News

Despite difficult trading conditions and supply chain issues, the caravan and motorhome industry in Germany recorded a positive first quarter of 2022. New registrations of leisure vehicles fell slightly by about 4.8 per cent to 23,061 for the quarter, but that is compared to record figures from 2021. It is still higher than figures from 2020 and 2019. That figure is broken down by 17,485 new motorhomes registered (down 8.3 per cent on 2021) and 5,576 new caravans registered (up 7.9 per cent on 2021).

Despite a lack of vehicle chassis, components and an overall shortage of materials, both motorhomes and caravans were able to top last year’s results in January and February. The increase in caravans is of particular note, as that sector had suffered particularly from the supply chain problems in the previous year. March was however lower than in 2021, and with Easter being late in the year this year, the usual high sales figures from that period are not included in the first quarter figures. The March figures for motorhomes and caravans were in the red, but despite all the hurdles, motorhomes achieved the second-best March result of all time.

Daniel Onggowinarso, managing director of the Germany’s Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD), said: “The faltering supply chains continue to be a major problem for the caravanning industry. Dealers and customers currently have to wait longer for their vehicles because manufacturers lack materials and components.

“In view of these challenges, the new registration figures for the first quarter are all the more remarkable and proof that manufacturers and suppliers are pulling out all the stops to meet the high demand for motorhomes and caravans.”