicles and external data such as route or delivery information will enable convenient operation of multiple vehicles as a software-defined fleet. This emergence of customised

business fleets and PBV-specific solutions means less downtime and enhanced cost-effectiveness. Phase two will see the completion of the dedicated PBV model line-up, and PBVs will evolve into AI-based mobility platforms that use data to interact with users and ensure that the vehicles are always up to date. An integrated PBV solution will provide a customised, seamless experience across devices and software. Meanwhile, new forms of business linked with robotics and other future technologies will emerge. In phase three, Kia PBVs will evolve into highly customisable, bespoke mobility solutions by integrating with the future mobility ecosystem. This is where Kia PBVs will ultimately become life platforms that turn any inspiration into reality. Connected self-driving vehicles will be managed as part of a single smart city operating system.

Derubis to start caravan production in Saudi Arabian market

Derubis, the boat and caravan manufacturer from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is entering the Saudi Arabia market with the establishment of the first leisure vessel shipyard and caravan factory in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, within the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). This expansion marks a significant milestone in Derubis’ global growth strategy, positioning the company as a key player in

the region’s maritime and leisure industries. Derubis has signed a Joint Venture agreement with Zahrani Holding Group, an investment conglomerate established in 1975 specializing in a broad spectrum of industries ranging from construction and contracting to travel and tourism. This collaboration leverages both groups’ industrial expertise to expand within the luxury vessel and caravan market, regionally and globally. Construction of the first leisure vessel shipyard and caravan factory commenced in February 2024, marking a historical moment for Saudi Arabia and the beginning of Derubis’ journey into the Saudi Arabian market. The first leisure vessel shipyard and caravan factory will be located within the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) industrial valley

development area, which spans 185 square kilometers across the coast of the Red Sea, home to King Abdullah Port, which was named Most Efficient Container Port Globally by The World Bank in 2021. In the first year, Derubis plans to produce 16 power catamarans (hybrid and electric propulsion), and 240 caravans. Looking ahead, the company aims for a maximum annual production of 50 power catamarans and 480 caravans. This strategic move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a blueprint aimed at diversifying the kingdom’s economy and reducing its reliance on oil. By investing in sectors such as leisure and tourism, Derubis contributes to the realization of Vision 2030’s goals, fostering economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development in the region.

Lippert full-year results describe 2023 as a ‘challenging environment’

Full year (2023) results for LCI Industries (“Lippert”) show sales of $3.8 billion and net income of $64 million. As a result of a year for the RV industry that Lippert describes as ‘a challenging environment’, its net sales were down 27 percent and net income down 84 percent compared to the previous year. Lippert says that January 2024 sales are 13 percent ahead of the same month in 2023 primarily due to an approximate 57% increase in North American RV production, and partially offset by an approximate 44% decline in marine sales compared to January 2023. The decrease in year-over-year net sales was primarily driven by a nearly 39% decrease in North American RV wholesale shipments, decreased selling prices which are indexed to select commodities, and lower North American marine production levels, partially offset by net sales from recent acquisitions. Net sales from acquisitions completed in 2022 and 2023 contributed approximately $73.6 million in 2023. The company delivered $527 million of cash from operating activities in 2023. Commenting on these results, Jason Lippert, LCI Industries’ President and Chief Executive Officer said: “Throughout the year, our consistent execution on diversification priorities and steadfast commitment to operational discipline has supported our performance despite continued softness in the RV and marine markets.

Remarkable strength in our Aftermar-

ket business, where we continued to see robust performance, coupled with solid results and leadership in our other diversified businesses, significantly contributed to our profitability as we navigate a challenging industry environment. Our focus on operational improvement and investments in automation leave us well-positioned to drive profitable growth when production starts to normalize in 2024,”

Knaus Tabbert extends CEO Wolfgang Speck’s contract

The Supervisory Board of Knaus Tabbert AG has extended the contract of CEO Wolfgang Speck until the end of 2026 which means he will remain CEO for almost another three years. CFO Carolin Schürmann will leave the company for personal reasons on March 31, 2024. As CEO Wolfgang Speck takes over the CFO functions of Accounting & Taxes, Controlling, Costing, IT & Organization and Investor Relations; the Management Board is reduced to three members. In addition to Wolfgang Speck, this includes Head of Sales (CSO)

Gerd Adamietzki and COO Werner Vaterl, who is also responsible for the production of the wide range of motorhomes and caravans at the four locations.

The new Ducato and its three siblings

The Stellantis group has completely revamped its range of light commercial vehicles by simultaneously launching 12 new models. There is a strong focus on electric vehicles, with options providing a range of up to 420 km. Once again, the star of the recreational vehicles segment is the Fiat model

With the slogan ‘Six brands, one force,’ Stellantis presented a complete overhaul of its range of light commercial vehicles, launching 12 models across all segments under its brands Citroën, Fiat Professional, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Additionally, there was a preview of the new Ram ProMaster EV, which was launched at the end of 2023. The presentation conference also emphasized the ecological transition, with the announcement of second-generation Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) offering increased range across all models (up to 420 km). In 2024, the lineup will expand to include medium and large vans with hydrogen fuel cell technology. This unprecedented announcement in terms of scale and content underscored Stellantis’s strength in global markets: first position in Europe and Latin America, second in Africa, and third in North America. A third of the entire group’s revenue comes from the commercial vehicle market, which is already well-positioned in the electric vehicle market. In 2023, Stellantis reaffirmed its leadership in the sector, holding over 30% market

share in Europe and 45.5% in Italy. The Fiat Professional brand led sales in Italy with a 26.1% market share, driven mainly by the best-selling Ducato, achieving a 29.3% market share in its segment. In the same segment, including Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Jumper, and Opel Movano, Stellantis’s market share rose to 43.8% (+7.2%).

Fiat Ducato: the star in the recreational vehicles segment

The true star in the recreational vehicles sector is the Fiat Ducato, a model continuously produced since 1981. The flagship model of the Fiat Professional range celebrated its status as the ‘Best Camper Base 2024,’ elected by Promobil for the sixteenth consecutive time, and the ‘Best Camper Base’ voted by Auto Zeitung readers. The Ducato is a global model sold in over 80 countries worldwide and one of Fiat’s all-time best-selling models, with over 3.5 million vehicles produced in forty years. Thanks to its consistent evolution and innovations, it has become a leader in its sector, asserting its market leadership for eight

consecutive years from 2014 to 2021 and achieving continuous commercial success. On the mechanical side, the extensive range of diesel engines with the latest MultiJet generation, compliant with Euro 6E regulations, has been confirmed: a six-speed manual gearbox paired with three power levels (120, 140, 180 HP) and a new eight-speed automatic gearbox paired with 140 and 180 HP. The Heavy-Duty range with Euro 6 Step E approval is available in two power levels, 140 and 180 HP, both paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and an eightspeed automatic gearbox. Furthermore, thanks to the introduction of numerous aerodynamic improvements, the new Ducato ensures a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of up to 9% compared to the previous generation. All this without compromising the performance of its engine, capable of delivering up to 450 Nm of torque. Regardless of the chosen engine, the new Ducato maintains its cargo capacity of up to 17 cubic meters and a payload of up to 1,500 kg.

Technology and Design

The new Ducato introduces a comprehensive set of new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Full Brake Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, Attention Assist, and Intelligent Speed Assist are all available as standard or optional features. The Adaptive Cruise Control with Stopand-Go function, Lane Centering, and Traffic Jam Assist, which actively maintains control of the vehicle’s trajectory considering traffic conditions, allow the new Ducato to achieve Level 2 autonomous driving. In this level, the vehicle assists the driver during acceleration, braking, and steering phases. Exterior updates have been focused on the front of the vehicle. The most significant changes involve the entire front end, which now features new bumpers, new skid plates, and an innovative front grille with a modern body-colored design aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency. The exterior refresh is completed with updated rear lights featuring black accents and new logos.

Ample Range for the E-Ducato

This Model Year 2024 vehicle aims to meet customer needs with a multi-energy approach. Here is an electric version developed entirely in-house, boasting the best range in its category. The new E-Ducato is offered at a reduced price of 25% to make it more accessible. One of the major innovations is the new 110 kWh battery providing a range of up to 420 km in the WLTP cycle, a 30% improvement compared to the previ-

DUCATO

ous model. The new engine, capable of delivering up to 200 kW of power (270 HP) paired with 410 Nm of torque, completes the new propulsion system. The charging system is also entirely new and features two standard on-board chargers, capable of accepting up to 11 kW in alternating current or up to 150 kW in direct current for a fast battery recharge in just 55 minutes. The new E-Ducato features a particularly powerful engine and three driving modes - Eco, Normal, Power - ensuring the perfect balance between performance and range (customizable by the driver) through different acceleration profiles and maximum speeds depending on the selected driving mode. The E-coasting level can be selected using specific paddles on the steering wheel, providing the option to choose between regenerative braking and coasting mode.

“For 120 years, Fiat’s mission has been to be close to our customers, prioritizing dedicated networks and solutions,” said Olivier François, CEO of Fiat & Fiat Professional and CMO of Stellantis Global.

“As part of the Stellantis Group, we aim

120 MULTIJET3

140 MULTIJET3

to increase partnerships by leveraging a larger network, expanding beyond our leadership in Europe and South America, towards new regions like the MEA. In 2024, we will introduce a new range, including Fiat Professional vehicles Ducato, Doblò, and Scudo. These vehicles represent a new generation and offer more innovative, sustainable, and electric solutions for the businesses of the future.”

180 MULTIJET3

Version Manual Manual Automatic Manual Automatic

Displacement

Cylinders

Fuel system

Power and torque

120 hp (89 kW) at 3,500 rpm

320 nm at 1,400 rpm

Emission level Euro 6D-Final

Transmission

2.184 cc

4, in-line, industrial-derived engine

Direct electric injection Common Rail MultiJet3 with variable geometry turbocharger and intercooler

140 hp (104 kW) at 3,500 rpm

350 nm at 1,400 rpm

140 hp (104 kW) at 3,500 rpm

380 nm at 1,400 rpm

180 hp (130 kW) at 3,500 rpm

380 nm at 1,500 rpm

Euro 6 step E

6 gears + reverse in the Manual versions

8 gears + reverse in the Automatic versions

180 hp (117 kW) at 3,500 rpm

450 nm at 1,500 rpm

RV industry starts 2024 with +11%

Results for the RV Industry Association’s January 2024 survey of manufacturers found that total RV shipments ended the month with 22,674 units, an increase of 11.1% compared to the 20,405 units shipped in January 2023.

the most affordable ways to travel and we are encouraged by the excitement consumers have for the RVing lifestyle, evident by strong campground bookings for the upcoming spring travel season and solar eclipse.”

RVIA 2023 annual report

“We continue to be optimistic about the direction the industry is heading this year, and this latest shipment report aligns with the moderate increases we are expecting in 2024,” said RV Industry Association President & CEO Craig Kirby. “RVing remains one of

Towable RVs, led by conventional travel trailers, ended the month up 21.1% from last January with 19,523 shipments. Motorhomes finished the month down (-26.5%) compared to the same month last year with 3,151 units.

Flash News

The 2024 RV Dealers Convention/Expo is scheduled for November 11-15 in Paris Las Vegas, which attracts manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, and industry partners for a week of networking, educational workshops, and vendor training.

The event is presented by The RVDA, RVDA of Canada, and the Mike Molino RV Learning Center. Among its many benefits, the vendor training and workshops provide continuing education on strategies and assist RV dealership management teams to increase profitability by staying current with the latest available products, tools and services. Workshop announcements will begin in June 2024.

Park Model RVs finished January down (-44.2%) compared to the same month last year, with 305 wholesale shipments.

New floorplan from LTV

Leisure Travel Vans (LTV), a brand of Triple E Recreational Vehicles based in Winkler, MB, Canada, announced a new Leisure Lounge option for its Unity Corner Bed floorplan. The manufacturer of the Unity and Wonder class C models, the slide-out design converts to a dinette with an integrated table, and appointments include dual reclining chairs as well as ample storage. It also has a new 15 cu. ft. exterior compartment. “The goal was to keep everything customers love about the Corner Bed floorplan,” said Angelo Natuzzi, Lead Product Designer at Leisure Travel Vans. “We also improved comfort in the living area with ample storage, natural light, and excellent views,”

The 2023 Annual Report has been released. To view the entire document, you can click on the QR code on this page. Inside the Annual Report, you will find a retrospective of some of the high-level Association achievements and industry highlights from the past year. This includes the Association’s financials, membership and industry trends, education and standards updates, the latest from the Go RVing consumer marketing campaign, and state, federal, and international advocacy efforts.

New online tech at KOA.COM

Kampgrounds of America’s new AI-powered chatbot feature at KOA.com is designed to meet the trends of digital trip planning, customer assistance and seamless online support. The AI chatbot is accessible at KOA.com and programmed with the company’s extensive camping content, location information, FAQs. Visitors can engage in real-time conversations, and receive instant accurate, comprehensive responses to inquiries 24/7.

“This is a pathway to our mission of connecting people with the great outdoors,” said Toby O’Rourke, CEO and president of Kampgrounds of America, Inc.

Extended warranty from Pleasure-Way

Canada-based Pleasure-Way Industries brings new standard tech and extended warranty support across its line of Class B motorhomes. The UL Listed, self-heating Eco-Ion lithium battery package now supports 600-amp hours and mates to an upgraded Xantrex Freedom XC PRO 3000-Watt True Sine Wave Inverter with a 100-Amp lithium-specific battery charger. All inverter functions are con-

trolled via an enhanced 10-inch touchscreen interface, and the standard Onan generator is an alternate charging source for the lithium package. Additionally, all models are now standard with a Truma Aventa eco 120V A/C system, which can operate either from the inverter or lithium batteries. An extended, five-year, 120,700 km Mercedes-Benz basic warranty is also available and based on its original threeyear warranty.

2023 manufacturing update

Flash News

Jayco is going green. Following the debut of their initial green models at 2023 Melbourne Leisurefest, Australia’s biggest RV brand Jayco takes a bold move by expanding its ‘camu’ colour to more models in the range. The green exterior colour is now exclusive for BaseStation, CrossTrack, All-Terrain, and Outback camper trailers (Swift, Lark, Wren, Eagle, Swan and Penguin). Meanwhile, Touring-spec campers will continue to feature Jayco’s signature grey scheme.

Leisure-Tec does it again. The 2024 Victorian Caravan & Camping Supershow was a great success for Leisure-Tec Australia with the launch of the new myCOOLMAN 20 and 15 Recreational Series fridges. The advantages of the two new designs are they are portable, lightweight and easy to carry, suiting picnickers, beach goers, campers and tradies. Leisure-Tec Australia keeps innovating and expanding. Earlier this year they announced the news that they added world leading Italian refrigeration manufacturer – Vitrifrigo – to their stable of caravan, motorhome, camping and 4WD premium products.

Atotal of 31,289 RVs were manufactured in Australia in 2023, up 11.6% on the previous year. This represents the strongest year of manufacturing since the 1970s. The state of Victoria Produces 93% of all Caravans & RVs and therefore grew 11.6%.

18,971 caravan units were imported into Australia in 2023, which is 7% down on the previous year. However, this represents the second highest level of imports recorded. In 2023, the average price of a camper trailer was $44k brand new, $66k for a Pop Top, $87k for a caravan and $222k for a motorhome - all in Australian dollars.

Nationally, the Australian Caravan Industry has an economic impact of $27.1 billion Australian dollars, across manufacturing, trade, retail, rental, caravan parks as well as visitor expenditure.

Caravan to a Million consumer competition

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia recently launched its latest campaign, ‘Caravan to a Million’, a consumer competition with the chance to win a million Australian dollars. This marketing campaign follows after the remarkable success of its predecessor, Road to a Million’ in 2022. While the ‘Road to a Million’ campaign predominantly targeted holiday parks and rental fleets, the ‘Caravan to a Million’ competition takes a comprehensive approach, involving the entire caravan industry,

including manufacturers and retailers. This inclusive strategy reflects the Association’s commitment to fostering growth across all sectors of the caravan industry. Participants of the ‘Caravan to a Million’ competition have multiple avenues to enter and qualify for the chance to win one million Australian dollars. Ways to enter include registering your RV and RV club, making a purchase at one of the 700 registered RV Business or purchasing tickets to a participating Caravan Show or RV event.

Home on the Road with Thetford

Thetford Australia shaked things up with a bold new concept for their brand new show stand at the 2024 Victorian Caravan & Camping Supershow. With ‘home on the road’ as the guiding theme, the Thetford stand was a true showstopper. From top to bottom, the theme was evident in every single detail, including the consumer giveaways. Dempsey Barnard, Marketing Coordinator at Thetford Australia: “The new Thetford Australia stand prioritises the feeling of home on the road, based on customer and end-user feedback, highlighting the significance of creature comforts. Familiar design elements from the home environment have been integrated into both the brand and the overall stand design, catering to the caravan and van life experience.” The new Thetford stand showcased a number of new products, including two new compressor fridges. Thetford is also about to launch a new hob to replace the current Topline 902 induction hob. This latest addition to the cooking range has adjustable current settings, allowing users to select from 6, 10, or 13 amps according to their specific needs.

Change of management at Westfalia

Philip Kahm and Thomas Siegert form the new management team at Westfalia Mobil GmbH, taking over from Mike Reuer, who has led the traditional brand since 2011 following its takeover by the Rapido Group. He will contin-

DexKo Global acquires Toptron Elektronik

DexKo Global Inc. (“DexKo”), has announced that its subsidiary, AL-KO Vehicle Technology (“AL-KO”), has completed the acquisition of Toptron Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG (“Toptron”), a company based in Germany that supplies customized onboard electronic systems and components such as control panels, power distribution devices, lighting control systems, probes and sensors. Harald Hiller, CEO and President of AL-KO, commented: “We are working intensively on integrating Toptron swiftly into our AL-KO Vehicle Technology Electronics business (‘VTE’) with its brands CBE and Nordelettronica.” Ugo Francescutti, the Managing Director at VTE, is very much looking forward “to broadening our product offering and growing our geographic coverage substantially.”

Andreas Kling, the new Toptron Managing Director, said: “Many renowned manufacturers trust Toptron’s innovation capabilities and have maintained longterm relationships with the company. Wilhelm Cramer, the former Managing Director, will remain with the business to support the transition period. So, we ensure stability in our customer relationships, which is particularly important to us.” Andreas Kling has been working with AL-KO Vehicle Technology as Chief Engineer Electronics and in various other positions in R&D. He brings a great deal of experience with the integration of companies, which he has demonstrated in recent years with the merger of CBE and Nordelettronica. Since 1995, Toptron has been supplying customized onboard electronic systems and components such as control panels, power distribution devices, lighting control systems, probes and sensors.

ue to support the company in an advisory capacity until 30 April 2024 before retiring. Philip Kahm began his career at Westfalia in 2008 in Rheda-Wiedenbrück and, after holding various positions in the company, headed up Purchasing and Project Management until he moved to the new Westfalia Mobil site in Gotha in 2017. Thomas Siegert has been with Westfalia since 2005 and, after holding positions in quality management and service, has been Head of Technical Development at the Rheda-Wiedenbrück site since 2008. He joined Westfalia Mobil in Gotha as Technical Manager in 2021 and has been Managing Director since the end of 2023.

Liqui Moly enters the RV market

Identifying growth markets and developing products for them seems to be one of Liqui Moly’s secrets to success. The Ulm-based company has now discovered the caravanning market and has launched the “Camping” series for leisure vehicles. A quick paint care product, a tent and awning impregnation, a care and glide spray, a multi-spray and the camping multi-foam cleaner are being launched. The new Liqui Moly camping programme is complemented by a wash & wax product for cleaning and sealing all exterior vehicle surfaces in a single operation and a 5W-30 refill oil for the vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo turns 40

The first Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo celebrated its premiere in 1984, at that time based on the “Bremer Transporter”. Since then, it has evolved - in terms of functionality, comfort and style. In the 1980s, the first Marco Polo was one of the compact campers that defined the segment. After several far-reaching facelifts and adaptation to the modern Vito and Viano base, the new V-Class Marco Polo was presented in summer 2023 and celebrates its market launch this year. It impresses with an even higher-quality look and feel in the exterior and cockpit as well as an enhanced MBUX and MBAC. And the future? The future of camping with a star is called VAN.EA. The central step into the electromobile future is the new, modular and scalable “electric-only” architecture VAN.EA, which will be introduced from 2026.

Philip Kahm and Thomas Siegert

Industry’s economic impact endures

Anew study commissioned by the UK Caravan & Camping Alliance (UKCCA) has revealed that the holiday parks and campsites market is worth £7.2 billion (gross value added) to the country’s economy. The ‘Pitching the Value’ report revealed that the visitor expenditure generated by holiday parks and campsites was £12.2 billion, while the industry supports an impressive 226,745 jobs in the UK. The report also showed that visitors to holiday parks and campsites stay up to 82 per cent longer and spend 12 per cent more than the national tourism average. The average group size of UK campers is two, with only 15 per cent of groups containing children. Almost a third of those surveyed brought a pet with them, and more than half of those polled stayed at a holiday park or campsite five times or more in the last year. UKCCA spokesperson Bob Hill said: “This report evidences the value of the sector to enable it to attract investment and provide opportunities to grow, innovate and create new jobs.” - www.ukcca.org.uk

Flash News

The UK’s largest dealership for Erwin Hymer Group (EHG) motorhomes is celebrating five years in its custom-built, state-of-the-art facility in Stafford, England.

Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld celebrated the achievement with a special five-day event for customers in February. It was attended by representatives from leading EHG brands including Hymer, Carado, Dethleffs, Laika, and Niessmann+Bischoff so that end consumers could speak directly with them and learn more in-depth information about 2024 models.

Leading caravan and motorhome brand Bailey of Bristol has promoted Cristina Dorador de los Santos to be its new Head of Marketing with immediate effect.

Cristina has been with the company for eight years, working across many of its marketing and PR campaigns, as well as content strategies – she played a significant role in campaigns such as Bailey’s Caravan in the Sky, Behind the Scenes Live Tour, and Sahara Challenge.

She will also be responsible for Bailey’s customer research programme as well as managing the entire marketing team.

Positive early signs for 2024 at UK shows

More than 400 industry exhibitors joined the UK’s Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show in Birmingham from 13-18 February.

Many of the UK’s leading brands used the event to showcase leisure vehicles that were firsts for them in new product categories. Bailey of Bristol launched its first-ever panel van, the Endeavour, based on the Ford Transit, while Coachman showcased its first-ever Class A motorhome, the Travel Master Imperial. Diversifications such as

this display that while the industry is still relatively healthy in the UK, major players are exploring new avenues to help boost sales.

Meanwhile, 170 exhibitors were on show at the 37th annual Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show, which took place in Glasgow from 1-4 February. The show underwent a significant rebrand for its 2024 edition with a new logo and enhanced marketing activities, which helped attract thousands of campers.

Proposed licence change

The UK Government is proposing driving licence changes that could benefit those driving zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including electric campervans and motorhomes. Given the additional weight of batteries used in ZEVs, current UK rules allow motorists with a standard (category B) licence to drive an electric goods van with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 4,250kg rather than the standard entitlement of 3,500kg. Usually, driving a vehicle above this weight requires a driver to hold a category C or C1 licence, which requires additional training and cost. If approved, the new

proposals could see this flexibility extended to all vehicle types (not just goods vans), meaning electric campervans and motorhomes would be covered too. If the proposals become law, motorists will no longer have to hold a category C or C1 licence to drive a heavier electric campervan, opening up opportunities for the leisure vehicle industry. While motorhome converters and manufacturers will likely welcome this change, there are still many legal hurdles to overcome before it comes into effect.

News from the world FRANCE Paolo Galvani

The trend of campervans

Based on the latest statistics available by UNI-VDL in the month of January 2024, the registration of new camping-cars, including vans, saw an increase to 1,669 units from 1,545 in the previous year and from 1,400 two years ago.

Specifically, new camping-cars (excluding vans) registrations increased to 710 from 563 the previous year, while van registrations slightly decreased to 959 from 982. Used camping-car registrations decreased to 3,758 from 3,948 in the previous year. New caravan registrations were at 524, down from 590 the previous year, and used caravan registrations decreased to 2,499 from 2,598.

Cumulatively over the last 12 months, there were slight changes in the market:

• New camping-cars including vans saw a decrease to 24,049 from 24,750 the previous year, and a significant drop from 30,681 two years ago.

• Registrations of new camping-cars (excluding vans) decreased to 10,078 from 10,481 the previous year.

• Van registrations decreased slightly to 13,971 from 14,269.

• Used camping-car registrations increased to 68,273 from 66,080, showing a growing interest in the second-hand market.

• New caravan registrations saw a slight increase to 7,382 from 7,229 the previous year.

• Used caravan registrations decreased to 46,983 from 48,379.

IAn issue 138 of UNI VDL magazine, an extensive investigation delves into the popularity of vans and fourgons among diverse demographics, propelled by the allure of mobility, adventure, and comfort. Highlighting perspectives from some industry professionals the article showcases the strategic shifts companies are making to accommodate the growing interest in compact, versatile vehicles. According with the article, the van market is experiencing undeniable success, continuously gaining market share in a segment that was once underdeveloped. The appeal of these vehicles lies in their mobility, discretion, and comfort. Manufacturers like Trigano, Pilote, and Rapido, along with about twenty brands, some exclusive to this market segment (e.g., Font-Vendôme, Hanroad, Campérêve, Elios), have risen to the challenge of providing the comfort and amenities nearly equivalent to those of larger, traditional motorhomes. Pierre Terroitin, the sales manager for Campérêve in France, speaks to the enduring appeal and evolution of the van and fourgon market. Campérêve, a company with a long history in the sector, has witnessed a shift in their clientele due to the vanlife movement, which predates the Covid-19 pandemic. This movement has brought a new wave of first-time buyers to the market, drawn to the compactness and discretion of fourgons. Terroitin emphasizes that for many, the choice of a four-

tout France and the Comité de liaison du camping-car (CLC) have launched « l’Observatoire du Camping-car » aiming to provide local officials with data on motorhome tourism, which accounts for an estimated 80 million overnight stays annually. Despite its popularity, the sector often lacks visibility among tourism professionals and local authorities due to insufficient data. Managed by Atout France, the Observatory seeks to offer comprehensive insights, including visitor numbers and stay durations, to improve understanding and support for this form of tourism. Officially inaugurated at the Salon des Maires et des Collectivités Locales (SMCL) in November 2023 at the Porte de Versailles. The first detailed reports from the Observatory are expected in 2024.

gon is natural, merging the desire for a compact model with the lifestyle aspirations of vanlife enthusiasts. This demographic shift represents a broadening of the market, as traditional customers are joined by newcomers attracted by the ideals of mobility and simplicity. Antoine Guéret, the commercial and marketing director of the Pilote Group, reflects on the company’s strategic adaptation to the surging interest in fourgons. Historically focused on traditional motorhomes, the Pilote Group has seen a significant shift towards fourgons, which now account for about 30% of their production volume, a substantial increase from just 10% five to six years ago. This change aligns with broader market trends and underscores the necessity for established manufacturers to diversify their offerings. The acquisition of specialized brands and the development of the Joa Camp line, with a focus on fourgons, demonstrates Pilote’s commitment to catering to this expanding market segment. Personal anecdotes from users such as Alain Vacheron, a professional photographer, and adventurers Marie and Corentin, further illustrate the practical and lifestyle benefits that these vehicles offer. From facilitating a nomadic work lifestyle to enabling global exploration, vans and fourgons are celebrated as symbols of freedom and simplicity, appealing to a wide audience ranging from seniors to the new vanlife enthusiasts.

The new president of UNI VDL

Michel Freiche has been named the new president of the UNI VDL, the caravan and motorhome French manufacturers’ union, taking over from Pierre Rousseau, CEO of the Rapido group. At 63 years old, Freiche brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having been the General Manager of the Trigano group. His educational background includes degrees from EDHEC and certification as a chartered accountant. Since starting his career in 1988, he has largely worked within Trigano. Freiche is set to carry on the work of his predecessor, aiming to amplify the industry’s voice amidst ongoing changes.

Bartek Radzimski

News from the world JAPAN

Celebrating 30th Anniversary of JRVA

The Japan Camping Car Show 2024, Japan’s largest camper car show, was held from February 2nd to 5th at Japan’s biggest messe, the Makuhari Messe located in Tokyo. More than 350 vehicles presented the latest trends in the industry under the theme of “Bringing the culture of campervans to Japan.” This year the Japanese RV Assocation (JRVA) is celebrating 30th anniversary of establishment of the association and this show, largest to date, confirmed that the market continues to grow and remain vibrant. Over the 4 day show, more than 46,000 visotors came to see the latet offerings from 79 manufacturers in 391 vehicles. In addition, some suppliers, campsites and other vendors participated on over 33,000m2 space. Omong the new trends, the increased presence of Fiat Ducato based offerings was seen among the domestic base vehicles like Toyota Camroad and Hi-Ace. The exhibition’s various offereings and JRVA Booth showcased the history of the past 30 years and efforts to popularize campervan culture through themes such as disaster prevention, regional revitalization, manufacturing technology, and RV parks. In addition,

Supporting earthquake victims with RVs

On 1 January 2024, at 16:10 JST a 7.5 earthquake struck nwar the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The shaking and accompanying tsunami caused widespread destruction on the Noto Peninsula & effected tens of thousands of people.

The Japanease government and it’s various disaster relef agnecies have the response procedures and countermeasure worked out in various methods, however, this time due to the test done after the 2016 earthquake in Kyushu and due to the continued lobby activities of JRVA, the response agencies came to request help from the camping industry.

Using the basica principal based on FEMA, the response agencies have implemented over 60 vehicles in various activities that have been supporting the rescue and recovery efforts in Inshikawa Prefecture. “Our hearts are with the people in the regions effected by the earthquakes and we hope that the vehicle we have provided can support a speedy recovery. We also hope that this utilization of Camping Cars for disaster relief can become a standard approach in Japan benefiting both the RV industry and various relief efforts.” said Masato Momota, JRVA Director responsible for Disaster Relief Promotion Activities.”

for the first time the “RV Park Award” was held with the aim of increasing awareness of RV parks nationwide. The award ceremony held on February 2nd awarded several RV Parks in the categories of general user category, media category, and influencer category. “With this year marking the 30th anniversary of JRVA establishement, we are very pleased to be able to organize this record breaking and successful show which will set a good precident going forward in this season.” said Mr. Kenji Araki, Chairman of the Japanease RV Association.

A red K-Car concept

ALFLEX, a coach builder which has been manufactureing Toyota Hi-Ace based luxury campers for over 25 years, this time has proposed something a bit different aimed at young lady travels. The Mia Picnica is based on the Honda N-VAN, a k-car van, which has a flexible layout and suprisingly spacious interior. It’s quite amazing how much was included in the vehicle which only has 3,395mm length, 1850mm width and 1,475mm in height. What makes this camper so great is its minimalistic yet functional interior that can fully support two adults. The sofa bed is approximately 150cm long x 140cm wide, but by folding the passenger seat, you can create a flat space on the left side of the vehicle, so even two adults traveling can sleep comfortably. Other features include a window thermo pad trim that provides privacy and insulation, a shaggy rug carpet, coordinated seat covers, as well as interior lighting, a portable power source and even external charging.

Leading a giant Group in extraordinary times: a CEO’s perspective

We interviewed the CEO of Erwin Hymer Group: his statements clearly express the intention to strengthen individual brands, while maintaining a group synergy perspective

Words Antonio Mazzucchelli photo Enrico Bona

For almost two years, Alexander Leopold has been at the helm of one of the giants in the global RV industry, the Erwin Hymer Group. The experience gained from 2015 to 2022 in leading one of Europe’s major companies, Dethleffs (Erwin Hymer Group), has allowed him to reach this top position well aware of the potential and challenges of the various brands. Here is his vision of the industry in a particular historical moment, where the market’s euphoria, the supply chain crisis, and uncertain forecasts for the future converge.

Aboutcamp BtoB − It’s been almost two years since you took on the role of CEO of Erwin Hymer Group: what assessment can be made of this initial period?

Alexander Leopold − We were able to continue our growth plan and make the Erwin Hymer Group significantly more competitive. We did this in an environment that was characterized above all by supply bottlenecks for chassis and vendor parts as well as surging prices. Our excellent contact with our sales partners and customers helped us to find viable solutions for everyone in these very difficult times. We communicated a lot internally with our brands to find the best solutions. We have been really successful in this. I see the Erwin Hymer Group and our holding company, Thor Industries, as a platform for knowledge transfer and internal services. In the area of development, for example, we support our locations with an internal development services pool that gives them the opportunity to purchase development capacities internally and deploy

them without a training period. This enables us to reduce our development time while increasing our quality. We manage our business divisions using a few key financial figures, which we share very transparently with our management throughout the organization on a monthly basis. Our brands, which operate very independently, bear a high level of longterm responsibility for their company, their brands, their product range, and the financial result. We call this approach Power-to-the-Brands as part of our corporate management strategy. Our brands are at the forefront of communication, while the Erwin Hymer Group provides support in the background. This way, we promote the corporate values that are essential to our strategy, such as team spirit, entrepreneurship, and a spirit of innovation, and striving together to find the best solution. Another major milestone was the construction of our new plant in Poland, which was realized in record time with best practice solutions from our established and experienced locations. The whole team can be proud of this, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our employees and suppliers for their dedication and commitment.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Erwin Hymer Group is a complex and diverse entity. How do the various facets of the group coexist, how to characterize the different brands, and avoid overlaps?

Alexander Leopold − We have consistently aligned our large house of brands with the different target groups and price bands. This not only allows us to avoid overlaps, but

Erwin Hymer Group

Accessory and Service Product Brands

I nterview with ALEXANDER LEOPOLD

it also makes our brand portfolio and thus the Erwin Hymer Group very attractive for trade partners. The holding company plays a very important role here. It not only provides the necessary transparency and data to benchmark brand performance and thus develop it further, but also enables vertical synergies between the holding company and legal units, and horizontal synergies that would otherwise not be possible. One example would be our own test center, where we offer comprehensive component and vehicle tests for all brands. Another example would be a larger location taking over personnel services for other locations. Another good example is our new service company, which we launched on January 1. The new service company will enable us to provide industry leading support while also allowing to test new systems and processes. We attach great importance to the further development of our employees and managers, and offer tailored internal programs to ensure that the organization has the necessary skills to implement our strategy successfully and with maximum buy-in.

Aboutcamp BtoB − After a period of significant growth, the market is showing signs of a sharp decline. Is this entirely anticipated with a steady nerve, waiting for things to stabilize? Or should we fear a further decline?

Alexander Leopold − We have a

state-of-the-art IT system landscape in sales and marketing that is standardized across all brands. The investments we have made in our systems allow us to have excellent transparency to know what is happening in the the market, where we need to provide support and where we need to further develop our dealer network. We can also share this knowledge with our trade partners, making us a valuable partner on the customer journey. We currently have an excellent order backlog, but we are also aware of our responsibility to our trade partners, who rightly expect us to react quickly to changes in the market by being flexible in our capacity planning as well as sales and marketing support. In my opinion, this is essential for sustainable succes and credibility and is also greatly appreciated by our partners. The strong partnership with our dealers helps us to further expand our market share. The recent tremendous success of our camper vans and urban campers shows the strength the structure of our organization has in the market. Within just a few years, we were able to become the number 1 pure motorhome manufacturer in Europe in line with our strategic plan.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Has the supply crisis concluded? What effects has it had, and what changes has it brought to Erwin Hymer Group?

Alexander Leopold − The supply

chain is still not as stable as it was before the pandemic. We have expanded our range of chassis to be able to deliver and therefore remain attractive for our customers. This inevitably increases complexity. I could well imagine that there will be consolidation in this area. Every market phase requires its own strategy, and we must remain flexible. Our top priority is a shared understanding of our customer’s needs. Suppliers and manufacturers must make consistent use of this knowledge in order to be able to offer our customers attractive and relevant products. Another area we have to work on is our timeto-market.

Aboutcamp BtoB − In recent years, your Group has made a significant change regarding participation in trade fairs. This decision has brought some cost benefits but perhaps also some negative aspects. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this strategy? Will anything change in the future?

Alexander Leopold − I find it interesting that the word “cost” keeps coming up in connection with trade fairs. Trade fairs are an important tool in the marketing mix. At the same time, a trade fair is one out of over 20 touchpoints in the pre-purchase information-gathering and decisionmaking process of our customers. A well balanced and orchestrated marketing mix that is geared to the different preferences of our target groups is key. We are more than happy, to have broken new ground in our industry. Our internal customer analyses shows that RV customers are constantly evolving in the way they obtain information about products and services. Therefore we are constantly optimizing the interaction between analogue and digital touch points on their customer journey. We have been able to gain a lot of knowledge of what works and what doesn’t. I was pleased that each brand has taken its own and largely new path. We discuss the insights we gain as a team and incorporate them into our decisions. Let me give you an example: if one of our brands achieves a significantly higher conversion rate at one of the customer touchpoints, all other brands can benefit greatly from this better approach. This is one of the advantages of our group that I mentioned earlier: know-how and knowledge transfer. Each brand decides on the best path

to reach and activate its target group. Therefore the decision to participate in a trade fair is not just influenced by total costs, but also by criteria like relevance for a brands target group as well as the cost-per-lead and costper-sale comparison with other sales marketing instruments. If, for example the costs of renting stand space at a trade fair go through the roof it will of course influence a brand’s decision for or against the participation in the trade fair.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Most of your companies are German, but you also have plants in other countries: how far do you push the delocalization, and how important is it to have production sites in the markets they serve?

Alexander Leopold − The focus on German production sites has historical reasons. We invest a lot of money in our brands, their differentiation and appearance. That is why we have had powerful export organizations for a long time. We have since developed this approach further. Today we have local sales organizations in all key markets. These ensure that we are very close to the market and can realize distribution and marketing synergies. We sell our valuable brands in all countries and do not need a separate plant with corresponding infrastructure costs in each country. Our sales partners and service quality also benefit from this. There is no other way to achieve such a high level of service in every country. And we attach great importance to this.

Aboutcamp BtoB − The increase in prices over the last three years has been staggering. Compared to 2021, for example, the price of Hymer B-Klasse 600 has increased by 45%. Why have camper prices risen so much, far exceeding the average

inflation rates?

Alexander Leopold − When it comes to price increases, you really have to consider the extent to which the equipment has changed in parallel. We see that our products are fairly priced and, thanks to our aforementioned brand segmentation by target group and price level, we have the right offer for every customer need. If we look at the producer price index, we are not far off with our necessary price increases.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Surely, the purchasing power of your clientele has not increased as much. Could something be done to mitigate the prices?

Alexander Leopold − We are constantly striving to offer our customers actractive prices without having to compromise on our high standard of service. To this end, we are also in close contact with our suppliers. Manufacturers and suppliers must work together on more favorable concepts - despite our drive for innovation. Our bestprice brands are working flat out on more cost-effective concepts.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Not many years ago, your Group was associated with premium and medium-high-range products. Then, with some of your brands, you took significant steps, breaking the dominance of Italian and French brands in the medium and lower-medium market segments. Was it a long and challenging process? Was it worth it?

Alexander Leopold − Our positive market share development shows us that we are on the right track. We have proven that we can not only serve the best-value market but also the best-price market. But I admit that the best-price market is probably the more challenging one for us. We are continuing to work hard on this.

I nterview with ALEXANDER LEOPOLD

Aboutcamp BtoB − In the urban camper segment many players have invested significantly and you were among the first to enter the market. Has the public response been in line with the investments made or below expectations?

Alexander Leopold − We benefit greatly from having entered the urban camper segment so early on. We know that the urban camper customer has different requirements for the product, but also for sales. No one can take this expertise away from us, and one or two of the insights we have gained can also be applied to the conventional RV sector. We do not expect this market to continue to develop as dramatically in the coming years as it has in recent years, but with the lead management tools we have built up, we have great opportunities to get our customers excited about our brands’ products and to actively support our sales partners in customer acquisition.

Aboutcamp BtoB − How committed is the Erwin Hymer Group to the caravan segment? Do you consider it a viable area for investment, or is your expertise in motorized vehicles steering you towards a greater focus on motorhomes and campervans?

Alexander Leopold − We are continuing to invest in the caravan sec-

tor. Electromobility spurs us on to deliver top performance. This was proven by our successful Alpine Challenge with the Dethleffs brand. And with the Eriba, Bürstner and LMC brands as well as our brands for the UK market, we have strong and loyal caravan customer base.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Transition to eco-friendly engines and the RV world: what is Erwin Hymer Group’s strategy?

Alexander Leopold − Being part of the world’s leading manufacturer of leisure vehicles, we are working hard on the possibilities of alternative drive systems. With the next generation of long-range batteries, electromobility is also within reach for leisure vehicles. Together with our parent company Thor Industries and our strategic partners, we are currently laying the foundations for a fully electric travel experience.

Alexander Leopold (right) in conversation with our editor-in-chief

70 years of tradition, innovation,

and prestige

The traditional manufacturer Tabbert is celebrating its 70th anniversary and is repositioning itself in line with the times with an attractive caravan portfolio ranging from family and touring caravans to the exclusive luxury class.

Aboutcamp BtoB spoke to Armin Mäder, the product manager of Tabbert and T@B, about tradition, developments and the future positioning of the longestablished brand.

Words Antonio Mazzucchelli and Claus-Detlev Bues photo Enrico Bona

Armin Mäder, 53, has been a dedicated member of the Tabbert team in Mottgers. The Hesse native’s journey with Tabbert began 37 years ago when he joined as an apprentice in the carpentry workshop. With his master carpentry qualification, he progressed through various roles in the development and design departments. For the past seven years, he has served as the Product Manager for Tabbert, and for the last two years, he has taken on the responsibility for the T@B brand at Knaus Tabbert AG. Mäder is happily married for 30 years; his hobbies are walks and hikes with his dog and family vacations in a caravan throughout Europe.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Tabbert is celebrating its 70th anniversary. What is the legacy of the past and what are the main plans for the future? How will the experience accumulated over these decades influence innovation, sustainability and the company’s growth strategy in the coming years?

Armin Mäder : Tabbert already celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023. Of course, that means a lot of history, a lot of tradition and a lot of emotion. However, we only celebrated the anniversary with restraint. Our customers and the whole caravaning industry know what tradition and experience we have. Our focus has always been on the satisfaction of our discerning customers and the proverbial longevity of our vehicles. And what has also always characterised Tabbert is that we have traditionally been very strong in the so-called professional sector. These customers live all year round with an average of four people in the vehicle and prefer the larger models - the tandem-axle models. As a manufacturer, we are aware that there is a considerable difference between a vehicle being used for 5 or 52 weeks a year. Our growth strategy is to further expand our market shares organically and, in the future, devote more attention to the tourism market. The best example of this: With the new model Senara, we have just launched a brand-new entry-level model for less than 23.000 euros, which is a real offer for entry into the premium world of Tabbert.

Aboutcamp BtoB: For decades, Tabbert was almost notorious for its “baroque” image with cream-co-

loured bestsellers such as the Comtesse, Senator and Diadem models and a strong showman clientele. Does this clientele still exist?

Armin Mäder : The vehicles you mentioned were top of the line of the caravan market and state of the art in previous days. But Tabbert has long since undergone massive changes. You won’t find any baroque style here for a very long time. Instead, you will find fresh, modern cosiness at the highest level. Take the Pantiga: a clever and practical caravan with plenty of modern charm. But back to the question: yes, we really value our professional clientele, who account for around 50% of all Tabbert vehicles sold. So this is a large and important sector, which is also so interesting for us because almost 90% of these customers choose a tandem-axle model. Our strongest market is France, followed immediately by Germany, but we also successfully sell vehicles to the UK.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What is the current Tabbert range made up of?

What are the main features of the various model ranges and what are the target customer groups?

Armin Mäder : Our models are clearly positioned in the market. As I just mentioned, this year (model year 2024) we launched the Senara as a new entry-level model. This is where the Tabbert world begins in Germany.

The modern DaVinci is in the sophisticated class, while the Pantiga and Puccini models are ideal for those who want something special. At the very top of the Tabbert range is the Cellini - even with an electric slideout at the top end. And all Tabbert models have one thing in common: they are built to the highest quality in our factory in Mottgers with attention to detail. The topic of customising, with special options, also plays a very important role here. We have a separate department that caters to this clientele. This means that the product family is well organised: There is something for beginners, for the middle class, the upper middle class and finally also in the luxury class up to the ultimate premium, the Cellini slide-out. There is no other manufacturer in Germany that can do something like this. Only Tabbert has had such a high-quality slide-out caravan in its programme for ten years.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How does Tabbert define luxury in caravanning, and how is this reflected in the design and features of its latest models?

Armin Mäder : Luxury here is defined rather discreetly and unobtrusively, not overtly opulent. In this market segment, in addition to the company image, a high-quality feel to the materials and, of course, the overall harmonious ambience are decisive. We also attach great importance

Tabbert Pantiga 2024

I nterview with ARMIN MÄDER

to a heavy, solid construction. This is why Tabbert vehicles are always somewhat heavier than other vehi cles. We have a thicker floor, we have a thicker roof. We have two-dimensionally curved rear and front walls. This all contributes to the greater stability of our caravans. What’s more, we work with double and therefore thicker partition walls in the ve hicle. So a Tabbert is al ways built to last a brief eternity.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How has Tabbert responded to changes in the caravan market over the last few decades in terms of design, technology and marketing strategies?

specific, Tabbert typical details as the rear-ventilated roof?

Armin Mäder : As you have already mentioned, the traditional eggshell colour on the outside was perhaps symptomatic in the past. But that’s long gone, we’ve left that behind us for over twenty years. We have become much more modern. In 2013, we made radical changes with the “Next Generation”. One of my first tasks as Product Manager in 2016 was to make the Tabbert brand more modern, more contemporary and younger, but of course without giving up the familiar values. We started with the Vivaldi, which had a very bold design for Tabbert and made an excellent impression on the market right from the start. And just last model year, we took another big step towards rejuvenating the Tabbert brand with the daring designed Pantiga. And the mission is far from over: With the brand new Senara, we were recently able to add an extra highlight.

Armin Mäder : That’s right, it’s good that you mention that. It’s true - we have made massive changes to the Tabbert roof and at the same time significantly improved it. The roof has become lighter overall, but has the same sound and thermal insulation properties as before. What’s more, it is now walkable, so it’s much more stable. This was not possible before. This example also clearly shows that Tabbert is not about worshipping the ashes, but always about passing on the flame. That’s what we live for in Mottgers - every day.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Within the Knaus-Tabbert Group, Tabbert appears to be a brand that enjoys a great deal of autonomy. What are the common synergies with other brands in the group and what characterises them?

Armin Mäder : Synergies are important as they improve competitiveness. For example, we get the side walls from the main plant in Jandelsbrunn

in accordance with our increased specifications and requirements. And of course we also have access to the same team in concept, research and development within the company. However, The Tabbert brand certainly has a higher degree of freedom within the Knaus Tabbert AG group and has been able to retain a certain exclusive independence. We can also offer more discerning customers other customising or individualisation options that are not possible in mass production. All in all, this means that Tabbert is a unique jewel in the company’s crown, which is continuously maintained, which is why we are ideally equipped for the future. Because the world doesn’t stand still, we all have to adapt flexibly. Take e-mobility in caravanning. There is a lack of infrastructure here - the campsites in particular still have some homework to do. But the complete electrification of the industry is a long way that we want to travel continuously. But despite all the euphoria: in the end, The worm has to taste good to the fish, not the fisherman. This means that customers also have to follow this path.

Aboutcamp BtoB: By the way, have you taken a look at the development of the caravan market in Turkey? It’s a great market that is growing very quickly. Many new caravan brands

Tabbert Senara 2024

From left: Claus-Detlev Bues, Armin Mäder, Antonio Mazzucchelli and Stefan V. Diehl, Head of Communications/PR

are active there and are striving for Europe.

Armin Mäder : Yes, you could already see at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf that Turkey is actively seeking to enter the market. The country is certainly interesting for the industry. We are constantly looking at the markets. One example: Knaus Tabbert is the market leader for caravans in South Korea. Still at a manageable level, but still it is. If you look at the registration figures in Europe, the industry has lost 60.000 units in the past two years. The entire European market has shrunk from 260.000 to 200.000 units. We’re not just talking about caravans here, but about the entire recreational vehicle market. But if you look at the new registrations of our vehicles, we are number one in Germany. We have over 500 partner companies and trading points worldwide. These are Knaus Tabbert exclusive dealers, these are dealers who carry one or more of our brands, these are dealers who also have other brands.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How successful is the Tabbert Cellini 750 HTD 2.5 Slide-Out model on the current market? Does it meet expectations in terms of sales and public acceptance? Who is the customer for this caravan?

Armin Mäder : The Slide-Out - as we call it internally for short - has been around for ten years now and is unique in the luxury caravan market. It fully fulfils our expectations, but also those of our customers - who are not used to having to make any compromises. The customer group is individual. Some come from motor homes because they

no longer want to drive such a motorised vehicle. But also professionals, such as showmen or travellers. So the clientele of the Cellini Slide-Out is as versatile as its variety of features.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Only Tabbert vehicles are produced in Mottgers? Where and how are Tabbert caravans produced? What are your reference markets?

Armin Mäder : All Tabbert vehicles are produced exclusively in Mottgers and our main markets are Germany and France. In future, however, we also want to become more involved throughout Europe. We have a strong presence in the Netherlands and are also present in Scandinavia. We are also continuously expanding our market share in new markets and will of course continue to develop and serve them vigorously. By the way, we also produce Knaus caravans with selected layouts in Mottgers. We do this for capacity reasons, because we still have possibilities here at the site. This speaks in favour of the flexible production site in

Aboutcamp BtoB: How many employees work at the Mottgers production site?

Armin Mäder : We are in the range of 450 to 500, currently almost 500 and they have been working overtime for years. We don’t work 35 hours, but between 40 and 44 hours a week. So we have good capacity utilisation.

Aboutcamp BtoB: In contrast to the North American market, motorhome sales in Europe have grown strongly and caravan sales have declined. What can we expect for the future and what is Tabbert’s market strategy?

Armin Mäder : A clear message: we are getting younger, we are becoming more modern. That is the goal. Tabbert has a strong history and a long history, and sometimes Tabbert was also caught up in this history to a certain extent. That’s why our aim is to keep making the brand a little younger and more attractive - so we’re targeting individualists as well as young families.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Will there also be adjustments in the direction of frame technology, so that this comes across in Tabbert’s production technology in some form?

Armin Mäder : Basically, we always think across brands and model ranges within the company. With a view to possible synergies, there is a clear roadmap for how technologies will be further developed - where and how they will be used - without diluting the respective brand essence.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Changes in the automotive world, with the progressive decline of combustion engines, especially diesel, will increasingly influence the caravan market. Per-

Armin Mäder in the dinette of Tabbert Senara

Tabbert Cellini 2024

I nterview with ARMIN MÄDER

haps caravans will have to be built much lighter, or perhaps large caravans will remain stationary on campsites... How do you see this?

Armin Mäder: Electromobility is a major concern for us in the company. However, as a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles, we would like to see a certain degree of openness to technology in this area. But back to Tabbert. As I mentioned, our vehicles tend to be a bit heavier. The goal for the future must therefore be: We must continue to become lighter. Our research and development departments are constantly working on this.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Sustainable, environmentally friendly production and products are becoming increasingly important in the market. How is Tabbert adapting in terms of technological innovations and sustainable practices in caravan production?

Armin Mäder : Caravanning is sustainable per se. It starts with the fact that our CO2 footprint is better than being on a cruise or travel by air. After all, we are directly in nature with our vehicles. Of course, that means we also want to protect nature. Take a look at how long campers use their caravans on average. People buy a Tabbert because they say it’s the proverbial quality. It’s a vehicle that I can use for 10, 15, 20 years. And then someone else will be happy to buy this used Tabbert and perhaps enjoy

it for many more years. A vehicle that I can use for decades - that’s what I call true sustainability..

Aboutcamp BtoB: What are the main challenges facing Tabbert in the global caravan market and how does the company plan to meet them?

Armin Mäder : It’s all about the customers. What do they want, what wishes do they formulate? You have to listen and look carefully. After all, we don’t produce for ourselves, but for our customers - and they are constantly evolving. The Demands are increasing, as is the desire for more comfort. In principle, everyone wants to be able to use what they have at home in a caravan. Today, we no longer talk about whether a voice control system such as Alexa or an air conditioning system is installed in the caravan. The latter is standard in more than half of Tabbert caravans. So customers don’t want to miss out on anything. This has to be fulfilled and at the same time, we always have to make an offer that customers may not even know today that they will want tomorrow. In short, you have to be able to anticipate customer wishes in order to shape markets globally.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Is the Dyonic chassis with bionic design also conceivable for innovative Tabbert constructions? As a kind of response to Knaus’ experiments with new con-

struction methods such as frame technology?

Armin Mäder : Be careful, please don’t confuse it: The Dyonic chassis that we use at Weinsberg, Knaus and also in the Tabbert Pantiga was developed by us in a bionic design. It is high-strength and extremely light. A real innovation from our company. The other topic you are talking about is the state-of-the-art frame technology, which is currently exclusive for the Knaus brand. This revolutionary and highly stable frame construction gives caravans unprecedented stability. Frame technology is currently reserved for the top-of-the-range model Azur and Deseo transport caravans within our caravan portfolio. But of course we always think across brands here too. Let us surprise you.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Tabbert focuses strongly on passive and active safety while travelling, with standard systems such as AL-KO AAA, ETS and AL-KO AKS. Are these features really perceived by customers as an important element when choosing a caravan? What other elements are necessary for a caravan to reflect Tabbert’s philosophy?

Armin Mäder : Of course, the essence of a Tabbert caravan always includes the widest possible range of safety features. This is what our customers expect - without compromise. Tabbert always strives to consistently implement all feasible technical safety standards available on the market. If something is not available, we sometimes develop it together with our trusted suppliers.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How are the chassis shares of the individual suppliers distributed?

Armin Mäder : At Tabbert, with the exception of the Pantiga, we build all other model ranges on the tried and tested AL-KO chassis. For the Pantiga, we use our own developmentthe Dyonic chassis. We will certainly find this in other model ranges in the future. The Dyonic chassis has several advantages: first and foremost the low weight. But it also brings an advantage for the customer because, in the end, an increase of permitted weight is only an entry in the vehicle registration and not the change of the whole axle for a lot of money. Despite the higher-quality chassis, we also create a price advantage for the customer.

The Networking Event in Italy for Suppliers of the Furniture Industry and Interior Design

In partnership with

Under the patronage of

Merging RV expertise with automotive design legacy

From cars to motorhomes: Fabrizio Giugiaro is the CEO of GFG Style, a design company that has recently stepped into the RV sector

Words Renato Antonini, photo Enrico Bona

The presence of famous designers from the automotive world is not common in the RV sector, but this is what happened recently with the collaboration between Laika and GFG Style. Laika needs no introduction for anyone familiar with the European motorhome market. The time-honoured Italian RV manufacturer started operations in 1964 and has been part of the Erwin Hymer Group for several years. GFG Style may be less wellknown but the acronym hails back to one of the most celebrated names of Italian design. The three letters GFG stand for Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro. Giugiaro is a name that is an automotive legend. Giorgetto Giugiaro, born in 1938, designed some of the most iconic cars of the 20th century, such as the first series Volkswagen

Golf (1974), the first Fiat Panda (1980, Compasso d’Oro Award in 1981), and several gorgeous sports cars and innovative concepts, including the Lotus Esprit (1976), the BMW M1 (1978) and the DeLorean DMC-12 (1981). Giugiaro founded his own company – Italdesign – in 1968 with Aldo Mantovani. All shares were sold to the Volkswagen Group in 2015. Giorgetto’s son Fabrizio Giugiaro grew up in his father’s school and together they designed and developed over 200 prototypes and more than 300 production models. Fabrizio Giugiaro started working for Giugiaro Architettura, specialising in architectural and urban planning, boat design,

Preliminary design for Laika Kreos

interior design and product design at all levels, in 2003. It was here that GFG Style offering stylistic consultancy services for automotive design was born. We met with Fabrizio Giugiaro at the company’s headquarters in Moncalieri, near Turin, which is also home to a museum showcasing some of the most important models created by the Giugiaro team over the years, to learn more about GFG Style.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Tell us about GFG Style. How did the company start and develop?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - GFG Style is one of the three companies in the group

owned by the Giugiaro family. The main company – which is also the oldest – is Giugiaro Architettura for architectural projects and product design in various fields. Giugiaro Architettura was not sold with Italdesign and remained in our hands. Two more companies operating in specific fields were then established under the control of the parent company: GFG Rail for the railway sector and GFG Style for the vehicle sector. The three companies have grown and today they can operate in an array of different sectors. Our group has two facilities near Turin and employs around fifty people.

Aboutcamp BtoB - In which areas are you active and at what levels?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - With Giugiaro Architettura we work on very different projects, from single-family villas to urban renewal projects. For instance, in 2011, we designed the exterior of the new Juventus Stadium in Turin, including the adjoining commercial area. In 2018, we won an invitation-only competition for the renovation of the Central Station in Milan. It was a huge project, 35,000 square metres of unused surface area to be rethought for new purposes, restored and completed with the insertion of modern elements capable of blending with the surrounding one-hundred-year-old architecture. We then specialised in the restoration and revitalisation of production spaces in ancient contexts, like the historical headquarters of Italgas in Turin. Giugiaro Architettura also works

Fabrizio and Giorgetto Giugiaro with GFG Sibylla - 2018

in product design. For instance, since 2015 we have been developing a series of traditional-looking watches with smartwatch functions (e.g., for digital payments) implemented in the strap (innovatively, they do not force the wearer to bend their wrist) for Wena (a Sony group brand).

Aboutcamp BtoB - What about the other two brands?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - GFG Rail specialises in the design of trains, trams and metros. We have 30 years of experience in this field. We have worked for railway carriage manufacturers, including Alstom, Hitachi and Bombardier, and end customers, i.e. the company that operates the trains on the networks. For example, we designed the interiors of the ETR 500 and ETR 700, two high-speed trains used by Trenitalia, Italy’s main railway company. GFG Style, on the other hand, works across the board in vehicle design on cars, but also industrial vehicles, agricultural machinery and now motorhomes as well.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Can you give us some examples?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - Let’s start with a curious case. In 1974 my father de signed the Hyundai’s Pony Coupé concept and recently the Korean company asked us to rebuild the pro totype that had been lost. The new concept car was unveiled in May 2023 and from that experience, a new col laboration with Hyundai was born. Right now, we are working with Lafitte on one of the most comprehensive projects in recent years, ranging from logo development to the design of various road car models. We have also devel oped many truck concepts for Chinese companies and the

most current project is the creation of a sports car for Bizzarrini.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Can you tell me more about the GFG Style approach?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - We have several designers and some model makers. We start with a hand sketch and then move on to more and more complex projects using state-of-the-art software programs. We can make full-scale models in various materials but the current trend in the auto industry is to make fewer and fewer models because they are expensive. Today, virtual reality can go a long way. Several years ago, foreseeing new developments, I had a 7x4-metre big screen installed in our premises capable of displaying cars in 3D format on a 1:1 scale. Today, companies ask us for several concepts, which is a step forward with respect to a scale model. One of our distinguishing features is that with us the manufacturer can skip several intermediate stages and receive an almost final design, which require just a few steps to be industrialised. We create production-ready concepts. This is an aspect that our customers have always

Above: Full range of Laffite Automobili Hypercars

Below: Bizzarrini Giotto

reality, offering concepts that are engineering-ready and, in general, with great attention to costs. This way of operating, which originated in the automotive sector, has been carried over to the other activities of our group.

Aboutcamp BtoB - From cars to motorhomes: what is the common thread?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - Our group can work in all fields of design. Designing a motorhome is undoubtedly challenging because it combines our expertise in interior design and automotive styl-

ing. For someone with an automotive design background, it is not always easy to work on a motorhome because there are many more dimensional constraints than you might think. Unlike in the automotive field, the external dimensions are often fixed and cannot be varied at all.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How did the collaboration with Laika come about?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - We had already had some contacts with Erwin Hymer Group and with Laika we found

the greatest understanding because they have always pushed the envelope of Italian brand identity and Italian style. Laika contacted us because they wanted to make a bold change to their products and so we set to work to create new designs together with them. The collaboration was kicked off in 2021 and led to the presentation of the new Kreos and Kosmo models. The new Ecovip will be presented soon. It is an important, time-honoured model for Laika and central to the manufacturer’s product range.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How did you work with Laika?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - It was a co-design operation with Laika. The company has always had its own in-house style centre and we chose to seek the best collaboration and not to compete with them. There was a continuous, daily exchange to achieve the final definition of the products. It was important to be able to change vehicles significantly within a specific time and cost framework. And we succeeded.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Can you tell us more about the Laika restyling?

Renato Antonini in conversation with Fabrizio Giugiaro GFG Style Kangaroo

Laika Kreos

Fabrizio Giugiaro - A great deal of work went into the interior, of course with differences between Kosmo and Kreos given that we are talking about products with very different price points. We researched materials and living spaces. As for the exterior, the models retained the original cab and focused on a light design, working on the graphics, the rear wall and the front mini-top. More decisive was our intervention on the motorhome models. We created a bold front end suggesting a family feeling that will be shared with the other Laika models in the future.

Aboutcamp BtoB - The GFG Style project catalogue features sports cars, hypercars and dream cars. Did you run the risk of treating a motorhome like an object of little value?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - The motorhomes we designed together with Laika are not low-priced products. They are prestigious vehicles that cost as much as a premium car. In any case, I believe that a designer must be able to de-

Fabrizio Giugiaro

Born in Turin in 1965, Fabrizio Giugiaro was educated at the Liceo Artistico and the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Turin. He learnt the trade working alongside his father Giorgetto during the years of Italdesign. He came into contact with the various aspects of the company, from which he drew an all-encompassing project approach, experimenting with new materials, thinking about new sources of propulsion and examining the most innovative safety and infotainment devices. Fabrizio was appointed to manage the research cars and developed the first autonomous experimental vehicle projects in 1991. During the same years, he obtained a diploma in Business Administration and 1995 took on the position of Style and Prototype Manager at Italdesign, supervising around 100 employees and developing between 30 and 150 projects per year. Since 2004, he has also run Giugiaro Design, which develops non-automotive design projects. After Italdesign joined the Volkswagen Group, Fabrizio Giugiaro continued in the same post for three years, then took over as Style Consultant for the Group. In 2016, he founded GFG Style, a company dedicated to design services for the automotive industry, of which he is CEO.

sign everything and give every product the dignity it deserves. Besides, it is often the cheaper products that are the most inspiring. My father, Giorgetto Giugiaro, designed hundreds of cars in his career, many of them very expensive and flashy, real supercars. But the car that gave him the most satisfaction was the Fiat Panda, which appeared in 1980, a “popular” car that was a huge success.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Cars, motorhomes, trains, buildings. Does this mean that the legend of the designer who can design everything is still with us?

Fabrizio Giugiaro - Compared to the pioneers of design, the approach has certainly changed. Today we can design everything because we have a well-organised team, where specific professional skills coexist. Surely cross-contamination is a winner and working in one sector can provide useful ideas for designing in another. And a motorhome is an example of a blend of our various skills.

From above: Hitachi Tram, Turin - Juventus Stadium, Turin - Interior of Blues Hitachi Train

A determined and clear-headed woman at the helm of DCHV

Ariane Finzel, who has been at the helm for almost two years as the Managing Director of the German Caravaning Trade Association (DCHV), shares insights into her background, the challenges facing the industry, and her vision for the future

Ariane Finzel took the reins as the Managing Director of the German Caravaning Trade Association (DCHV) almost 2 years ago, succeeding Oliver Waidelich. With a background that spans leadership roles in caravaning businesses and consulting, Ariane brings a wealth of experience to the Association. In this interview, she delves into the pressing issues facing the industry, sharing her vision for DCHV’s transformation and emphasizing the importance of digitalization and enhancing member benefits. Her insights shed light on the dynamic landscape of the caravaning sector and its commitment to providing customers with reliable and high-quality services.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Can you provide an overview of your association, including its core mission, objectives, organizational structure, and key roles?

Ariane Finzel − In Germany, our association stands out for its significant focus on dealers within a large market. We represent a network comprising over 400 dealer members who handle sales, rentals, and operate workshops and camping shops. Our mission extends to collaborating with support members from various sectors, including the industry, financial institutions, and suppliers. This synergy addresses numerous operational aspects, notably our academy. Our academy is a cornerstone initiative launched to address the absence of

specialized apprenticeships in the past. Just last year, we introduced targeted training programs, marking a renewed focus on equipping the younger generation with professional skills for the future. This commitment to professional development is key, ensuring that the new generation, who inherit businesses from their parents, receives thorough training and fosters a sense of community among their peers.

Aboutcamp BtoB − So you have a community of owners’ sons and daughters who network together?

Ariane Finzel − Yes, we’ve revitalized our initiative called “DCHV Next Generation” to bring together the successors of

Words Antonio Mazzucchelli - photo Enrico Bona

current business owners. They are more adept at digitalization and proactive in using media to present products, unlike the older generation, who may be more passive. This networking helps them stay informed about new laws, dealer obligations, and industry guidelines. We prepare them with necessary contracts and facilitate leadership workshops and coaching to help them become self-confident in their roles. This is crucial for maintaining a dynamic and up-to-date market.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Could you elaborate on the workshop you conduct with CIVD? What topics are covered?

Ariane Finzel − We host an annual workshop in collaboration with the CIVD to forecast market trends and developments. It’s a strategic meeting held every November that includes all the board members of the CIVD and our own board. The aim is to exchange ideas and gain insights into the future of the market.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Is this workshop exclusive to board members, or do members also participate?

Ariane Finzel − It’s exclusive to board members. However, we bring in the perspectives and opinions of our members as well as those from the industry. The objective is to foster a deeper understanding of the market by sharing and discussing our collective views.

Aboutcamp BtoB − What initiatives have emerged from these meetings?

Ariane Finzel − One of the innovative ideas from our meetings is the concept of a caravaning week in Germany, named “Caravaning-Tage,” which would take place in March and involve all brands and

dealers. This event would be a concerted effort to promote caravaning through radio, TV, and other media, creating a focused campaign for one week in the spring aimed at reducing stock.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Can you tell us about your meetings with the camping association, the BVCD?

Ariane Finzel − Yes, our interactions with the BVCD differ from our set annual meetings. The meetings with the camping association are more spontaneous and not scheduled as rigidly. While the DCHV/CIVD meets consistently every year, the frequency of meetings with the camping association varies, as it’s currently undergoing changes in general management. With the last general manager, our discussions were held one to three times a year.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Regarding the academy, how many people do you train each year, and does your association work independently or in cooperation with other academies?

Ariane Finzel − We have a cooperative relationship with the Fahrzeugakademie Schweinfurt. While we don’t own the academy, we rent rooms and utilize their team of 20-25 people, who feel like our own because of the close working relationship. They are responsible for sourcing trainers from industry leaders like Truma for heating systems and Thetford for sanitation. We collaborate with these partners to ensure that our services and product trainings are at a high level and represent the named products of the market. Annually, we update our courses, and over the past 25 years, we’ve trained over a thousand individuals. Initially, we offered only one course, which was insufficient. When I began, I realized

the need to expand as we had a waiting list of 100 people eager for specialized caravan technical training—a field that was not formally recognized as a profession until recently. Here, electricians or carpenters can receive an additional seven weeks of training to become caravan technical professionals called “Fachkraft für Caravantechnik.” We’re proud to be the most important provider of this training in Germany for over a quarter-century. This training is highly valued within the industry; workshops employing our trained caravan technicians often receive better terms for warranties from some manufacturers. Our training is recognized as exemplary, underlining the worth and industry acknowledgment of our program’s quality.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Could you explain the pricing structure for the warranties?

Ariane Finzel − Yes, the level of service a dealer provides can influence the guarantee payments they receive from manufacturers. For example, within the Erwin Hymer Group, an audit might assess a dealer’s service level and qualifications, such as those from our caravan technical training. If they meet the highest standards, they receive the highest level of guarantee payment for their service hours.

Aboutcamp BtoB − To provide assistance, is this specific license required?

Ariane Finzel − It’s not mandatory to have this certification, but possessing it is a significant advantage. Many suppliers have their own mandatory training programs to become a service partner. This certification allows a dealer to display signage that identifies them as professionals in specific technical areas. We have a good cooperation with many of them to discuss which trainings we can recognize from each other. This is part of the support we receive from the Fahrzeugakademie Schweinfurt. Beyond technical training, for aspects like business management for the next generation, we collaborate with consulting firms. They provide training in areas such as financial control. These are different from technical trainings, such as the one-week caravan controller course or sales training that helps individuals become professional sellers.

Aboutcamp BtoB − In terms of marketing, do you also provide training in that area?

Ariane Finzel − Marketing training is a newer addition to our curriculum. While it wasn’t as significant in the past, its importance is growing. We are consider-

I nterview with ARIANE FINZEL

ing offering webinars on key marketing strategies with our consulting partners in the future.

Aboutcamp BtoB − What kind of webinars you offer? Social media utilization and website enhancement?

Ariane Finzel − We have new webinars such as “working more efficiently with artificial intelligence” and ones covering social media utilization and website enhancement, which can be found on our website. We also conduct webinars for the theoretical part of our 40 to 50 technicians and provide introductory sessions for newcomers. Although these are more basic, they serve as a good entry point into the field. For the workshops, it is essential that technicians are in the workshops to work on customer orders rather than sitting in classrooms. With the webinars, held perhaps in the evenings, we aim to reduce the technicians’ absence. In total, we train around 100 to 200 people annually through our webinars.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Having taken on your role about a year and a half ago with a commitment to digital transformation, could you describe the initiatives you’ve implemented to this end?

Ariane Finzel − Since taking on this role, we’ve fully embraced digitalization. We’ve transitioned to a digital association, streamlining processes so that membership and training confirmations can be handled with a single click. Our efforts have been recognized, and we were nominated for the European Innovation Award.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Beyond internal digital transformation, you’ve also increased activities on social media platforms like LinkedIn?

Ariane Finzel − Indeed, we’ve realized that despite doing many great things in the past, our visibility was low. Now, we’re actively sharing our work and achievements through social media and YouTube, featuring short films and engaging content to reach a wider audience. It’s crucial for us not just to broadcast our activities but also to listen and understand the evolving needs of our members and the market.

Aboutcamp BtoB − As for the market, are there aspects you feel are essential but haven’t been addressed?

Ariane Finzel − One key area is salesmanship. I advise our dealers that the market has shifted from passive selling to a more active approach. It’s now necessary to work harder to attract customers and provide an excellent customer journey, leveraging tools like Google. Many dealers currently lack sophistication in their use of social media and need to professionalize their approach to stay competitive.

Aboutcamp BtoB − With the advancement of digital tools, is there a demand from the industry for dealers to exhibit greater professionalism and modernization? How are they being assisted in this transition?

Ariane Finzel − Indeed, there’s a push for dealers to adopt a more strategic, entrepreneurial approach rather than just maintaining the status quo. The industry requests that dealers not only focus on sales or workshop skills but also on strategic business development. While some dealers grow and modernize, others prefer to keep their operations at a smaller scale, which is acceptable, but they must recognize the competitive nature of the market. We’ve observed automotive dealers entering our industry, which some traditional dealers might resist, but it’s inevitable when a market is attractive. We’re working to facilitate this transformation, offering workshops and strategic guidance to help caravaning dealers become more professional and forward-thinking.

Aboutcamp BtoB − So a clear vision for the company is essential, then?

Ariane Finzel − Absolutely. A vi-

sion is critical, yet not all companies have one that’s robust enough. We encourage dealers to develop a clear vision and to understand the importance of delegation and employer branding to attract and retain the right talent. With rising prices, it’s even more crucial for dealers to evolve into true leaders and entrepreneurs to persuade customers to invest in their products. Many need to transition from being just dealers to becoming leaders for their companies.

Aboutcamp BtoB − The interplay of being a leader versus just a dealer is intriguing. Can you speak about the industry’s role, particularly regarding digital interfaces?

Ariane Finzel − The industry indeed has work to do, especially around digital interfaces within our systems. Currently, some brand processes are outdated; for example, guarantee issues are still handled by fax, which is inefficient. We need seamless interfaces, simple, “one-click” solutions for tasks like vehicle sales and avoiding errors such as ordering the wrong color. Our association aims to centralize data and create interfaces compatible with the major systems used by German dealers, improving efficiency for all.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Does this include sharing sales prices as well?

Ariane Finzel − Yes, it covers all aspects of sales. However, there’s a caveat: access to pricing should be brand-specific. For example, an Adria dealer should only see Adria-related pricing. This is a deli-

cate issue, as there’s a fear of sensitive information reaching competitors.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Regarding discounts, it seems there’s a preference to keep discount strategies confidential among members, right?

Ariane Finzel − Yes, this is a sensitive topic that’s been extensively debated, especially during our digital events. Dealers and manufacturers had discussions about expectations and contributions. Manufacturers are seeking transparency on the final prices dealers offer, but dealers typically hold back this information. There’s a growing acknowledgment that revealing the true discounts could streamline the entire pricing process.

Aboutcamp BtoB − So, it sounds like you’re experiencing similar challenges that we have in Italy. In addition to pricing, there’s the issue of dealers paying different prices to producers, isn’t there?

Ariane Finzel − That’s correct. The conditions and terms that dealers negotiate with producers vary significantly and are often the subject of intense discussion. We’re aware of this and are working towards more standardized practices.

Aboutcamp BtoB − So, when dealers input data after signing, does this information go directly to your system?

Ariane Finzel − Not currently, but that could be one goal. We’re advocating for a centralized interface that could distribute the data evenly among all systems. At present, some dealers have preferential access to information due to closer ties with manufacturers, while others do not. We want to level the playing field, ensuring fair access to data for all our members.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Are you actively involved in promotional efforts with CIVD to boost the camping sector? Do they seek your participation in economic endeavors?

Ariane Finzel − Yes, we collaborate on various projects with CIVD. I don’t want to adorn myself with other people’s laurels. The CIVD association is much bigger than ours, and they manage most of the projects, work, and costs. For now, this arrangement is fine for me because I appreciate their work a lot. One notable campaign is the recent one from caravaning.info, which was a joint effort of many brands and associations. It showcased authentic camping experiences, moving away from the idealized portrayals. For instance, they featured a campsite where neighbors are close, reflecting the reality of some locations. They also had videos of a motorhome couple in Sweden enjoying nature, a large family at a lively campsite, and a motorhome couple in Croatia sharing their travel experiences in an authentic way. These campaigns have been well-received for

their authenticity. We are part of a project group involved in these initiatives, and while we’d love to do more, we have limitations due to our small team and available time. Nonetheless, we’re excited about upcoming projects.

Aboutcamp BtoB − What initiatives or projects do you have planned for 2024 to continue growing the recreational vehicle sector in Germany?

Ariane Finzel − We have an exciting initiative planned for 2024. We aim to organize a week-long event called “Caravaning-Tage,” where all brands and dealers come together to focus on selling caravans and providing services all over Germany. Understanding that not everyone wants to buy a new vehicle, we will emphasize upgrading older ones with better technical features. Dealers will be encouraged to create packages for different seasons, such as spring, summer, and winter, which include services like heating. We are in discussions with suppliers like Dometic to offer special deals to our members. This initiative aims to enhance the professionalism of services across Germany, making it easier for customers to get appointments and improving the overall customer experience. We also encourage dealers to invest in their facilities to create a more attractive environment for customers. Additionally, we are focusing on the rental market, which is growing as the prices of recreational vehicles increase. Some dealers are offering buyback solutions, and this approach is gaining traction in Germany, especially as the market evolves.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Do you have any issues with platforms like Goboony or Yescapa, where private individuals share their motorhomes? Do you see them as competitors to dealers?

Ariane Finzel − While some dealers may view platforms like Goboony or Yescapa as competitors, I see them as both an opportunity and a complement to our business. Private individuals sharing their motorhomes can attract new customers to the industry. However, it’s important to note that private sharing may have limitations, especially in terms of servicing and repairs. When a motorhome from a private owner gets damaged, they often lack the professional workshops to make immediate repairs. In contrast, our dealers have the capability to repair and maintain vehicles quickly. This presents an opportunity for dealers because customers who experience issues with private rentals may turn to dealerships for reliable service. Dealers should not be overly concerned about these platforms but rather recognize that they can attract potential customers who may later decide to purchase a motorhome. So, it’s not just a risk but also a chance to expand our customer base.

Ariane Finzel in conversation with our editor-in-chief

The camper’s skin that no longer fears the sun

LAMILUX SUNSATION® is one of the newest and most innovative GRP topcoats currently available on the market from German company LAMILUX Composites

Words Peter Hirtschulz

The renowned jury of the German Design Awards 2024 crowned this product, according to the company, the most colour-and gloss-resistant GRP top layer in the world with the “Special Mention” award in the “Excellent Product De sign” category. This award not only enhances the image of the manufacturer, but the product in general offers a clear sales advantage to any manufacturer who uses it. With LAMILUX SUNSATION® he can present himself as a high-quality trend setter on the market. According to a company presentation, LAMILUX Sunsation® makes the difference. Thanks to the new development, the vehicles with this GRP top layer are said to have a continuously shiny appearance for the rest of their lives.

Lifelong beauty

Mankind’s dream of lifelong youth and beauty is not possible for well-known biological reasons. The skin

In partnership with

ages automatically and even more so when exposed to extreme sunlight. For the outer skin of a leisure vehicle, the dream of lifelong beauty is now a reality, even under extreme weather conditions. SUNSATION® from LAMILUX claims to offer 2,000% higher UV resistance compared to standard gelcoats. It is said to lead to extreme colour and gloss retention of the vehicle walls and consequently to a brand new appearance even after years in the sun.

The ultimate plus according to inhouse tests: LAMILUX Sunsation® significantly reduces the need for maintenance of exterior applications. Surfaces with extreme gloss resistance no longer need to be waxed for preventive protection or subsequent touch-up. In figures, this means: 90 per cent less effort and costs for waxing thanks to the use of LAMILUX SUNSATION®. In addition to the significantly enhanced brand image for the vehicle manufacturer, the benefits of SUNSATION® are rounded off by the resulting higher resale value of the vehicle for the customer and the significantly reduced maintenance requirements mentioned above.

LAMILUX SUNSATION® is available in material thicknesses of 1.5 mm - 1.7 mm, in widths of up to 3.20 m and as sheets or rolls. In terms of colour, all shades of the RAL and NCS scale are available, as well as customer-specific shades.

LAMILUX Sunsation® was also tested by means of artificial weathering in accordance with DIN EN ISO 48922. The test was based on weathering over a comparable period of 9,000 hours, which corresponds to real weathering in Central Europe of

Company Profile

around 15-20 years. The result shows that LAMILUX Sunsation® hardly changes colour over time, whereas conventional material generally fades very quickly or loses its original colour. The reason for this exceptional quality retention is that LAMILUX Sunsation® is not a polish, cream or wax, but a UV protection technology that is firmly integrated into the GRP material and requires no additional or subsequent treatment.

Applications

LAMILUX GRP is used in the caravanning industry for inner and outer cover layers of side walls, roofs, floor constructions, rear garages and underfloors by all well-known caravan and motorhome manufacturers. LAMILUX Composites offers

LAMILUX Composites GmbH has been producing fibre-reinforced plastics for around 70 years. Decades of experience in the European and American caravanning market and the highest quality standards “Made in Germany” are the hallmarks of LAMILUX fibre-reinforced plastics. Thanks to its technologically outstanding, continuous manufacturing process, large production capacities and broad product range, the medium-sized company is one of the leading producers. LAMILUX supplies customers around the world in the fields of vehicle, motorhome and caravan construction, cold store and cold room construction, the construction industry and numerous other industrial segments. With more than 1,300 employees, LAMILUX generated a turnover of 390 million euros in 2022. The family-run company is based in Rehau, Bavaria, Germany.

customised solutions for every area of application. LAMILUX X-treme, for example, is an extremely resistant hail protection roof. LAMILUX Composites Floor as floor material, LAMILUX LAMIGraph as wall cladding and LAMILUX LAMIfoamtext as inner roof cladding fulfil all customers’ design requirements in terms of quality and appearance. LAMILUX Anti Slip Style as a visually attractive floor in rear garages, impact fabric as stone chip protection in the underbody and the world first SUNSATION® as an outer side wall round off the manufacturer’s product portfolio, ensuring that motorhomes and caravans are equipped for the challenges of everyday life. LAMILUX Composites is the market leader with its high-tech GRP materials.

LAMILUX Sunsation in use

Quality, flexibility, sustainability

Marco Cappellozza is the plant manager of the new CTA factory. He told us how the company is structured now and on which processes manufacturing is based

Words Renato Antonini

CTA is steadily expanding and the new factory that opened at the end of 2022 is the key element for raising quality and boosting production to meet the growing demands of a market that has been appreciating the work done by the company for several years. Marco Cappellozza was called in to manage this complex machine. We met with the new plant manager to learn how CTA is working to bolster its presence on the European scene.

Aboutcamp BtoB − CTA appointed you to manage the new factory. Which goals have you set yourself?

Marco Cappellozza − My first goal is to co-ordinate the various activities at the new plant, in which the company has directed major investments and aims to use as a tool for growth in the market. A second goal that is not less important is to bring the experience that I have gained in various fields close to the sector in which CTA operates to the company. CTA’s mission is to make life onboard

motorhomes and camper vans comfortable and safe, and I believe that these two goals concern the products and the company as a whole. The new plant is a modern, well-designed working environment. I want to increase the comfort and safety of personnel because better working conditions can increase productivity and quality. An additional, significant goal is to increase production flexibility. CTA has always been flexible but I believe that this feature can be increased and channelled into modern industrial

In partnership with

logic to guarantee higher production volumes.

Aboutcamp BtoB − How are you going to achieve these goals in the new plant?

Marco Cappellozza − I think it is important to start with joint action involving the three fundamental areas of the company: R&D, the Technical Department and the Prototyping. R&D generates new ideas that become new products. Innovation is essential for any company that looks to the future but the ideas must be feasible. This is where Prototyping steps in. The team can immediately analyse the functional aspects of an idea to determine whether it can be industrialised efficiently and mass-produced. And then there is the Technical Department, which has always been the heart of CTA,

understandably because we are manufacturers. With a view to flexibility, the technical department customises products according to specific customer requirements.

Aboutcamp BtoB − How is the new CTA plant organised?

Marco Cappellozza − The new plant covers a total area of 10,000 square metres. More in detail, production floor extends over 3,000 square metres and we have a 1,200-square-metre warehouse. Then there are the administrative offices and technical department. The construction of the new plant was an important step for the company, which after forty-five years in business had gained a significant foothold in the RV sector, with increasing demands from the market. However, it is much more than just new buildings. There has also been a major investment in human resources, machinery and production processes. We have worked a lot on digital transformation and will continue to do so. By applying lean manufacturing logic, we have increased production, reduced lead times and can guarantee greater flexibility.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Quality and safety are fundamental in seat belt frames that are your main product type.

Marco Cappellozza − Indeed and that is why we are upgrading our testing laboratory where we perform testing for R14 and R145 approval of the seatbelt frames we manufacture. Recently we have added new pulling cylinders and now we can test and type-approve 3-seater dinettes in line. Moreover we currently planning to introduce also an additional machine for R17 to increase our testing capacity.

Aboutcamp BtoB − In your opinion, what can you do to achieve excellence in the quality of your products?

Marco Cappellozza − There is no doubt that this factor also depends on the personnel. The quality of our products starts in the workshop, on the factory floor, and then extends to the other departments. In general, we are shifting from a reactive approach to a proactive one. In this way, any shortcomings can be anticipated and prevented. I rely heavily on the FMEA method to analyse potential failure modes and draw up procedures with countermeasures. Personnel training is crucial. Last year we launched CTA Academy, a programme of training courses aimed at improving preparedness and teaching how to prevent problems as well as solve them. For instance, one course is for certifying welders. The activity is connected

to a welding analysis laboratory using non-destructive liquid penetrant testing. We will soon start problem-solving courses focusing on various methods and other courses that will be extended to all company personnel.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Has the transition to the new factory also brought improvements in the organisational area?

Marco Cappellozza − We have recently installed a new management system, functional for the company’s operations. We use KPI analysis to measure the performance of the various production areas using precise indicators. We have also implemented several handheld devices for warehouse management so that we can be sure that we can give our customers quick answers on delivery times in addition to ensuring shipping accuracy. As far as product shipment is concerned, we can prepare the goods within five weeks of ordering. Almost all the supplies we need to assemble our products come from the EU market, so we are not affected by global trade problems. In the purchasing area, we have implemented a supplier evaluation system, which aims at the best relationship between product quality and delivery time and cost.

Aboutcamp BtoB − What are your plans for the future?

Marco Cappellozza − Certainly, there is attention to the theme of environmental sustainability, which we have already addressed and which foresees improvements in the short term. A few weeks ago, we installed a 100 kW photovoltaic system on the roof of our headquarters. Furthermore, we have initiated a plastic reduction program for packaging, gradually replacing plastic with cardboard boxes and recycled paper. The goal is a 30% reduction in plastic. Then we can expand the company even further and increase production by bringing in some of the work we are currently outsourcing. We are working on a three-year plan to address these goals.

Marco Cappellozza

Born in Turin, Marco has twenty-five years of experience in the automotive sector. In the 1990s he was a designer in Turin, then he worked in Val di Sangro (where Fiat Ducato and various Stellantis models are produced) in two main market areas: seats for commercial vehicles and interior trim in plastic materials.

Innovative pressure regulation systems offers multiple advantages

Even though electrification is on the rise, LPG was, is and will remain a form of energy essential for campers in the foreseeable future – especially when it comes to self-sufficiency. And if an LPG system is on board, this usually indicates the presence of high-quality manufacturer GOK. Products from the German family-owned company can be found between the gas cylinder and the gas device; the centrepiece is the gas pressure regulator, of which there will be an innovative development from April 2024

The headquarters of GOK aren’t that easy to find. While the company buildings of many such businesses are traditionally situated in industrial areas, those of GOK are surrounded by residential buildings, idyllic woodland and a stream. The office buildings and some of the production halls are covered by trees. Unless you look closely, it’s easy to drive past the access road to GOK’s premises.

Just like the LPG system in a motor caravan, the company headquarters are somewhat hidden from view. And although GOK products can now be found in many a caravan, motor home or motor caravan, some people are yet to have heard of the family business from the northern part of Bavaria. “This is now changing, though, especially in the last five to six years,” explains Andreas Brohm, Technical Managing Director of the LPG specialist. Thanks to a number of successful measures,

GOK now has an increasing presence in the industry, and word is spreading about the advantages of GOK products, reports Andreas Brohm.

Why choose GOK

GOK offers a full range of products covering everything from gas cylinders to end devices: whether it’s a hose assembly, a quick-acting stop valve, an adapter, a test device or the aforementioned gas pressure regulator – and in most cases, GOK offers several variants. GOK has been manufacturing at its Marktbreit site in Germany ever since it was founded in 1968. The design, development, purchasing, sales, production and assembly divisions are all under one roof. And that is also an important part of the company’s philosophy: as a manufacturer of safety-relevant components, product quality is always of paramount importance at GOK. “The more processing steps we have in one place, the more control we have over the quality of our products,” explains Andreas Brohm.

100-percent inspection

And that’s also the reason why GOK has its own foundry, including the associated metalworking and toolmaking workshops. It is here that the housings for the pressure regulation systems with crash sensor are cast, for example. In addition, GOK has its own mechanical production plant in which turned and milled parts are manufactured from metallic raw materials. The company’s semi-finished products and components are also assembled into finished products at the Marktbreit location. Before the finished products proceed to the shipping warehouse, however, they have usually passed

through multiple inspection steps. These include the incoming goods inspection, the in-depth material inspection for in-house and third-party products, quality inspections before and after the assembly of semi-finished products as well as a final inspection. As Andreas Brohm explains: “We follow a 100-percent inspection strategy for all relevant products, which includes all gas pressure regulators. This means that every gas pressure regulator is checked to ensure that it functions correctly and is free of leaks.”

This also applies to the latest development from GOK: the gas pressure regulators in the Caramatic SafeDrive series. This is a pressure regulation system that also allows the LPG system to be operated while driving with the camping vehicle. Safety is ensured by a crash sensor, which stops the gas flow if the vehicle is involved in an accident. This reliably prevents unburnt LPG from escaping.

Advantages of the Caramatic SafeDrive People will argue that systems with crash sensors have been around for a long time – including from GOK. And although that is true, the Caramatic SafeDrive is still something special. In contrast to other systems, such as the DriveOne or DriveTwo with crash sensor from GOK, the Caramatic SafeDrive and its crash sensor are mounted directly on the gas cylinder. This has several advantages:

• Assembly is extremely simple and very quick.

• The assembly options are significantly more flexible than with comparable systems, which means more options are available in the case of small gas cylinder cases.

• The crash sensor secures the entire pipe system between the gas cylinder and the end device.

• The configuration of the system makes gas filters and excess flow devices unnecessary.

To suit different requirements, the Caramatic SafeDrive is available for single-cylinder systems while the Caramatic SafeDrive PLUS is provided for two-cylinder systems. If only one cylinder is used, the Caramatic SafeDrive is screwed directly onto the gas cylinder valve and the gas hose is connected to the fixed piping system in the vehicle. In the case of the Caramatic SafeDrive PLUS for two-cylinder systems, a central and changeover regulator is fixed to the two gas cylinders. These two regulators are connected to each other via a hose assembly, and an additional hose connection is provided for connecting to the piping system in the leisure vehicle. It is therefore possible to switch automatically between two gas cylinders and to change the empty cylinder without having to interrupt the ongoing operations.

More variety

“It goes without saying that the Caramatic DriveOne and DriveTwo with crash sensor continue to be part of our product range,” emphasises Andreas Brohm. The Caramatic SafeDrive isn’t a direct replacement product for the tried-andtested wall assembly systems, but instead enhances the options available to vehicle manufacturers and campers. The variety on offer in the product range continues to grow. And while the company headquarters may remain well concealed, the high-quality products from GOK are becoming accessible to an ever-increasing number of people in the camping industry. The Caramatic SafeDrive will play no small part in this development.

Andreas Brohm Testing and inspection procedures

Caramatic SafeDrive PLUS

Above: SafeDrive PLUS with gas cylinders

Thinking for the future with advanced solutions

AMA Composites is expanding its range of LWRT technology solutions and trying out new recycled materials, as well as introducing a range of wiring harnesses for the RV sector

Words Renato Antonini

AMA Composites is increasing its profile in the RV sector with a diversified offering featuring composites, new technologies and recycled materials. But it is also leveraging its synergies with the AMA Group to launch new product ranges, including wiring harnesses. In recent years, AMA Composites has experienced its greatest successes with LWRT (Light Weight Reinforced Thermoplastic) materials, which it supplies to a number of European RV builders. LWRT components are lightweight - up to five times lighter than the same parts made with conventional thermoforming - and also feature integrated surface coverings, as well as thermal insulation where appropriate. Wiring harnesses and heating systems can be incorporated into the parts during fabrication. This enables the RV builder to use pre-assembled parts, produced industrially to the highest quality. The result is faster assembly and a far lower risk of errors in the build.

Underside of the bed with LWRT technology Internal roof and wall cladding with LWRT technology

Trying out new recycled materials

When it comes to environmental sustainability, AMA Composites is currently assessing the use of new materials. The company is trying out recycled polypropylene for rigid and semi-rigid parts. For the integrated coverings, it is evaluating recycled fabrics, felts, materials of vegetable origin and the recycling of industrial wool waste.

“The recycled materials we’re trying out are niche products,” says Marco Benatti, Product Manager, AMA Composites; “they’re recycled at source and are also recyclable in the future, which is a milestone in terms of environmental sustainability.”

The company has converted one of its machines specifically to test these new products. This is not an insignificant investment, but the company is fully committed to exploring such new options for sustainability.

The many uses of LWRT

“When we entered the RV sector in 2006, we set ourselves an ambitious objective,” says Marco Corradini, CEO, Ama Composites: “to bring the advanced technologies already in use in the automotive industry into the motorhome and campervan sector. Today we can say that we have achieved this objective. Many companies are now using our products, and our offering of solutions is always growing. We make structural components of all sorts with high technology materials, and we’re also equipped to handle large production runs. Light weight, high performance, excellent thermal insulation and high quality finishes - these are the focus of our R&D efforts.”

LWRT technology is used in both structural and non-structural components, pre-assembled parts with integrated interior coverings and thermal insulation, where appropriate. For in-

stance, the company has made front mouldings for single-body motorhomes. LWRT is widely used in campervan panels throughout the living compartment: the rear sleeping area, the cowling over the cab, and the sliding side doors and rear swing doors. They have also offered a number of options for pop-up roofs. And they also make covering panels for the lower section of motorhome and campervan drop-down beds. AMA Composites also offers special systems for insulating and heating the floor panel. It is collaborating with Italian company Palomar in this area of its business. As for living compartment heating solutions, Ama Composites is continuously refining its use of JESS conductive heating membrane. This is a very thin multi-layer membrane which can be shaped in any way and runs off DC power. It can be installed in the floor, walls or ceiling.

RV wiring harnesses

AMA Composites is also now offering wiring harness solutions for the

RV sector. The company offers a wide range of systems, from simple to extremely complex, for installation in motorhomes and campervans. This new segment of its business has been made possible by its synergies with the other companies in the AMA Group. AMA Composites is just one of the many divisions of the AMA Group, which employs 1,300 people in 18 plants around the world. The Group has been making wiring harnesses and control instrumentation (for control panels, among others) for forty years, with a focus on the OHV (Off Highway Vehicles) sector, which covers agricultural equipment, earthmoving equipment and even small quads. “Our collaboration with the Group’s other divisions is very advantageous for us,” says Marco Benatti, “and at the present time we’re focusing on wiring harnesses. In doing so we are working with a large plant in Sarajevo, Bosnia, which has a workforce of 150. We’ve started supplying these products to the RV sector, and it’s only the beginning of this new venture for us.”

New automatic press LWRT

Wiring displays at the fair

Style & features

Continuous research has driven Vetroresina S.p.A. to offer alternative laminates, developing interesting solutions for vehicle exteriors and interiors

Words Renato Antonini

Vetroresina S.p.A. has recently transitioned from classic laminates to more innovative solutions, offering new ideas to RV manufacturers. Alongside the full range of more traditional products, the Italian company has increasingly focused on a range of laminates with special characteristics that become alternatives to other types of materials.

“Our work is based on research” , explained Fabrizio Baglioni, Commercial Director of Vetroresina S.p.A. “Our lab teams are committed to finding solutions that can go beyond traditional laminates and our efforts are highly appreciated by the RV sector because they offer the possibility of exploring different construction solutions alternatively to those that

laminating a sheet of fibreglass with a PVC finish. They are designed to form the treadable interior floor area of vehicles. They are suitable for replacing both the traditional multilayer wood panel and the PVC surface coating in the composition of the sandwich panels that form the floor. The texture can be chosen by the manufacturer reproducing wood or

had been used for decades. Our lineup of innovative laminates as an alternative to wood and other materials has been intensified lately when the supply chain crisis led RV builders to seek new construction methods”.

The real breakthrough came when Vetroresina S.p.A. started producing laminates for use in vehicle interiors many years ago. Alongside fibreglass

with a grey stone effect. Vetrostyle is produced in different versions with variable thicknesses and types of glass fibre used.

• PVC is applied to the laminate during production without the use of additional adhesives.

• The surface slab of the floor is seamless. It is a single piece with remarkably great mechanical strength.

• It is easily washable and impervious

to moisture.

• It reduces assembly time on the vehicle assembly line to the benefit of lowering labour costs.

• The special Diamond Plate version is designed for the load compartment floor of motorhomes. It has a visually pleasing 3D anti-slip surface, offers considerable resistance to rubbing wear and has a high resistance to engine oil.

Vetrostyle

Vetrostyle Diamond Plate

Floor panel with Vetrostyle surface

sheets for the outer cladding of the sides, roof and floor, the range now includes semi-finished products ideal for the living pod.

“We started telling European RV manufacturers that our fibreglass could also be used for the inside of sandwich panels, starting with the floors, about 20 years ago” , explained Simone Colombarini, president of Vetroresina S.p.A. “They were traditional laminates, with no special features, but that was the first step in getting our products ‘inside’ the living pod. We have increasingly perfected the products, providing them with special textures, surfaces

Vetroskin

In partnership with

different from the classic ones, and pairing them with other materials”.

Vetroresina S.p.A. now has a wide range of laminates, with special products to complement the more traditional ones, offering specific solutions for an array of needs. Vetroresina laminates are offered to RV builders and RV repairers, workshops and restorers. Thousands of people are involved in repairing and refurbishing deteriorated, damaged and ageing vehicles in this highly diversified industry. In the US market, innovative laminates are used to clad both the interior and exterior of vehicles. As early as the late 1990s, Vetroresina S.p.A. began creating products that could replace traditional materials, such as wood, improving the performance and construction costs of RV manufacturers in the United States.

“At the beginning of the new millennium, we patented Vetrolite and started selling it on the US market” , explained Elena Colombarini, General Manager of Vetroresina LLC, the company’s US subsidiary. “It was used by RV builders instead of the layer of wood placed as a stiffener under the outer fibreglass sheet. Although very thick, the Vetrolite sheets were lightened by hollow microspheres of plastic material. Vetroprint fibreglass laminate characterised by a particular texture or design is one of the innovative products we are currently offering in North America. Vetroprint can replace side panels. It costs less than painted panels and it has a longer lifespan than decals. It is very advantageous to use it inside the living pod, for example in the construction of floors. Vetroprint

can be made with any type of finish (matte, high gloss or textured finish) and can reproduce the effect of various materials, including wood, stone, carbon fibre”.

Vetroskin laminates have a corrugated, wavy surface that conveys special material effects. They are available in different colours. With various shades and surface effects, they are perfect for making attractive interior panels. Vetroskin is produced by impregnating a mat with polyester resin in a special mould to acquire a 3D effect, with a more or less embossed surface. It is offered

in two variants: Vetroskin Delta and Vetroskin Levant.

• Vetroskin Delta is designed for the RV interior. The 3D surface can be exploited for special design solutions. It can replace melamine-faced wood in many parts of the interior. It can be used for wall and roof cladding, for the walls of the kitchen area and some parts of the toilet. It is washable and does not absorb

moisture or odours. In the catalogue it is available in various RAL colours, but other colours can be created at the customer’s request.

• Vetroskin Levant is designed for RV cargo compartments. The rough, corrugated surface is non-slip and perfect for the floor of motorhome garage compartments. It is produced in thicknesses ranging from 1.3 to 2.6 mm.

Vetroprint

Simone Colombarini

Vetroskin

Internal wall in Vetroskin

Integrating past and future

We talked with the R&D Manager & Coordinator for AL-KO VTE, to see how this Italian company is optimising its processes and generating innovation

Michele Menegazzi, an electronics engineer with considerable experience both as designer and team leader, has been a member of the AL-KO VTE team since April 2023. His responsibilities in the company, which has head offices in Northern Italy, consist in coordinating its two R&D departments, at Gaiarine (TV) and Trento. These are two different departments, representing the R&D teams of CBE and Nordelettronica, now both subsidiaries of AL-KO VTE. Menegazzi’s role is to build bridges between the past and the future, enabling the two departments to dialogue with each other and benefit from their mutual synergies.

Aboutcamp BtoB − What does your role as coordinator for the two R&D departments in AL-KO VTE really consist in?

Michele Menegazzi − In the past, the two companies were developing the same product in different locations. Today we have two excellent R&D teams with a total of around 20 staff, but we have to create synergies between them so that the product they develop is complementary and expands our overall portfolio. We have to employ the same development protocols, the same processes, the same documentation, so that the two teams are able to contribute effectively to a single project from their different locations. For instance, we might have a project manager at Trento and a hardware designer at Gaiarine, working together remote-

Words Antonio Mazzucchelli and Renato Antonini

In partnership with

ly. The aim is to create a better product by coordinating the two companies’ know-how and diverse competencies. This means they all have to speak the same language and use the same sets of tools. This includes shared software tools - for instance they have to use the same CAD system for their layouts and wiring diagrams, the same databases and, at the most basic level, the same names for components.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Are you also working to optimise your vendors?

Michele Menegazzi − Yes, that’s another of our goals, starting with compo-

velopment. As an example, where before we used three different microcontrollers, and hence three different firmware platforms, now we only use one: this speeds up our processes and simplifies our know-how management and transfer processes. We are also working to optimise our vendors by selecting them for best performance and innovation. The goal is to free up our resources: staff who were previously developing analogous products in the two companies, can now be dedicated to creating innovative new products.

In this first year at the company, I’ve focused on optimising the synergies between the two teams. Now we’re at the point where we can focus on innovation.

Aboutcamp BtoB − How are you going to integrate Toptron, your new German subsidiary, into the group?

Michele Menegazzi − From our point of view, Toptron is a big step up technologically, because the company develops and integrates systems in a highly flexible, personalised way for its clients. AL-KO VTE is currently doing this only in part, because our philosophy is to leverage the synergies between our products and produce large volumes. Toptron will help us penetrate a segment of design and production in which highly modular, personalised products are key. Toptron stands out for its ability to integrate its products with those of other companies in such a way that the system is able to communicate seamlessly. So our acquisition of Toptron will enable us to create new synergies to serve some of our clients more effectively.

Aboutcamp BtoB − And as for ALKO VTE products, what’s the state of the art and what have you got on the horizon?

Michele Menegazzi − We’re currently completing the transition to lithium battery power, because some of our products are not natively equipped for lithium batteries for historical reasons: our systems will now soon be fully compatible with lithium. We are also completing our transition to full connectivity. All our products will soon be fully compatible with the CL-BUS communications ecosystem, where appropriate, or CI-BUS. This will enable them to communicate all necessary monitoring, diagnostics and troubleshooting

information, which is also a value for our clients. Of course this means we’ll have to provide the client with a number of basic tools. The first of these is the ONDA app, which allows the user to monitor the vehicle’s entire operational status with a smartphone or tablet. This connectivity is rounded out by our ONDA system gateway, which enables us to interface the CL-BUS platform with CI-BUS. Using this gateway, our app will be able to manage the entire ecosystem, i.e. everything connected to CI-BUS and CL-BUS in the campervan. The ICL12 gateway also connects to the cloud and the web.

Aboutcamp BtoB − But before we get to the app, is there a control panel for all of this?

Aboutcamp BtoB − When will this system, with the ONDA app, be launching?

Michele Menegazzi − Many of our clients are already testing samples which we’re still improving. So I expect that over the coming months you’ll be seeing some companies installing the system on their campervans. Personalised versions will follow.

Michele Menegazzi − We are developing some new panels; our top panel at the moment is the PL50, which is the most fully featured and up-to-date one, and also has the best user interface. We aim to introduce - at the Düsseldorf fair - new families of panels for our various market segments. They’ll be more modern, with an advanced touchscreen graphic interface.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Are you also looking at the aftermarket segment, for instance by enabling the ICL12 gateway to interface with existing vehicle equipment?

Michele Menegazzi − Yes, we’re working on it, but the aftermarket segment is no simple matter because you can never know what may be installed on a given campervan. For the aftermarket, we want to offer a much more interesting visual and control interface than what’s currently available. We are also developing other products for the aftermarket, like new solar power regulators and a family of ampere meters. These components will be equipped with Bluetooth modules, so that the aftermarket client will potentially be able to build their own mon-

About AL-KO VT

The AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group is a swiftly growing global technology group and a business unit of DexKo Global. DexKo Global Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality chassis technology, chassis assemblies, accessories and hydraulic brake components.

Headquartered in Novi, Michigan/USA, the company employs around 7,000 people in more than 100 production facilities and distribution centers.

itoring ecosystem. Bluetooth technology will be used primarily on the BDS, the PRM solar power regulator - i.e. top of the range solar power regulators and the ampere meter family. The user will be able not only to control their solar panel using an app (the ONDA Smart System), but also monitor the battery charge. We’re aiming to launch these products in the second half of the year.

Aboutcamp BtoB − What other innovative products are you working on?

About Michele Menegazzi

Born in Treviso (Veneto, Italy), Michele Menegazzi (52 years old) is a graduate in electronic engineering who has always been passionate about electronics design. In the early 2000s, he starting working in the aerospace industry. After a few years he moved to Milan to work for Carlo Gavazzi Space. At that time, the company was working together with NASA to develop a power electronics system. Menegazzi designed some of the components, as well as testing the system. He returned to Treviso to work at the local Osram factory, where he continued working as a power electronics designer. He worked as project manager for some time, after which he spent the years 2010 to 2014 setting up an R&D team in China. On his return to Italy, he headed up his old Osram design team, and went on to manage a team developing LED modules.

Since April 2023, Michele Menegazzi has been R&D Manager & Coordinator for AL-KO VTE.

Michele Menegazzi − We’re developing a high performance battery charger with a very compact footprint. It’s a fanless unit, which greatly simplifies installation and also cuts down running noise. We’re also looking at combining this battery charger with an innovative technology we’re developing for the new DC/DC converter units that will come at a later date. So, we’re looking forward to launching a new battery charger, a new DC/DC converter unit and a unit that combines both technologies. We’ll be showcasing some samples at Düsseldorf. Power management is another keystone of our development programmes.

ONDA

RV interiors matter by

Sustainability drives Thetford

As the popularity of RV travel continues to rise, so does the need for responsible and sustainable practices, including using RV toilet chemicals

Words Terry Owen

Thetford recognises this trend and paves the way for more sustainable practises. We asked Thetford’s marketing manager, Norbert van Noesel, to explain more.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Recent research from The Netherlands and Germany shows that campers focus more on the environment and sustainability than non-campers. How do Thetford’s sanitary products stand up to this challenge?

Norbert van Noesel − Our cassette toilets and Porta Potti’s provide the most home-like experience and are designed to last decades with the appropriate consumables. These ensure the toilets stay clean and hygienic while consistently delivering optimal performance. We encourage sustainability over constant buying. If someone bought a second-hand RV and is considering upgrading the installed cassette toilet, Thetford Fresh-up Set makes it easy.

With the Fresh-up Set one can replace the waste-holding tank, seat, and cover without having to replace the entire toilet. From this year, we also have our Twusch ceramic insert that effectively renews the toilet bowl and prolongs the lifespan of the toilet.

Aboutcamp BtoB − How do your toilet systems stand up to the environmental challenge?

Norbert van Noesel − Our additives serve several purposes, including liquifying waste and preventing malodour formation, without compromising the organic breakdown processes in wastewater treatment systems. When used correctly they can safely be disposed in the general sewage system. We have a range of septic tank-safe products for use where needed. Even when effective sewage treatment is challenging, our products maintain environmental integrity without compromising functionality. These additives have a minimal impact

on the environment. Indeed, the small dosage is such that the impact is not more significant than all the chemicals we use at home. Camping practices have a lower environmental impact than our home activities. Using our toilet systems and additives means campers use only about 5% of the flush water they typically use at home.

Aboutcamp BtoB − What initiatives are you taking to further minimise the environmental impact of your additives?

Norbert van Noesel − We continuously develop our products to enhance performance and reduce environmental impact. Our lab experts constantly seek alternative ingredients to lower the environmental impact. Moreover, we look at the logistical needs of our products. For example, the concentrated line requires less packaging and minimises transportation needs. PowerPods Bio have a biological action to deal with waste, and our improved Bathroom Cleaner is formulat-

Below: Norbert van Noesel

ed with biobased ingredients. What’s more, we work hard to introduce recycled materials for our plastic bottles.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Some observers might say that a dry diverting toilet is best for RVs because it uses no chemicals. What do you say to that?

Norbert van Noesel − Even diverting toilets need consumables such as litter and plastic bags - and woe betide if the bags fail. This brings a challenge to compostable bags. There are also questions around disposal, convenience, cleaning and smell. Currently, there is no hygienic infrastructure set up for the disposal of toilet bags, leading to the necessity of disposing them in regular litter bins. Not an ideal situation. And regarding composting toilets; with the right conditions, human outputs will compost in no less than several months. This presents unique challenges to the industry.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Some of your additives labels state that they harm aquatic life. That must mean they can have a negative environmental impact.

Norbert van Noesel − As imposed by EU regulations, the label information relates to the liquid in undiluted form. In use, at the recommended high dilution levels (60 ml to 20 litres or 0.3%), the additives change in nature as they work. Diluted with all other sewage water, there is no problem for the regular water purification processes to do their work.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Certain products claim to break down organic waste, based on microorganisms and enzymes. Are these not better for the environment?

Norbert van Noesel − This claim is not realistic. Biological processes take time, and the number of microorganisms and enzymes in faeces and urine is such that the small amount added to the waste tank cannot do anything meaningful. This type of product is

relatively useless for a 20-litre tank with a maximum standing time of about three to five days; any observable effect is mainly due to the perfume and surfactants.

It is possible to outnumber the microorganisms and enzymes in human waste, but this would be simply too expensive for an additive –around 100 Euros for one bottle. Another issue is that biological products can produce a nasty by-product: ammonia. This is particularly true in hot weather, when the smell can be pretty strong.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Several ‘green’ products are on the market, with incredible claims. What do you make of them?

Norbert van Noesel − Claims such as ‘contains natural soaps and natural essential oils’ are exaggerated marketing. Soap is not a naturally occurring substance; it is, by definition, an oil or fat that has been treated, and therefore, an artificial substance not found in nature. In any case, soap would not do anything helpful in this application. Essential oils are, by definition, natural, being the substances extracted from plants that define the “essence” of the fragrance of that plant. Some products claim to prevent and remove scale, but the ones we’ve looked at don’t have a pH low enough to do this. Also, claiming to be 100% chemical-free is a misleading message. The substances may be naturally occurring, but they’re still chemicals. And, it doesn’t follow that a naturally occurring substance can’t harm the environment. For example, seawater can kill plants and freshwater fish if it gets in the wrong place. User feedback on these products seems mixed, with many saying such additives last only a day or so before losing their effectiveness. This suggests the effect is more down to the fragrance than anything else. The short-term effect leads to using more of the product, not being environmentally friendly.

Aboutcamp BtoB − Readers of the popular German camping magazine Promobil have once again voted Thetford number one as a supplier of toilet systems. You must be very pleased with that.

Norbert van Noesel − The result suggests a high customer satisfaction with our products, but we realise that we should avoid getting comfortable with that knowledge. There is a need to constantly strive for excellence to uphold our ranking. We are still very proud to hold this first position.

Thetford’s commitment to the environment

“Thetford’s commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in continuous innovation. Our highly skilled product developers experiment with lower ingredient doses and search for alternative ingredients that lower the overall environmental impact of our products whilst maintaining optimum product performance where it counts. This way, we can offer the best-performing products with an appropriate focus on sustainability and the environment. Our additives are responsibly packaged and expertly

developed, using only the most suitable ingredients for treating human waste. By following the instructions on our labels, users minimise the environmental impact to a negligible level. On top of that, our toilets are designed to last at least for the lifetime of the RV and then to be recycled. We have a huge group of end-users: Thetford Friends, we are connected to. In interaction with them, we aim to continue the development of our products to ensure they maintain their position of best in class”, concludes Norbert van Noesel.

Thetford cassette toilet and additives

Improving service battery charging

Teleco TBooster PRO 1245: the DC/DC converter that optimises and speeds up the recharging of lead acid, gel, AGM and lithium batteries and is designed to work with both traditional alternators and new variable-voltage Euro 6 devices

Words editorial staff

Intent on offering an innovative solution for optimal on-the-move charging of 12V service batteries, Teleco Group has designed the TBooster PRO 1245. This DC/DC converter features step up/down technology, allowing users to compensate the alternator voltage and ensure perfect battery management at each stage of charging.

The TBooster PRO 1245 is essential for Euro 6 vehicles equipped with variable-voltage ‘smart alternators’. Almost all latest-generation vehicles, in fact, adapt alternator voltage to the driving circumstances: if the vehicle is stuck in a queue or proceeding particularly slowly, the alternator will stop charging the batteries. The TBooster PRO 1245, instead, can ‘force’ the alternator to charge the batteries until they are fully charged, regardless of vehicle speed.

Base specifications:

• Adaptability to alternator voltage : thanks to the step up/down converter, the TBooster PRO 1245 adapts to alternator voltage, ensuring stable efficient charging. It’s also possible to limit the power to prevent alternator overload.

However, the TBooster PRO 1245 isn’t just for latest-generation alternators: cutting-edge technology ensures it can speed up and optimise the charging of any battery type, with any alternator.

In addition to unbeatable on-the-move charging resultsthanks to a nominal charging current of 45A (max 70A)TBooster PRO also offers the certainty of never having a flat starter battery. With the ‘Bridge’ function, in fact, the service batteries can be used to charge the starter battery.

• Battery compatibility : the charge curve is designed for lead-acid, gel, AGM and lithium batteries.

• Thermal compensation : activated with the temperature sensor, optimises charging and makes it safer.

• Charge protection : the device disables service battery discharge towards the starter battery.

• Compact structure and high efficiency : at more than 90%, the efficiency level is one of the highest on the market; design is compact.

• Emergency start : the ‘Bridge’ function (with manual selector) allows emergency charging (max. 6A) of the starter battery under critical conditions.

• Easy installation : the high operating temperature and compact design make the TBooster PRO 1245 installable practically anywhere inside the vehicle. The device can be purchased in kit form with everything needed to wire and install the sensors.

Telair TLI Premium lithium batteries

The DIN L5 container - the same case of a 90Ah AGM battery commonly used as service battery in RVsoffers much more energy in the same dimensions than a traditional battery, while the integrated wireless function lets user monitor battery status on smartphone via the Teleco App

Abundant energy, fast charging, largeload capacity, lightness. These, in short, are the key advantages of lithium (LiFePO4) batteries compared to their lead-acid counterparts. And Teleco has now gone further by adding a versatile container with standard DIN dimensions (L5) that can contain 104, 120 and 150Ah batteries. This means an old battery can be replaced with a Telair TLI Premium simply and quickly, giving users all the advantages of this technology. In addition to the versions with the DIN L5 container, Teleco also provides a slight-

ly larger 200Ah variant for those with higher energy needs.

The core technology of TLI Premium batteries is the state-of-the-art Battery Management System (BMS), which controls the voltage of each individual cell, both during charging and discharging, thus extending the battery’s service life. The BMS also ensures protection from failures due to high temperatures, overcharging and deep discharging: once the minimum charge threshold is detected, the BMS automatically disconnects the battery.

The Teleco Telair BMS system offers further advantages: integrated wireless communication, which lets you monitor battery status on your smartphone via the Teleco App, a button to enter/exit storage mode, a battery diagnostics system and an error log. Users also have the

option of installing an external control panel, where the same parameters can be viewed on the OLED display.

Telair TLI Premium batteries can withstand up to 2,000 complete charge/discharge cycles, are fully maintenance-free and weigh up to 70% less than a traditional battery. Moreover, the use of lithium-iron-phosphate ion technology (LiFePO4) makes them safe: they are non-toxic, emit no dangerous fumes, cannot explode or catch fire and are more ecological as they use materials with low environmental impact (i.e. they do not use lead or other harmful materials defined by the EU RoHS directive).

Serving partners with versatile, customised solutions

For 2024, Lippert is ready to support fitters and designers with a wide range of high-quality products for all price brackets developed by the knowledge and experience of the many brands it has acquired over time

Words Giovanni Ricciardi

Founded in 1956, in the United States, by Larry Lippert, the company is now a multinational group with a dedicated workforce of more than 12,000 employees. In its 70 year history, Lippert has acquired numerous brands with the objective of offering its customers a true ‘ecosystem’ of products with almost everything they need to fit to any type of recreational vehicle, regardless of size or pricing. Innovation has therefore been one of Lippert’s corner -

stones since its foundation, and the current product range fully reflects this spirit. The impressive range of products available from the Lippert group were not all developed by itself, but also via the numerous brand acquisitions that have taken place over the years.

Silvia Bianchi, Lippert’s OEM Sales Director for EMEA, was keen to emphasize just how important tradition is: “This year’s inspiration is to go back to our origins and those of the

Silvia Bianchi

In partnership with

manufacturers who have made our company great.”

For Lippert, brand acquisitions are never made with the aim of elimi nating competition in a sector, but rather to stimulate mutual growth. The aim is to strengthen the acquired

can be seen in the production of RV entrance doors, which stem from the tradition of Metallarte: today Lippert is the only company on the market to offer this product with an integrated window that can be opened electronically, just like the cabin windows. This feature, simple, but at the same time particularly advanced, makes Lippert doors compliant to remain open even while driving, so that the vehicle can be ventilated at any time in any situation.

However, Lippert’s door

range does not only include highend products, but also extremely cost-effective offers with one or two points that can be customised with a wide range of accessories to suit both the OEM, who has to meet particularly strict target prices, and the end user, who is looking for a vehicle with a wealth of options.

Versatile lifting system

Another unique product in the Lippert product range is the belt lift system which can be used as an alternative to traditional systems to lift folding beds above the seating area or cabin, but also to install collapsible bunk beds or even bike and equipment carriers in vehicles with

Above, left: Toscana, lifting bed

Above, right: Sevilla, lifting bed

Below, left: Arje Road, two-point lock entry door

Below, right: Open Lux, driver door

Lippert EMEA - Acquisitions

“Since 2016”, the company reports, “our journey has been one of strategic acquisitions, each adding a unique strand to the tapestry of our legacy. Today, we stand committed to progression while honoring the invaluable expertise inherited from these integrated companies. At Lippert, we are dedicated to providing unparalleled quality, innovation and customer satisfaction as we embrace the changes to our ever-growing portfolio.”

particularly large storage com-

In fact, the belt system, patented and produced in Tuscany, makes it possible to lift even quite heavy weights with a high-performing gear motor; the absence of pistons optimizes space. This feature makes it possible to reduce the size of the anchorages and to build collapsible structures, such as a bunk bed, making maximum use of the available space. The Lippert catalogue has a range of standard prod ucts, but it is possible to customise each bed structure to adapt to any type of space, wheth er in the cabin, the cell, or the external lockers. Another product representative of the Lip pert philosophy, which in this case origi nates from the expertise of Project 2000 and STLA, is the electric retractable step of the U and U2 series. Here too, a seem ingly simple product acquires features that make it unique, such as the safe ty system that closes the step as soon as the vehicle starts to move, or the emergency manual release mechanism, as well as a motor protection system that protects the steps from

Lippert’s brands and numbers in Europe

Lippert has been on a growth journey through strategic acquisitions since 2016. Each acquisition has enriched the portfolio with the acquisition of unique and highly specialised expertise. The European brands that are now part of the group are: Project 2000, Metallarte, STLA, Lavet, Femto Engineering, Polyplastic, Schaudt. Lippert’s production volumes in Europe of more than 35,000 doors and more than 57,000 between beds systems and kits per year make Lippert one of the leading players in the industry.

external stresses. As with the doors, the U2 retractable step can be customised to match the livery of the vehicle.

Constant research and development

Looking to the future, there are numerous innovations under development oriented towards green and hi-tech solu“Lippert’s goal is to consolidate and stimulate the synergy between the company’s many production cores, with the aim of optimising costs, reducing weight and

Above: U-Series electric

Right: U2-Series electric

bulk, and above all simplifying the life of fitters with products that are increasingly reliable and also easy to install,” said Emilio Gambineri, Director of Product Management Caravanning EMEA.

One of the best examples of this philosophy are the new blinders that will hit the market in the coming months. In fact, the company has the knowhow to produce pleated blinds with the same materials traditionally used in the residential world, bringing an experience to the RV sector that until now was exclusive to the luxury sector. At the same time, Lippert has developed and patented a roller system that is as functional as it is economical.

The second step will be to make these systems ready for assembly on the windows distributed by the company, up to the point of directly integrating the blind into the assembly structure (a feature already present in some of the windows produced in the factory in the Netherlands).

Lippert’s ultimate goal is to maintain a constant collaboration between all the company’s production sectors to achieve a level of synergy that is not only aimed at reducing costs, but optimizing the value of each product, from installation to maintenance, either by achieving an increase in space inside the cabin and a reduction in total weight. With 2035 just around the corner, periodic reviews of patents and production processes are expressly aimed at preparing the Lippert ecosystem for the next ‘electric revolution’, which will inevitably make an impact in the world of recreational vehicles.

Quality and innovation in a single product ecosystem

With more than 120 production and distribution facilities around the world, Lippert supplies a wide range of highly engineered components. The quality and innovation that characterise the product range for the RV world are the result of constant research and development, but also of experience gained in adjacent markets such as marine and rail transport.

All this commitment is intended to show RV manufacturers that Lippert is ready to support them in a market riddled with uncertainty. The steady growth since the end of the pandemic could see an initial down-

turn in 2024 (despite current indices suggesting otherwise, especially if interest rates fall again). Whatever the future brings, Lippert has set up its EMEA strategies in an extremely solid and responsible manner, relying on eleven production plants, nine of which are in Italy, and the others in Germany and the Netherlands.

Custom orders and series products, all ‘Made in Europe’

For the EMEA market, Silvia Bianchi tells us: “Lippert aims to offer ‘just in time’ services alongside the possibility of customised orders, guaranteeing efficient and timely production in every case” . This is the case with doors, for example, which can be purchased ready to fit or ordered in the same colour as the vehicle’s livery; electric up-and-over beds can also be requested in specific sizes or purchased in the sizes available in the catalogue.

To anticipate possible problems related to a change in the geopolitical situation, and at the same time to be able to have a more precise and constant control over the entire supply chain, Lippert products are almost completely produced in Europe, with components and raw materials mostly coming from the domestic market.

At the same time, the company is engaged

in an important process of ‘cost engineering’ which, thanks to important optimization of logistics and some reviews of production processes, will lead to a reduction in product costs that will not, however, affect the final quality.

Emilio Gambineri

Bike Lifting System

Air, light, refrigeration

The two new versions of the upgraded, IF 2024 awarded, Plein-Aircon 12V A/C unit, are already on the market. And Indel B’s ability to supply the entire refrigeration sector is confirmed by its Slim range of refrigerators

First presented at Caravan Salon 2023, the new versions of the Plein-Aircon 12V A/C have now been even further refined. The company’s objective is clear: to grow its profile in an expansive market segment with a target of users who want to enjoy their holidays in complete freedom, unencumbered and without the need for external hospitality services. Campervans are the ideal solution for such users, but they also appreciate the potential of a wide range of vehicles, so long as they are compact and manoeuvrable. From its very first version in 2020, the Plein-Aircon 12V captured the interest of the public as the only A/C unit powered solely by the vehicle’s auxiliary battery, without the need for connection to a generator or inverter, while still being a fully fledged compressor A/C unit. It is ideal for vehicles up to 6 metres, not only camp-

Words Renato Antonini

ervans, and enables its users to enjoy adventurous holidays in all the comfort of proper air conditioning. Silent running and now even more high performance, the Plein-Aircon 12 V has a newly designed internal diffuser, and is available in two versions, RingLight and LightBox. The aim remains unchanged: to offer a cool, well-ventilated interior, both when driving and when relaxing during rest periods. And the new versions are just as energy conscious: the company’s tests have shown that consumption over a two hour period in automatic mode is no more than 15A, assuming extreme night time temperatures (both outdoors and inside) of 32°C with a -7°C temperature differential (from 32°C to 25°C).

RingLight and LightBox

The two versions of the new Plein-Aircon 12V are distinguished by their

different diffusers and panels. In both cases, their excellent performance is made even more attractive by their styling. The RingLight model features an LED perimeter light. It also has a customisable central panel which can be adapted to suit any interior, thanks to its numerous decorative and fabric options. Instead of a central panel, the LightBox model has a large, diffused light which acts as an alternative to the natural illumination from the skylight. Both models can be equipped with either blue or white light. Blue light is particularly advantageous when driving at night, and is specifically designed for driver comfort. The two versions feature a functional design with touch controls on the diffuser. But the units can also be controlled with an app, via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. One of the features of the Plein-Aircon 12V app is that it makes the unit particularly easy to use and adapt to specific use cases. The Predictive Function maintains a comfortable temperature when driving by predicting conditions at the destination, thus avoiding unpleasant sudden changes in temperature. But what if you’re at the beach or hiking in the middle of August, and you want to find a cool, comfortable interior when you get back? The app takes care of everything: you can easily program the operation of the A/C with its Remote Control function. When you get back to the vehicle, you’ll find the interior climate exactly as you wanted it. The Smart Pre-Adaptive Function is no less handy - it uses feedback to prompts from the app to teach the A/C about the user’s habits and preferences, and regulates the temperature or suggests temperature settings accordingly.

Slim: excellent capacity in an optimised footprint

Last year’s trade fairs saw the new Slim line of refrigerators capture the interest of the public and professional visitors alike. These compressor refrigerators are designed for flush mounting inside campervans or any vehicle with limited interior space. They feature a vertical design with reduced width, without however compromising on capacity. The Slim range comprises three models, each with different external dimensions and capacity. The Slim 70 is the most compact, with a capacity of 70 litres. The model boasts a consumption of just 0.290 kWh/24h, and has a power draw of 38 W. The Slim 90 is the next model, with a capacity of 90 litres. It consumes 0.340 kWh/24h, with a power draw of 38 W. The Slim 140 is the biggest in the range, although still with an optimised footprint. The Slim 140 is 145 cm tall and offers a capacious volume of 140 litres. It consumes 0.450 kWh/24h, for a power draw of 70 W. Like all OFF Indel B refrigeration solutions, the Slim line stands out for its versatile installation options and stylistic integration with the interior: the door can be customised and reversed to open in either direction. The Slim models are equipped with the Easy Fix system, which facilitates built-in installation compared with conventional systems. All Slim refrigerators have automatic locking doors, and their internal shelves and baskets are fully configurable to the user’s requirements. The controller’s LED display is clear and user-friendly. Consumption can also be optimised with the Power Saving mode, which offers considerable energy savings and extends the life of the vehicle’s auxiliary battery. There is also a Silent Night function, which keeps the interior of the refrigerator cool while reducing running noise, to ensure a comfortable night for the occupants.

LightBox

RingLight

Let’s discover a market that has skyrocketed in just a few years:

Turkey

Aboutcamp BtoB flew to Istanbul, Turkey, to report on a market that has been growing exponentially yet remains relatively under the radar in Europe, but appears poised to quickly gain prominence. Turkish manufacturers of caravans and motorhomes are indeed casting an eager gaze toward the rest of Europe with considerable interest

Words editorial staff

Turkey’s caravan and motorhome market has a 40-year history, but has seen a significant acceleration in growth over the past six years.

The Karavanist Fair in Istanbul has been a testament to this surge, starting amid the isolation of the pandemic in 2020 and growing a hundredfold by 2024.

Hosting 180 companies from 76 countries, the Karavanist show attracted nearly 72,000 visitors, thus reflecting the sector’s expansion. The country’s robust market and interest in European brands, especially from Germany, reflect a young demographic turning towards new holiday alternatives.

Turkish manufacturers are now setting sights on the European market and are aiming to align with European standards. The expansion of rental services, financing options and a youthful consumer demographic forecast a bright future for Turkey’s caravan market.

The caravan and motorhome sector in Turkey is a burgeoning market brimming with potential, largely due to the country’s considerable population and favorable demographic structure.

There are an estimated 120,000 recreational vehicles (RVs) already in use in Turkey, but the market’s exact size is challenging to quantify be-

cause caravans under 750 kg are registered as trailers, obscuring the true number of RVs.

As Turkey continues to grow economically and demographically, with a population surpassing 80 million and a median age of around 32 years, the potential for recreational vehicle use is anticipated to rise, offering substantial room for market expansion within the younger, adventure-seeking demographic. This potential is further bolstered by Turkey’s diverse natural landscapes and cultural richness, making it an ideal environment for the caravan and motorhome lifestyle to flourish.

2023 EDITION

Data from the 2024 edition not yet available

Expert insights into the Turkish caravan market

We met Nezih Genç, a name very well known to Turkish caravan enthusiasts as well as the industry. He is an expert in the field and for 20 years has been communicating about caravans and campers produced in Turkey or imported. He shares his experiences on his social media channels. We asked him to tell us about the trends, market numbers and rules of this fantastic market that is growing strongly but which, for now, little is still known about in Europe

Turkey’s caravan market has seen substantial growth in the past six years, benefiting from industry fairs and heightened interest in caravans and campers during the pandemic. Over 120,000 caravans are estimated to be in use, with the Middle East emerging as a key export market.

Popular caravan destinations include Turkey’s coastal regions and there are over 900 campsites in the country (without a European-style star rating system). Regulations enforce strict parking rules for caravans, and a Class B license is required for driving vehicles under 3500 kg. With around 800 dealers, the market is competitive, with aftersales services growing but still lacking in some areas. The rental market is expanding, creating new consumers, and financing options have been introduced. The buyer demographic has shifted to a younger audience, signaling a changing face of caravan ownership in Turkey. We are certain that we will see manufacturers from Turkey more and more at European fairs and more and more from Europe exhibiting at the Turkish fairs.

Well known Turkish caravan expert, Nezih Genç, with 20 years of experience and a strong social media presence discusses the robustly growing market’s trends, statistics and regulations, which remain largely unknown in Europe. As the caravan market continues to evolve, Genç’s perspective offers a comprehensive overview of what to expect in terms of technology, sustainability and design. His experience and knowledge not only serve as a guide for those venturing into the world of caravans but also enriches the broader conversation about the future of mobile living.

Aboutcamp BtoB - When did the motorhome and caravan market start to develop in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - The caravan market in Turkey has a history of approximately 40 years, but the development of this sector has only started to accelerate in the last 6 years. Before 2019, there were no more than 10 manufacturers, and its annual production quantity was never enough to increase awareness of the sector. The first exhibition in Turkey, originally called the Camp & Caravan and later renamed as the Karavanist Fair, was held in February 2019 at the Istanbul Fair Center, followed by the organization continuing at the Tuyap Fair Center in 2021. This exhibition sparked interest in the sector. Subsequently, and with the onset of the pandemic, this interest began to increase even more rapidly. As a result, there has been a significant increase in both the number of manufacturers and the quantities produced.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How would you describe the current state of the motorhome and caravan market in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - The current caravan and motorhome market in Turkey is still in its infancy in terms of potential and population structure. It is wide open and suitable for growth.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What are the future prospects for the motorhome and caravan market in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - Turkish manufacturers are now aiming to produce caravans to European standards and to export them to foreign markets, as well as to compete with caravans coming from Europe to Turkey. In this regard, these manufacturers are improving every day.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What is the approximate number of motorhomes and caravans currently in circulation in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - We estimate that the number is over 120,000. The reason why this number cannot be precise is that caravans weighing below 750 kg are classified as trailers rather than recreational vehicles, so we cannot accurately reach a total figure.

Brands from abroad

U Caravan

As the official distributor for wellknown European caravan brands, such as Fendt Caravan, Bürstner, Eriba, Hymer and Kabe from Sweden, U Caravan has played a pivotal role in introducing high quality caravan choices to Turkish consumers. Egemen Uçar, the driving force behind U Caravan notes the excitement surrounding the Turkish market, despite being relatively new compared to Western Europe. With exponential growth witnessed over the past eight years, U Caravan is optimistic about the future. Looking ahead, U Caravan’s plans revolve around maintaining strong partnerships with the brands it represents and delivering exceptional customer service. With a commitment to innovation and imported caravan models, U Caravan aims to capitalize on Turkey’s vast market potential, driven by its population of 80 million people.

Uçar highlights Turkey’s appeal as a tourist destination, boasting breathtaking natural landscapes and increasingly improving campground facilities. While infrastructure may have lagged in the past, investments are now underway to enhance camping experiences, making Turkey an attractive destination for both domestic and international campers. European-made caravans, especially those from Germany, hold significant appeal among Turkish campers. Despite the presence of local manufac-

turers, European brands are highly regarded for its quality and craftsmanship. Uçar has observed a trend among customers aiming to upgrade to European-made caravans, reflecting the growing popularity of these brands in Turkey. Contrary to perceptions in Western Europe, Turkish campers tend to be younger, with the majority falling between the ages of 35 to 45. Young families, in particular, seek alternative holiday experiences beyond traditional hotels, driving the demand for caravans. This demographic diversity presents immense potential for growth in the Turkish caravan market.

Egemen Uçar, general manager

Dethleffs Hymer

Termosa Mobile Systems

ermosa Mobile Systems stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of caravan, marine and mobile vehicle solutions as the premier distributor in Turkey for numerous globally recognized brands.

Since it started in 2010, Termosa Mobile Systems has established itself as a cornerstone in the industry, offering over 6,000 products across 70 provinces in Turkey through an extensive network of dealers.

Representing an array of esteemed brands such as ABL, Alde, Baldacci, Berhimi, B-Fresh, Comet, Defa, Euramax, Haba, Hartal, Jokon, Knott, Lippert, MPK, Nobilpan, Renogy, Sts Oberholz, Thetford, Truma and Westacc, Termosa Mobile Systems prides itself on delivering professional-grade solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of customers. From heating systems to

maneuvering equipment, ventilation solutions and an array of accessories, the company ensures that every product offers durability, longevity, and user-friendly functionality.

With a team exceeding 50 dedicated professionals, Termosa Mobile Systems is committed to providing unparalleled service and support to its clients. The company’s ethos revolves around customer satisfaction, offering not only top-notch products but also comprehensive aftersales services through 65 service points scattered across Turkey.

In recent years, Termosa Mobile Systems has experienced exponential growth, mirroring the burgeoning trend in the camping and caravaning industry globally. The company has experienced an amazing surge in business, thriving in an expanding market.

To gain further insights into the company’s success and future outlook, we had the pleasure of conversing with Yusuf Dogan, the General Manager of Termosa. He shared valuable perspectives on the company’s journey, highlighting its dedication to customer satisfaction and strategic

expansion plans. Looking ahead, Termosa Mobile Systems remains optimistic about the future growth of the market. Despite recent disruptions, the company anticipates continued growth, with forecasts indicating a substantial upturn of over 20% in the coming year. Moreover, the company’s strategic focus extends beyond the borders of Turkey, with a burgeoning presence in the Middle East, particularly in rapidly evolving markets like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Termosa Mobile Systems is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for caravan and camping solutions in these regions, further solidifying its position as a global leader in the industry.

Termosa Mobile Systems embodies innovation, reliability, and customer-centricity in the realm of caravan, marine, and mobile vehicle solutions. As the company continues to chart new territories and forge partnerships across the globe, its unwavering commitment to excellence remains steadfast, ensuring a future brimming with promise and possibility.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What are the most interesting emerging markets for motorhomes and caravans around Turkey?

Nezih Genç - We see the Middle Eastern market as the most interesting. In recent years, we have seen many visitors from the Middle East at the Karavanist Fair.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What are the most popular destinations for motorhome or caravan trips among Turkish people?

Nezih Genç - Turkey has a large geographical structure with an area of 783,000 km² areas of historical interest spread all over the country, giving lots of potential places for caravan enthusiasts to visit. The most common locations for caravanners are the Marmara, Mediterranean and Aegean regions, which are very densely populated areas.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How many camping sites are currently available in Turkey? Is there a differentiation between standard campsites and more organized campsites like in Europe through a star rating system? Have there been, or are there any emerging groups owning multiple facilities that offer good quality standards?

Nezih Genç - As a result of the slow development of the sector, camping areas have not yet reached the desired levels. There are over 900 campsites but considering the size of our country, this number is relatively small. There is currently no star rating system between standard and more organized campsites as there is in Europe but there are campsites with good standards of quality. Caravan and motorhome users generally assess the differences between campsites through social media platforms and internet research.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Do you have designated parking areas for motorhomes in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - There are designated parking areas not only for motorhomes but also for caravans as well. These areas are generally located in the same places as campsites.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Can you park and sleep in a camper anywhere that you could park a car, or are there any parking restrictions in Turkey?

R eport Istanbul - Karavanist 2024

Nezih Genç - You cannot park and stay in places where cars are parked. This is particularly controlled in holiday resorts, while in other areas, although you may see people parking and staying, it does not mean that this is allowed.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What are the weight limits for motorhomes that can be driven with a Class B license in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - If your vehicle weighs up to 3500 kg, including your load, you can easily use your B class driver’s license.

If you are driving a vehicle over 3500 kg, this vehicle is classified as a truck and you must obtain a class C driver’s license. So, the real issue is not the motorhome, but what it is classed as on the driving license. If it is not classed as a truck, you can drive with your B class driver’s license.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Are there any specific regulations or weight limits for caravans in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - The weight limit determines the legal regulations of the caravan according to whether it is above or below 750 kg. For caravans over 750 kg, it is mandatory to obtain a registration and undergo an annual inspection. Also, to use these caravans, you need a license other than a car license.

There is no need for registration for caravans weighing below 750 kg, no inspection is performed, and you can use the caravan with your existing car license.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How many motorhome and caravan dealers are there currently in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - If we include every manufacturer as a dealer, this number is around 800.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Can you describe the aftersales service for motorhomes and caravans in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - In Turkey, regardless of whether it is a motorhome or a caravan, companies generally provide support for aftersales services. Some manufacturers have started to establish aftersales service points regionally, but this is still not sufficient. It is one of the biggest deficiencies in the sector.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How many RV

manufacturers are there in Turkey, and who are the top 10 dominant players in the market?

Nezih Genç - If we include businesses that produce around 10 units annually and engage in boutique production, there are over 800 manufacturers. Some of the dominant players in the market are Serm Barr Caravans, Gencer Caravans, Shantigo Caravans, Hotomobil, Swan Caravans, Viya Caravans, Atlas Caravans, İmaj Caravans and Hunter Caravans.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What are the major challenges facing the motorhome and caravan sector in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - The main problems faced by manufacturers in Turkey are that production is not monitored in a certain standard manner, making it difficult for manufacturers producing according to particular production standards to compete.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Is there a motorhome rental market in Turkey? Is it a growing business? Does it help in creating new clientele?

Nezih Genç - As the sector grows, the motorhome rental sector is also growing. AVIS produces a large number of motorhomes for rent. There are many other rental companies and they are very useful for giving people experience of using motorhomes and caravans.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What finance options are available for consumers buying a motorhome or caravan in Turkey?

Nezih Genç - Manufacturers provide a few options through financial institutions. This includes options such as using credit for up to 50% of the sales price of the caravan or motorhome, or paying by installments with a credit card.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What is the demographic profile of the typical motorhome or caravan buyer in Turkey, and has this changed over the years?

Nezih Genç - Previously, users of motorhomes and caravans were generally older, retired individuals. In recent years, this has changed significantly and, in general, there has been much more demand from the younger population. A large majority of this young population are people in middle and upper management.

Leading the growth

We also had the privilege of sitting down with İlhan Ersözlü, the General Manager of the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center, a key player in propelling the rapid expansion of Turkey’s caravan market

With his visionary leadership and strategic initiatives, the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center has emerged as a driving force in shaping the landscape of caravan culture in Turkey. In our exclusive interview, Ersözlü shared invaluable insights into the dynamic growth trajectory of the caravan industry.

The Tüyap Fair and Congress Center spans 145,000m² and boasts topnotch facilities including indoor and outdoor spaces, multiple dining options, meeting rooms and ample parking. As Turkey’s largest private sector exhibition centre, it offers a unique proposition for exhibitors and visitors alike. Situated in Istanbul, at the crossroads of Eurasia, the centre provides easy access for domestic and international visitors, making it an enlightening destination for those seeking to explore Istanbul’s rich historical and tourist offerings.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How has the Karavanist fair evolved over the years, and what are the figures for the 2024 show?

İlhan Ersözlü - The first Karavanist Fair was in 2020 during the pandemic. Due to the restrictions of the pandemic, people found its lifestyle quite isolated. This also brought about an interest in the caravan lifestyle. In parallel with the growing caravan sector, we decided to start this fair.

In 2024, Turkey’s leading manufacturers and the world’s most important brands participated in the Karavanist Fair. Compared to the previous year, with a growth of 100%, the fair hosted approximately 180 companies and representatives in an area of about 70,000 m², and from starting with one hall, the fair now occupies eight halls. With nearly 72,000 visitors from 76 countries, Karavanist Fair recorded an increase in the number of visitors compared to the previous year.

Aboutcamp BtoB - How does your exhibition venue compare in terms of facilities and services with other major venues across Europe?

İlhan Ersözlü - Tüyap Fair and Congress Center, with a total area of 145,000 m², including 120,000 m² of indoor space and 25,000 m² of outdoor space, offers an international standard of quality facilities and always wanting to provide the highest standards of excellence. Ranking among the top 20 fairgrounds in Europe in terms of size, Tüyap Fair and Congress Center provides exhibition services on a scale similar to Europe with its 14 Cafeterias and 2 A la Carte Restaurants, 1 Bakery, 2 Bars, 31 multipurpose meeting rooms ranging from 10 to 750 people, 1 multipurpose ballroom with a capacity of 1,000 people, a parking area for 4,500 vehicles, plus a strong technical infrastructure.

Tüyap Fair and Congress Center is the only and largest exhibition centre owned by the private sector in Turkey. Having these facilities provides an advantage for the exhibition and experience of the products within the scope of the fair for our visitors and participants.

Located in the heart of Eurasia, the Karavanist Fair in Istanbul provides easy access for visitors from both domestic and international locations. For visitors who want to experience Istanbul’s historical and tourist sights, the Karavanist Fair continues to be an enlightening fair in every aspect.

Aboutcamp BtoB - Is the infrastructure one of the main challenges the caravan sector is facing in Turkey?

İlhan Ersözlü - The scarcity of campsite spaces within caravan tourism poses a significant problem in the sector. Efforts are gradually being made to address this issue. We see that measures are being taken and new parking areas are being opened to meet the demand. However, when compared to the West, we can see that the numbers are much lower. New proposals are being put forward. Campsites are only in demand during the summer season, and there is no extension of the season into winter here. The figures they consider to be profitable seem very high for citizens experiencing economic dif-

ficulties. Campsite owners are trying to cover this gap by charging higher daily fees rather than relying on fewer caravans. Improvements over time and in economic conditions will help the sector’s building blocks fall into place.

Aboutcamp BtoB - What are your long term goals for the Karavanist Fair, and how do you foresee this exhibition evolving in the coming years?

İlhan Ersözlü - Interest in caravans and tiny houses has increased in Turkey. Now we see more caravans in the streets, caravan parks and those with its own land or garden are also interested in tiny houses. We have observed that the sector has experienced its most productive period in recent years. With its connections to the caravan, tiny house, and outdoor sectors, the Karavanist Fair contributes to the growth of these sectors’ trade volume every year.

Since its inception, the Karavanist Fair has been continuously growing and meeting the needs of the sector. The increasing interest in caravans and outdoor living in the Eurasian region where Turkey is located makes the fair a center of attraction for the region. Moreover, with the increasing importance given by global brands to Turkey, we anticipate that the fair will progress with a rising trend in terms of m² and the number of companies exhibiting. Our fair, which holds the title of Turkey’s largest caravan show, will become more prominent in Europe and the world in the coming years.

The Tüyap Fair Group has specialized in exhibitions for 43 years, pioneering the development and institutionalization of the sector. In fact, we are the only private sector fair organization in Turkey with our own exhibition centre. With a workforce of nearly 500 employees, we operate in six cities in our country and in four countries abroad.

By the end of 2023, we see approximately a 40% increase in visitor numbers (compared to 2022), and in terms of international visitors, we observe a 50-60% increase in some fairs. These growth trends will continue.

- Karavanist 2024

Hotomobil

Established in 2015 at the Istanbul Tuzla shipyard, Restar, the parent company of the Hotomobil brand, has swiftly emerged as a trailblazer in the urban mobility space. Today, Restar operates from two cutting-edge production facilities: an R&D center in the Gebze Industrial Zone and a production hub in Kocaeli. Furthermore, it manages international sales and aftersales operations from its base in Germany, epitomizing its global outreach and unwavering commitment to

excellence.

Turkish Hotomobil has grown to a workforce of 120 dedicated employees. Its production facility spans 6,000 m² with 3,500 m² allocated to covered spaces and the remaining for open areas. Despite its varied product range, Turkish Hotomobil maintains a keen focus on quality over quantity. Annually, it produces around 600 caravans and motorhomes, ensuring each model meets stringent quality standards. Its commitment to innova-

Cenk Uçar, General Manager at Hotomobil

Hotomobil Reviva

tion drives it to continuously develop new products, making camping and outdoor experiences more accessible and enjoyable for its customers.

In terms of market focus, Turkish Hotomobil primarily targets the European market, where there is a strong demand and a well-established camping and caravan culture. However, it also caters to markets in the Middle East and has recently ventured into the United States. Expanding its global reach even further, it entered the New Zealand and Australian markets in 2023, showcasing its ambition to become a prominent player on the international stage.

One of its stand-out products is the Gladiator pick-up camper, which has become its best-seller. This camper’s popularity stems from its unique features, including a monocoque body design and exceptional insulation.

Turkish Hotomobil operates through a dealer network, preferring this approach to ensure professional aftersales support for its customers. Recognizing the importance of seamless customer service, it established a German company in Dusseldorf in 2022, streamlining export sales and support processes.

Looking ahead, Turkish Hotomobil’s main goal is to establish itself as a leader in the international market. To achieve this, it plans to focus on expanding its product range, maintaining exceptional quality standards, and continually innovating to enhance customer experiences. Through these strategic initiatives, Turkish Hotomobil aims to make the lives of its customers easier and more enjoyable, solidifying its position as a pioneering force in the urban mobility sector.

Hotomobil Gladiator XL

R eport Istanbul - Karavanist 2024

Gencer

Established nearly four years ago, Gencer Caravan has rapidly emerged as a leading player in the Turkish caravan market. However, the Company’s roots are in manufacturing refrigerated boxes in Turkey over three decades, laying a strong foundation of expertise and craftsmanship. Today, Gencer Caravan produces approximately 200 caravans annually, with a dedicated team of 25 employees focused on the manufacturing process.

While Turkey remains the primary market for Gencer, it has aspirations to expand its footprint internationally. With plans to enter European markets and potentially explore opportunities in the US market, it aims to establish itself as a global frontrunner in caravan manufacturing. However, Erdal Gencer emphasizes the importance of consolidating its position locally before venturing abroad,

Above: Erdal Gencer (left), owner of Cenger Caravan, in conversation with our editor in chief

Gencer La La Land 590 GY

underscoring the significance of testing and refining its products in its home market.

When discussing the main features of its caravans, Erdal Gencer emphasizes the company’s direct connection with customers. By soliciting and incorporating customer feedback, the company ensures that its products meet the evolving needs and preferences of its clientele. Notably, it takes pride in the superior quality of its caravans, achieved through the use of advanced materials such as GRP and polyurethane panels.

Looking ahead, Erdal Gencer outlines ambitious plans for the company’s future growth and expansion.

In the coming year, he aims to enhance its production capabilities and showcase its offerings at prestigious events such as the Dusseldorf fair.

By raising awareness of the brand both locally and internationally, Gencer Caravan seeks to solidify its reputation as the premier choice for caravan enthusiasts not only in Turkey but also in European countries, Egypt and beyond.

As the brand continues to innovate and push boundaries in caravan manufacturing, Erdal Gencer remains steadfast in his commitment to excellence, ensuring that the company’s legacy of quality and innovation endures for generations to come.

Gencer La La Land 590 AU

Istanbul - Karavanist 2024

Arthor Mobihome

Arthor, a prominent player in the Turkish automotive industry, specializes in the fabrication of special-purpose superstructures and conversions for commercial vehicles.

Established in 2004 as Arthor Automotive and Power Systems Inc., the Company initially ventured into the industrial and marine engine sectors. However, in response to evolving market dynamics, Arthor shifted its focus towards special vehicle manufacturing in 2018, leading to the formation

of Arthor A.Ş.

Arthor conducts engineering studies and production in compliance with national and international Type Approval Certificates required for converted vehicles. With significant investments aimed at enhancing its capabilities, Arthor strives to emerge as a leading provider of light commercial vehicle superstructures. In addition to catering to domestic markets, the company exports special-purpose vehicles and conversion kits to foreign

Nuri Hakan imer, Arthor Otomotiv Marketing

customers and main manufacturers. Arthor’s diverse product portfolio encompasses ambulances, refrigerated vehicles, roadside assistance vehicles, infomobile product display vehicles, and special-purpose vehicles for fleet customers.

Over the years, Arthor has made significant strides in expanding its offerings and market presence.

In 2021, the Company ventured into the caravanning sector, leveraging top-quality imported brands and

premium domestic materials to craft campervans for both main manufacturers and individual customers.

Subsequently, in 2022, Arthor commenced exporting special-purpose vehicles and conversion kits to international clients and manufacturers, further solidifying its global footprint. Presently, Arthor operates from three locations in Tuzla, Istanbul. The main factory, named Arobus, spans an impressive 36,000 m² and accommodates a workforce of 400 employees,

comprising both white-collar and blue-collar professionals. While the company’s annual production capacity stands at 20,000 vehicles, the ongoing supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic have led to a reduction in production, with approximately 6,000 vehicles manufactured this year.

Arthor’s future trajectory revolves around consolidating its position in domestic markets while expanding its reach to international territories, particularly in European and Middle Eastern regions. Although the company currently operates without a dealer network in Turkey, plans are underway to establish a network, mirroring the developments in Germany and Hungary. The best-selling model, the Fiat Ducato campervan, underscores Arthor’s commitment to meeting customer preferences and demands.

Looking ahead, Arthor envisions becoming a key player in the European camper production landscape, with ambitions to establish a serial production line with a focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Arthor remains poised to realize its aspirations and emerge as a formidable force in the automotive industry.

Istanbul - Karavanist 2024

Serm & Barr

ounded just five years ago through an acquisition, Serm & Barr has undergone a significant transformation. Initially producing only two caravans per month, it now boasts a production rate of 15 caravans per month, totaling more than 100 vehicles per year. This remarkable growth is a testament to the dedication and vision of the team.

Serm & Barr’s main market targets currently focus on the local market. However, ambitious plans are underway to expand into the Middle East and Europe in 2024, aiming to offer high quality products at competitive prices.

Currently, Serm & Barr sells directly to customers in Turkey, but plans are

Abdullah Eris, President Chairman

Serm&Barr xBarr 500 FUW

in place to establish a dealership network by 2025, further enhancing accessibility and customer service.

When asked about its best-selling product, it highlighted that the recent overhaul of its entire product range has been a significant success. With extensive research and development efforts over the past three years, all models have been redesigned and upgraded to meet the demands of discerning customers. Luxurious features, such as the Alde underfloor heating system, have attracted significant interest, particularly in the larger caravan models.

The company’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is emphasized, targeting customers who appreciate luxury and premium products.

Looking ahead, the company aims to increase production to at least one caravan per day by 2026 and establish a dealership network in Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, it is exploring opportunities for acquisitions or mergers to further expand its production capabilities and product range.

Despite being a relatively young player in the industry, Serm & Barr is determined to compete with established European producers through relentless innovation and investment in research and development.

Serm&Barr xBarr 620 QUW

R eport Istanbul - Karavanist 2024

Shantigo

Founded in 2012 by Berkan Ülker and Tarık Irmak, Shantigo embarked on its journey into the caravan industry in 2020, driven by the mission to become a global and beloved brand. With a production facility and showroom located in Istanbul’s Anatolian side, Shantigo has swiftly established itself as a leading player in the industry.

At the heart of Shantigo’s offerings are its SG4 models, developed by engineers based in the UK and Istanbul’s R&D center. These innovative models have earned Shantigo the title of an ‘innovative local caravan’ and have garnered praise for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Beginning production amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, Shantigo quickly emerged as a prominent player in the caravan industry. With a

large facility covering 3000m² and a workforce of 80 individuals, Shantigo produces an impressive 22 caravans per month, amounting to nearly 250 vehicles annually.

Innovation lies at the heart of Shantigo’s philosophy. For the company, design transcends mere aesthetics; it’s about creating new and captivating experiences while enhancing the lives of individuals through caravan travel.

Performance is another cornerstone of Shantigo’s ethos. The company believes that the impossible can become a reality through daring experimentation and pushing the boundaries of conventional thinking.

Embracing digitalization, Shantigo is at the forefront of shaping the future of the caravan industry. By harnessing digital capabilities, the company aims to unlock new possibilities and open unexpected doors for the future. With the initiation of digitalization in 2022, Shantigo has introduced digital brochures for all its caravans, providing comprehensive information from inception to completion. Sustainability is integral to Shantigo’s operations. With a steadfast commitment to sustainability, the company remains vigilant, ensuring that every

aspect of its business aligns with environmentally conscious practices. This commitment to sustainability is a testament to Shantigo’s dedication to progress and responsible business practices.

İlker Kayraldağ, Marketing Sales Team Leader

Shantigo SG

Luxer Karavan

Two interesting compact caravans have been crafted by Luxer Karavan. The smaller one weighs less than 750 kg and is built on an ALKO Chassis, with a total length including drawbar of 5.34 m.

Vizyon Karavan Dizayn

In the bustling world of recreational vehicles, Vizyon Karavan Dizayn emerges as a beacon of innovation and quality. Founded in 2020 by Fatih Kiler, the company has rapidly made its mark in the caravan industry, producing about 350 units annually. With its eyes set on expansion, Vizyon Karavan Dizayn is also looking to Europe. At the heart of Vizyon Karavan Dizayn’s lineup is the VK 390, a model that has earned its place as the company’s bestseller and a favorite among Turkish consumers for its compactness and functionality. Spanning 3.90 meters on the inside and 4.20 meters on the outside, it boasts a sleek, light design. This caravan is ergonomic and modern, equipped with a host of features that cater to the needs of contemporary travelers. From its cassette toilet and 60-liter clean water tank to its storage solutions and Bluetooth-connect ed sound system, every aspect of the VK 390 is designed with the user in mind. The vehicle’s interior, sporting a double oven kitchen, a 90-liter refrigerator, and a touchscreen lighting system, is crafted to maximize comfort and usability within its compact dimensions. Vizyon Karavan Dizayn’s approach to caravan design is driven by a vision to combine practical ity with luxury, ensuring that even the smallest models do not compromise on quality or functionality. The VK 390 exemplifies this philosophy, with its clever use of space and adaptability to Europe an standards, making it an ideal choice for both ad venture seekers and those looking to travel in style.

Above: Luxer LX555 - Below: Luxer LX410

Above and below: Vizyon VK 390

Fatih Kiler, Chairman of the Board of Directors

R eport Istanbul - Karavanist 2024

Hunter Nature

Ayfer Koç, Export Sales Manager Hunter Nature Caravan

Hunter Nature, founded in 2019 just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, has swiftly grown to become a notable player in the caravan industry. Specializing in off-road campers, it has carved a niche in the market. With a focus on exporting trailers primarily to Europe and expanding negotiations with companies in Australia, Hunter Nature has identified Australia as a key market. The company’s expertise in metalworking, stemming from its parent company’s over 30 years of experience in producing machine spare parts, directly influences its production of off-road campers. Leveraging its knowledge of metal cutting, bending, painting, and assembly, Hunter Nature crafts high-quality, durable trailers suited for rugged terrains.

Production capacity varies depending on the model, ranging from four to five weeks for certain models to up to 90 days for larger ones. However, its best-selling models are the NTR 4X and NTR 5X.

Looking to the future, Hunter Nature aims to maintain steady growth, particularly in the Australian market. With the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzing growth in the camping and outdoor industry, the company sees potential in stabilizing and expanding its sales.

At the Karavanist fair we discovered an impressively rich selection of accessories tailored for both OEMs and the aftermarket segment. There are already several Turkish manufacturers, especially in electronics applied to caravanning, lithium batteries, and photo-

voltaic panels. Originating from Europe and distributed by some well-structured companies such as AÇSA OTOMOTİV, which represents brands like Eberspächer, Indel B, and Kalori, or FERMİL MOBİL SİSTEMLERİ A.Ş., representative of the brands Fiamma, Can, Berhimi, Maxxair,

Aqua-Hot, Freucamp, GOK, Reich. TERMOSA MOBİL SİSTEMLERİ A.Ş. with its monumental exhibition stand, undoubtedly dominated the show. The company presented a truly significant and wide-ranging display of products from leading brands such as Lippert, Truma,

They prioritize customer education on the importance of quality over price, emphasizing the need for long-term usability and technical service postsales.

In line with its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, Hunter Nature continually develops its post-sales service offerings, allowing customers to customize its trailers with optional equipment. With a dedicated focus on realizing customer dreams and enhancing outdoor adventures, Hunter Nature invites individuals to discover the beauty of nature and create unforgettable memories with its high-quality off-road campers.

Hunter Nature’s mission and vision focus on becoming a leading company in Turkey’s caravan industry through model innovation, quality, and postsales support. It aims to showcase its products globally, contributing to its country’s economy and employment sector while instilling a conservation ethic in individuals to preserve nature for future generations.

Thetford, Thule, Alde, Abl, Baldacci, B-Fresh, Comet, Defa, Euramax, Haba, Hartal, Jokon, Knott, Mpk, Nobilpan, Renogy, Sts Oberholz, and Westacc.

Aboutcamp BtoB met with some key figures in the world of accessories and components, and you can watch the most interesting interviews online on our YouTube channel by clicking on the QR Code.

Jelena Janicek

Armanç Amaç

General

AL-KO Teknoloji Ve Araç

Özcan Yildiz

Manager

Director Venni Hpl Plywood/ High Gloss Mdf

Team Lead Sales Management Retail Europe Truma

Manager Strategic Accounts RV Euramax

Stefan Smits

CMT again proves to be a “mood lifter”

Over 234,000 visitors at The Holiday Exhibition / Exhibitors reported interesting discussions, as well as sales and bookings

There’s nothing better than direct contact, personal discussions and on-site comparisons: that became clear at CMT, the world’s largest consumer show for tourism and leisure. “We can look back on a successful holiday exhibition,” said Roland Bleinroth, President and CEO of Messe Stuttgart. “We welcomed over 234,000 visitors to the Stuttgart Trade Fair Center. The exhibitors were happy: they said that they held firstclass discussions and were

able to sell holidays and vehicles.”

According to Bleinroth, CMT is a real mood lifter in the winter months. There was only one downer: “The weather conditions and the railway line closure proved unfavourable for us. However, those aspects did not dampen the great atmosphere in the exhibition halls,” said the President of Messe Stuttgart. This was also clearly demonstrated by the figures from a survey conducted during CMT. The Holiday Exhibition

was awarded the school mark 1.9 in the survey. 96 per cent of the surveyed visitors said that they would also recommend the event to friends and members of their family. That’s not surprising in view of such a wide variety of holidays with 1,600 exhibitors and 1,300 vehicles. The accompanying programme featuring a holiday cinema, show performances and a church service also catered to every taste.

The desire to drive away in a recreational vehicle is unabated It also became clear in the halls how much interest there is in caravaning. New

Words editorial staff

Roland Bleinroth

vehicles were exhibited, accessories were offered and the latest technology in the industry was presented. The new features also included an area which was explicitly devoted to the topics of new work and vehicles. The exhibitors from the caravaning industry looked back on interesting discussions. “On the whole, we can conclude that both the number and, fortunately, the quality of the discussions increased,” said Bernd Wuschack, Director for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service at Carthago. Wolfgang Speck, Chairman of the Board of Management at Knaus Tabbert, made some similar positive comments: “The keen interest in our recreational vehicles exceeded our expectations. CMT is an important indicator for our company at the start of the year.”

CMT: Meeting point for trade visitors

CMT also proved again this year that it is more than a consumer show. It is also a platform for trade visitors. Whether the “RadRunde” Cycling Tourism Conference, the Baden-Württemberg Tourism Day or the Dolde Medien European Innovation Award, the trade visitors got their money’s worth thanks to an extended programme for them. Another new feature this year was the CMT Business Ticket with access to the Business Lounge, a workstation and other benefits. That went down very well.

Despite all the holiday inspirations, two topics were not ignored: international understanding and sus-

tainability. For example, a keynote speech was given on the topic of sustainable winter tourism. The CT Award was presented to projects which unite people while an information stand focused on environmentally-friendly caravaning holidays.

CMT

2025 will be held in Stuttgart from 18 to 26 January 2025.

Bernd Wuschack

Wolfgang Speck

News from the fair

This year, there were no shortage of significant debuts at the CMT fair in Stuttgart, including many innovations built on the new generation of the Ford Transit Custom

Words Paolo Galvani

With deliveries finally normalizing and prices rising sharply, there was some concerns at the beginning of the CMT; however, the good influx of visitors and the initial signs of a willingness to buy created a fair amount of optimism, supported by numerous product innovations. This year also confirmed the trend of a diversification of base vehicles being used for motorhomes and camper conversions. The Fiat Ducato, which once dominated the sector, has seen its market share decrease in favour of Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Volkswagen. The realm of versatile minivans remains firmly in the hands of Ford, which recently introduced the new generation of its Transit Custom: it has a much more automotive design than the previous version and is rich in driving assistance systems. In terms of consumer interest, once again, camper vans claimed a prominent place. Overall, there seemed to be a pursuit of higher quality levels, justifying prices that have increased significantly compared to two years ago. The adoption of brands considered more premium as base vehicles has helped in this regard. On the other hand, the entry-level segment is increasingly being addressed by using the Citroën Jumper as a base. And if prices have captured attention, we wanted to have some fun so entered the “liner” hall and went hunting for the most expensive campers at the fair.

Dreamer

www.dreamer-van.co.uk

The new generation Ford Transit Custom has prompted the Rapido Group’s Dreamer brand to renew the CapLand and introduce the City Camp. The CapLand, a compact vehicle that’s only 545cm long, stands out for featuring a toilet compartment with a cassette toilet and shower tray, plus a foldable table in the front area that allows four people to comfortably sit for meals. Two beds are created by transforming the bench seats and two more are located in the pop-up roof, equipped with roof rails. There is a two-litre diesel engine with 136hp, and double sliding side doors. Standard features include a DAB radio (with a rearview camera) compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Optional features include diesel heating and a gas boiler. For maximum versatility, Dreamer has launched the City Camp, which forgoes a bathroom but manages to be only 505cm long. The kitchen unit is unique, featuring a retractable stove usable from both inside and outside, thanks to having the double sliding side door. The 25-litre refrigerator is portable, and the standard seating capacity is five (but four sleeping places), with an optional single seat available. The package includes a 25-litre water container and a 15-litre waste water container. Standard equipment for the base vehicle is the same as the CapLand, as are the optional features.

Dethleffs

www.dethleffs.de/en/

The CMT was an important stage for Dethleffs, which presented numerous novelties. In the camper van segment, the Globetrail Performance series debuted, based on the Volkswagen Crafter: three models are planned with lengths from 5.4 to 6.4m. The 600 DR model, 6.0m long, was exhibited in Stuttgart featuring a central pass-through bathroom that provides ample space for showering. The new vehicles will be offered with a 177hp engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. The Globetrail series on the Fiat Ducato and Citroën Jumper was enriched with the 540 DR and 600 DR versions. Similar to the Globetrail Performance, they feature the spacious central bathroom with a

Eriba

Eriba, known for its iconic pop-top caravans, made a grand return to

floor-level shower tray that extends into the central corridor. For the first time, the Globevan urban vehicles, or minivans, are available with the Fiat Ulysse mechanics: 496cm long, 201cm wide, and only 199cm high. Four berths for sleeping are available, including two in the pop-up roof. The kitchen is removable and can be equipped with a compressor refrigerator as an option. Finally, Dethleffs completely renewed its Trend range, including

van scene. Opting for the Volkswagen Crafter as the base, the German com-

semi-integrated and motorhome models. The curved rearview mirror is the main aesthetic novelty for all models, while new elements include both the front part of the integrated models and the overcab of the semi-integrated ones. The interior has also been revised, modernizing the lines and colours of the furnishings. For the first time, a layout with a transverse rear double bed enters the range, providing more space in the living area.

www.eriba.com/de/en

pany has created the Eriba Car 600: measuring 599cm in length, it features a very classic interior layout with a rear transverse bed, a semi-dinette at the front, and central kitchen and washroom. What sets it apart is its style, with a choice of vibrant colours for the two-tone body (red, blue, or grey) and interiors featuring furniture with a blue and wooden finishes on doors, countertops, and cabinets. Functional features include walls covered with felt, enhancing insulation and soundproofing. The bathroom follows a traditional design, omitting unconventional elements like swiveling walls, and opting for a simple shower curtain and creating space by using a foldaway sink. Equipment includes a 4 kW gas heating system (with space for two 11 kg gas cylinders), a 90-litre refrigerator, 100 litres of fresh water capacity, and an 80-litre waste water tank. The rear bed measures 200 cm by 126 cm, while a third bed (170 cm x 100cm) can be created by converting the dinette.

R eport Stuttgart - CMT 2024

Self-sufficiency and adventure are the distinctive features of Eura Mobil’s new offering, named Xtura. It is a fourwheel-drive semi-integrated motorhome based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. According to the manufacturer, it ensures energy autonomy for up to 30 days, thanks to a 330 Ah lithium battery, two 135-watt photovoltaic modules, and two DC/DC converters capable of charging up to 30 A (60 in total), with an energy control system from the Victron brand. Both tanks (145 litres for fresh water, and 105 litres for grey water) are insulated and heated. The equipment includes the Garmin Tread Overland edition navigation system which has the function of setting of the vehicle’s dimensions and integrating inReach satellite communications with two-way text messaging and interactive SOS emergency calling. The Xtura is 688cm long and features twin beds, a front semi-dinette, and central services with a bathroom in a single space.

Hobby

www.hobby-caravan.de/

The main novelty presented by Hobby in Stuttgart was the Maxxia Van 680 DT van: 684cm long, based on the Volkswagen Crafter, the interior layout features a large U-shaped rear seating area that can quickly transformable into a pair of single beds (200 cm x 86cm) or into a massive longitudinal double bed; in the front, there’s two swivel seats in the cab that can use a small table. The vehicle is approved for only two people, although an optional third bed (160cm x 74cm) can be accommodated in the front. The vehicle is offered with a 177 hp engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. The interior height reaches 2.0m thanks to the raised fibreglass roof.

Hobby also introduced the Optima Ontour Edition F V65 GE, a semi-integrated motorhome built on the Fiat Ducato with

At CMT, Eura Mobil also introduced the Profila T 726 EB semi-integrated motorhome based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with an AL-KO chassis. Measuring 762 cm in length, it offers a bedroom with twin beds and a centrally divided bathroom. The heating system is the Alde water system.

140hp, measuring 678cm in length. Approved for four people, it is designed to offer comfort and space with two twin beds measuring 193cm and 185cm long and 76cm wide. Among the standard equipment is 16-inch alloy wheels, a Teleco satellite system with a 22-inch screen, and the Thule Omnistor awning.

The million-Euro motorhome

Looking around the liners, here’s what won the title of the most expensive recreational vehicles at the fair

Wandering through the stands of the hall dedicated to liners and luxury products is always a joy for the eyes. This year, we wanted to play a game:

look for the most expensive products exhibited at the fair. We explored the displays of Concorde, Morelo and PhoeniX liners in search of the top three price

list champions. Obviously, the vehicles have plenty of optional accessories fitted, which have a considerable influence on the final price.

3° - PhoeniX TopX-Alkoven 10.800 BMAXF: € 579,540

The third position on the podium was conquered by the PhoeniX TopX-Alkoven 10,800 BMAXF. It is a vehicle 10.70m long on a MAN TGM chassis with a maximum weight of 14,990kg. The base price starts at €432,000, but adding options for a total of almost €150,000 is child’s play. The interior is quite ‘classic’ for this type of vehicle, except for having an alcove above the driver’s cab big enough to accommodate a double bed: in the front, there’s a large dinette that be turned into a U-shaped one (by blocking

the passage to the cab), a long kitchen the size of one at home, a huge passthrough bathroom, and a rear bedroom with a full-width double bed. A car can be accommodated in the garage. The payload is 5,630 kg. The most expensive option is the Luxury Package: €21,270, including a light grey body, 12-speed automatic transmission, seven alloy wheels of 19.5 inches, fabric interior trim and awning. For only €200, you can add a door to the rear bed to access a portion of the garage.

2° - Morelo Empire Liner 98 MB: € 664.730

This liner abandons the idea of the loft and instead focuses on meeting the needs of a couple. Built on a Mercedes-Benz Actros 1840 L chassis, it is 10.50 m long. The maximum weight reaches 18,000kg with a payload of 7,380kg. Despite these figures, this vehicle does not have a garage capable of accommodating a car, only motorcycles or at most a quad. But luxury is not lacking: the front area offers a large “L”-shaped sofa facing a second sofa and flanked by the swivel seats of the driver’s cab. After the classic pass-through bathroom, you reach the bedroom with a central double bed. The base price is €537,900 and the most expensive option installed on this model is the Elektro Package: for €17,990 you can have two Victron 24 Volt 200 Ah lithium batteries and the inverter. The cheapest thing you can choose is the clothes rack in the rear garage: €350.

www.phoenix-reisemobile.de

www.morelo-reisemobile.de/en/

1° - Concorde Centurion 1160 GSI: € 1.002.060

Here we have the absolute champion, one of the most expensive motorhomes ever, costing over €1 million! The base price starts at €808,100 based on a Mercedes-Benz Actros 2540 L. The overall length is 11.73m. The total mass reaches 18,000 kg, and the payload stops at 2,854 kg (although only 1,870kg for the model exhibited in Stuttgart): not much, considering that a car fits in the garage here. Noteworthy in this setup is the elegant rear bedroom with the double bed placed slightly diagonally and the luxu-

rious living room where two armchairs offer electrically adjustable footrests. In this Centurion, the most expensive option is worth €30,510 (the 12.8-litre engine with 530 hp), the cheapest is €435 (the external shower in the garage).

www.concorde.eu/en/

R eport Stuttgart - CMT 2024

Adria

www.adria-mobil.com/

The Slovenian company Adria has added a 600 SBP model to its recent range of Man TGE-based Twin Max vans, the shortest in this family: 598 cm in length and a classic interior layout with a transverse double bed at the rear, a semi-dinette at the front, and bathroom facilities in the centre. A panoramic cab in the front, a refrigerator positioned at the head of the kitchen unit with sliding opening, and a bed measuring 195 cm long (thanks to the widening of the body on the left side) feature on this model.

Challenger

www.challenger-motorhomes.com/

Launched a few years ago on the Ford chassis, and introduced last year on the Renault chassis, the Challenger S 194 and S 217 now return on the Ford Transit chassis in the Sport Edition version, with a 170 hp engine and automatic transmission. The front overcab design has also changed, while the philosophy of compactness remains unchanged, with the S 194 model stopping at 599cm in length (with a transverse double bed at the rear) and the larger S 217 reaching 659cm (with twin beds and a larger garage).

Bürstner

www.buerstner.com/de/en

At the CMT event, Bürstner expanded the Lineo T range with the 590G model, the most compact in the family, with a length of only 599cm. The interiors feature a transverse double bed at the rear, a semi-dinette at the front, and bathroom facilities in the centre, with a rotating wall to create a spacious shower compartment. With an additional 1.0m in length, the Lineo T 700 offers a central double bed at the rear and a bathroom in a single space, with a rotating wall to create the shower, similar to the smaller version. The Lineo T models are built on the Ford Transit chassis and have a narrower width of 220 cm.

Fendt Caravan

www.fendt-caravan.com/en/

Presented as a prototype at the Caravan Salon, at the CMT the Apero 495 #connect has become a production model: this version is specially designed for those who need to do remote working. The living area is has a desk with a foldable worktop that houses electrical and network connections, and a multifunction panel where additional monitors can also be placed. For perfect ergonomic seating, the Aeris Swopper stool is included. Internet connection is ensured by the presence of a Wi-Fi router compatible with LTE cellular signals.

Forster

www.forster-reisemobile.de

In a time when prices have significantly risen, and the entry threshold into the world of recreational vehicles gets increasingly more expensive, the introduction of the Forster V 541 Youngster made headlines. It is a camper van with essential features and a carefully designed interior targeting a younger audience. Offered in Germany with a starting price below €44,000, it is based on the Fiat Ducato weighing 3.3 tonnes with a 140hp engine. Simple yet multifunctional furnishings make this vehicle unique in the market. The double bed at the rear is even height-adjustable. Among the optional features are the Mobile Office package, which includes a unit with a laptop stand.

Hymer

www.hymer.com/de/en/home

The prestigious ML-T series by Hymer has been enriched with the 570 Xperience Edition model, in which the German company has incorporated some of the experience gained with the Venture S. In particular, the interiors have been redesigned, adopting a more modern and elegant style. Built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis with 170hp, automatic transmission, and a 10.25-in MBUX multimedia system, this vehicle is 6.74m long and 2.22m wide. The features are particularly comprehensive and include a 80 Ah lithium battery.

Frankia

The German manufacturer introduced the Platinum Pure models at CMT: two integral vehicles weighing 5.5 tonnes and measuring under 8.0m in length, based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 190hp engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The specification is comprehensive, including a 300 Ah lithium battery and three solar panels, each with 115W. Also new is the Frankia Now 7.0 L, a semi-integrated model with distinctive exterior and interior colours. On the van front, Frankia presented the Yukon K-peak range: four models based on the Sprinter, including a 4x4 version.

Karmann Mobil

www.frankia.com/en/

www.karmann-mobil.de/en/

The Duncan series has been updated to adapt to the new generation of the Ford Transit Custom. Three models are available: 500 and 505 (the first has five travel seats, the second has seven) and the 550 (with a configuration featuring a bathroom and kitchen at the rear). The two products can be enhanced with two attractively priced optional packages: Viva, which includes thermally insulated side windows and rear air conditioning, and Driving Assistance, with adaptive cruise control and navigation system.

R eport Stuttgart - CMT 2024

Laika

www.laika.it/en/

The Italian company within the Hymer Group has expanded its motorhome range with the introduction of the Kosmo H 1409, noticeable by the new grille reminiscent of the flagship Kreos. With a length of 7.40m, it features a rear bedroom with spacious twin beds (210cm and 205cm in length by 80in wide) and a bathroom divided into two separate areas. It is homologated for four travel seats, with the option for an op-

Morelo

LMC

www.morelo-reisemobile.de/en/

Famous for its luxury liners, Morelo has decided to switch the living arrangements of the Palace 88 DL model. The living area is now located at the rear of the vehicle, based on Iveco mechanics and measuring around 9.0m. A large lounge with a wall equipped with a large screen constitutes the heart of what is, in all respects, a true apartment. The pass-through bathroom and bedroom are located at the front, created by lowering an electric longitudinal double bed over the driver’s cab.

www.lmc-caravan.com/de/en

The overcab motorhome still has a market, especially in the rental sector. LMC has developed the Tourer A 690 G model, which stands out as a 6-berth, staying within the weight limit of 3.5 tonnes to allow it to be driven with a category B driving license. To optimize space, LMC has equipped this vehicle with a 131-litre compressor fridge and Truma Combi D4 diesel heating. The seats in the driver’s cab swivel, but the dinette (of a classic type) is for only four people.

Robeta Womondo

www.robetamobil.online

Focused on the premium camper van market, Robeta has launched its new brand Womondo, which the company describes as: ‘A name synonymous with innovation, quality, and unparalleled performance, now available at an incredibly affordable price.’ In reality, we are not talking about popular vehicles, as the list prices fall in the range of €80 to €100,000 price bracket. There are three models in the lineup: Pegasus on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (593 cm in length) and Siren (599 cm) and Sphinx (636 cm) on the Citroën Jumper.

Tabbert

www.tabbert.com/en-int/

In the entry-level range of caravans from the German company, the Senara, the model 550 DMK 2.5 joins with a shipping length of 775 cm and a width of 250. It features a traditional dinette for four, a front transverse double bed, and longitudinal bunk beds at the rear on the left side. The side kitchen, with a 133-litre refrigerator, precedes a spacious corner bathroom.

The technically permissible maximum laden weight is 1,700 kg.

Pössl Vanline

www.poessl-vanline.de/en

Pössl has expanded its offering with the introduction of a Vanstar Plus model based on the Mercedes-Benz Vito. Measuring 514 cm in length, it features a minimal camper setup, including a raised bed and a rear bench that converts into a bed. An optional camping kitchen solution and a portable refrigerator are available for the interior. The standard version has a 163hp engine, while the Comfort version boasts 190hp and 4x4 traction. Both come with an automatic transmission.

Vanderer

www.grebner-wohnmobile.de

Developed in collaboration with the Italian coachbuilder Caselani, the Vanderer One is based on the Citroën Berlingo, including an electric version. The exterior pays homage to the legendary 2CV, featuring round and protruding headlights and a roof that slopes towards the rear. The interior, on the other hand, is modern and includes a convertible sofa bed, a kitchen, and a pop-up roof with an additional bed. Displayed by the German specialist Caravan Grebner, it attracted significant attention at the CMT.

Weinsberg

weinsberg-caralife.com/en-int/

Weinsberg introduces new ideas with the CaraLife 630 LQ, a van conversion with a separate driver’s cab from the living area. This design reclaims a wall that can be utilized for furniture, specifically the kitchen, but it sacrifices space for a bathroom. However, the German company has addressed this by incorporating a compartment for a portable toilet and creating the option for a central shower using a foldable curtain that disappears under the floor when not in use, integrated with a shower tray and drainage. As an option, the rear transverse bed can be converted into an XL longitudinal double bed.

Trendsetting innovations in the caravanning industry

The top trends in 2024 for camping buses, vans, motorhomes and caravans are now published - including great design concepts, smart systems and new technical solutions that make life on board even more comfortable and safe

Words editorial staff

Once a year, the media brands Reisemobil International, Camping, Cars & Caravans and CamperVans bring together the concentrated expertise of European caravanning editorial teams and honor the latest innovations in the industry.

For the fourteenth time, developers of vehicle and camping accessories submitted their innovative products for the coming season. The expert jury of the European Innovation Awards, chief editors of 12 trade magazines from 12 European countries, chose between

over 150 new products and had plenty to do, especially in the crowded category “Vehicle Equipment”.

All European Innovation Awards have been presented at a festive awards ceremony at the CMT, the world’s largest public trade fair for leisure and tourism, in Stuttgart. The editors-in-chief of Reisemobil International, Camping, Cars & Caravans and CamperVans magazines congratulated the award winners. Phil Rice, magician, and co-founder of EmpowerLand inspired the audience with his magic

show in keeping with the theme of innovations.

“Our awards help fuel the innovative spirit of the caravanning industry,” said Simon Ribnitzky, editor in-chief of Reisemobil International. “Whether in terms of safety, sustainability or comfort, the large number of high-caliber submissions confirm the reputation of the international jury of experts. In the end, our readers will also benefit from the competition for the best ideas when they soon use these products in their everyday camping life.”

2024 Category Winners

2024 Overall Concept Winners

European Innovation Award

The European Innovation Award honors the most innovative products from 17 categories in the caravanning industry. It is represented by DoldeMedien Verlag, a growing media company at the creative media location Römerkastell in Stuttgart. With its magazines “Reisemobil International”, “Camping, Cars & Caravans” and “CamperVans”, DoldeMedien Verlag has been a specialist in all topics relating to mobile vacations for more than 30 years.

Frankia GP Frankia Now

Ahorn Camp Van 620 by Irmscher

Fendt Caravan Concept live-work-connect

Carthago Reisemobilbau c-tourer 145 RB LE

Alois Kober AL-KO Comfort Drive

Thule VeloSwing

Isabella Vorzelte Buddy Awning

Adria Mobil Aviva Lite

Knaus Tabbert Knaus Yaseo

Bürstner

Hymer the new ML-T

Hobby-Wohnwagenwerk

Maxia KML children’s bed area

Globe Traveller Falcon 2Z

Eura Mobil Xtura mfi camperlife Bbox-BulliEdition

Still the largest European caravanning market

In 2023, a total of 90,365 caravans and motor caravans were newly registered in Germany. After the record results of the first years of the pandemic, the market has normalised as anticipated by the industry

The effects of the pandemic and the uncertain economic situation are posing challenges for the caravanning industry: interest in leisure vehicles remains high, but the industry has been producing under challenging conditions for more than two years.

Following the remarkable record results of the first years of the pandemic, the current new registration figures remain at a remarkably good level despite the difficult conditions: a total of 90,365 leisure vehicles were newly registered in Germany in 2023. This corresponds to a slight decrease of 0.7 per cent compared to the previous year. The fact that

the current number of new registrations is below the record figures of the first pandemic years is not an indicator for a declining interest in mobile holidays, as CIVD President Bernd Löher explains: “The caravanning industry has been in an exceptional situation for more than two years. Holidaymakers continue to show great interest in motor caravans and caravans, as demonstrated by the good visitor results at the most recent caravanning trade shows, among other things. However, the caravanning industry is currently producing under challenging conditions, as the effects of the pandemic and current crises are also be-

ing clearly felt in the production facilities of manufacturers and suppliers. In view of the current conditions, over 90,000 new registrations are a very solid annual result and a sign that the industry is on the right track despite all the adversity.”

Reduced delivery times and improved vehicle availability

With 68,469 new registrations in the last twelve months, the motor caravan segment continues to top the pre-pandemic level and exceeds the previous year’s result by 3 per cent. In 2022, supply bottlenecks for vehicle chassis still had a significant impact on the production

of motor caravans, which led to delays in the production and delivery of vehicles. However, the availability of base vehicles improved over the course of the year. Compared to the previous year, the number of motor caravans delivered to dealers rose increased again.

The caravan segment, on the other hand, reported a decline for the year: with 21,896 new registrations (- 10.5 per cent), the caravan segment was down on the previous year. The figures reflect the current economic uncertainty affecting families and younger buyer groups, among others: the rising cost of living, high interest rates and a lack of financial security are causing potential buyers to postpone the planned purchase of a new vehicle to a later date. Instead, they are increasingly turning to the wide range of rental vehicles on offer, which is creating high demand for providers of rental vehicles. Interest in used caravans and motor caravans also remains high: a total of 177,459 changes of ownership (+3.1 per cent) were registered last year, which is reflected in an increase for both vehicle segments: 98,172 used mo tor caravans (+5.3 per cent) and 79,287 caravans (+0.4 per cent) changed hands in 2023. Compared to the previous year, the overall supply situation for customers has improved significantly: at the start of the year, a visit to the dealership is particularly worthwhile for interested parties, as dealership stockrooms are once again well stocked and waiting times for individually configured vehicles have also decreased compared to previous years.

Looking ahead to 2024, the caravanning

e caravanning year 2023 in numbers

The caravanning year 2023 in numbers

industry continues to face major challenges: “The situation for the caravanning industry and dealers remains challenging. Manufacturers are still a long way from returning to normal production conditions and dealers are also currently feeling the economic uncertainty on the customer side. Aggravating factors such as the acute shortage of skilled labour and high energy prices are placing an additional burden on the industry,” summarises CIVD President Bernd Löher. However, despite the difficult circumstances, there is also reason for optimism, according to the CIVD President: “The falling inflation rate at the end of the year gives us confidence that consumers’ purchasing power will continue to stabilise in the coming months. We are also hoping for a better interest rate situation this year, which should give customers more stability in their planning. In the current situation, it is particularly important that policymakers give companies and consumers positive signals and create stable economic conditions. Apart from that, caravanning has already proven to be a crisis-proof form of holiday and Germans’ interest in leisure vehicles remains high. Despite all the challenges, customers can look forward to a wide range of products and numerous innovations in the caravanning year 2024.”

In 2023, 133,568 leisure vehicles were produced in Germany

Despite producing under difficult conditions for more than two years, the industry managed to continue working off its high order backlog in 2023. Companies’ order books are still well filled. The caravanning year 2023 brought initial improvements for motor caravan manufacturers in terms of delivery times, among other things. A total of around 133,568 leisure vehicles rolled off the production lines in the past twelve months. This is an increase of 3.3 per cent compared to the previous year. At 51,984 units (export ratio: 39 per cent), 4.8 per cent fewer vehicles went abroad than in 2022. Thanks to the improved availability of vehicle chassis, motor caravan production increased by 18.3 per cent compared to the previous year to 88,699 units produced. Over the course of the year, 30,917 motor caravans (+9.3 per cent) were exported. Due to the shortage of chassis, manufacturers producing both vehicle types had increasingly focussed on the production of caravans in 2022 and achieved a significant in-

crease in production for the sector in the previous year. As expected, production of caravans was reduced again due to the improved chassis availability for motor caravans: 44,869 caravans (-17.4 per cent) were produced in German facilities in 2023 and 21,067 units (-20 per cent) were exported abroad.

A closer look at the general conditions reveals that the German caravanning industry continues to face major challenges: in addition to the cross-industry shortage of skilled labour and rising energy and material costs, there are still bottlenecks in logistics in some cases. Due to numerous volatile factors, it is currently still uncertain when the industry will be able to produce under relatively standard conditions again.

Revenue up in all areas

The German caravanning industry is reporting a yearly revenue of 15.3 billion euros for 2023. This is an increase of 8.8 per cent compared to the previous year’s record and the tenth consecutive increase in revenue. As in other sectors of the global industry, factors such as increased production costs and the limited availability of new vehicles led to increasing vehicle prices.

The new vehicle segment again accounted for the largest share of annual revenue in 2023: a revenue of €8.5 billion (+12.1 per cent) represents a new all-time high.

The used market also recorded an increase in revenue and, at 5.5 billion euros, is around 4.6 per cent above the previous year’s result.

The industry’s third business segment also reported a new all-time high in terms of revenue: companies generated around 1.3 billion euros (+6 per cent) with accessories in 2023.

“Behind the German economy are twelve challenging months. It is all the more gratifying that the domestic caravan industry, as a market leader, has achieved a relatively good annual result despite adverse conditions. This is a positive signal for the entire industry and demonstrates that enthusiasm for caravanning has not waned. Therefore, the caravan industry starts into the year 2024 with optimism despite all cri ses. Because one thing is clear: caravans and motor caravans made in Germany are and will remain in high demand,”

states

Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of CIVD.

Caravanning tourism generates over 18 billion euros in revenue per year

Germany as a tourist destination is benefiting from the increasing number of people who spend their leisure time in a motor caravan or caravan. According to a study by the German Economic Institute for Tourism (dwif) for the caravanning year 2022, this development generated a combined revenue of over 18.1 billion euros per year for the domestic economy, which corresponds to an increase of around 20 per cent compared to 2021.

The money spent by caravanning holidaymakers not only benefits the operators of campsites and pitches, but also the shops, companies and service providers based in the regions. If the holidaymakers’ expenditure during the trip and the travel costs incurred are taken into account, €1 of added value from accommodation at the campsite generates almost €12 of added value for all direct and indirect stakeholders in the surrounding area. This is a remarkably high level of indirect profitability and an above-average value compared to other sectors. Caravanning offers regions and communities that are still underdeveloped in terms of tourism in particular the best opportunities to build up tourism infrastructure quickly and at low cost and thus benefit from the added tourism revenue. Moreover, the experiences of recent years have shown that caravanning is a crisis-proof form of holiday. The construction and expansion of motor caravan pitches in particular means that less developed tourist regions in Germany also

have the best opportunities to participate in this long-term holiday trend.

Motor caravan pitches offer significant value

In recent decades, travel behaviour in caravan tourism has changed drastically. Today, the camping scene is more diverse, individualised and heterogeneous. Accordingly, the range of accommodation options today is far more diverse than it was 40 years ago. In addition to traditional campsites, alternative accommodation concepts such as motor caravan pitches have developed and established themselves during this time.

A study by Hochschule Geisenheim University shows that both providers and holidaymakers are benefiting from this trend: The university conducted two studies in collaboration with the CIVD to analyse the situation of caravanning tourism in wine-growing regions. The first study, which focussed on providers, involved 600 wineries. Of these, around 23 per cent already offer motor caravan pitches. In addition to increasing revenue, the biggest advantages of pitches were cited as being the acquisition of new customers and raising customer awareness. More than 40 per cent of the wineries that do not currently offer pitches are firmly planning or can imagine offering such overnight accommodation in the future. Project manager Prof. Dr Gergely Szolnoki emphasised that both producers and tourists see great opportunities in the combination of caravanning and wine tourism.