Registration Figures
2021: European caravanning industry records best year in history.
The European market for leisure vehicles market achieved the best result in their history with approx. 260,000 vehicles. In 2022, demand for motor caravans and caravans remains high, but faltering supply chains are hampering the production of leisure accommodation vehicles.
The European caravanning industry can look back on the most successful year in its history. With 259,393 newly registered recreational vehicles in Europe, the record result of the previous year by 9.9 percent. Last year, Germany was again the by far the largest market last year, with 106,138 motor caravans and caravans, even though even though registrations fell by 1 percent compared to the record year 2020.
Almost all markets up
Apart from Norway (minus 9 per cent) and Portugal (minus 12.6 per cent), new motorhome registrations in new motor caravan registrations in Europe increased without exception, in most countries even in double figures. Overall, new motor caravan registrations in Europe grew by 13.2 percent to percent and reached a new all-time high of 181,299 vehicles. This is already year in a row and new registrations have more than doubled since 2010. doubled.
Numerous records in the European markets are responsible for this. The front-runner among the growth rates for new registrations in Europe was Austria with 4,691 motor caravans, an impressive increase of 58 percent). The development in France, the second largest market, is also encouraging as well as the United Kingdom, the number three in Europe. The French market market grew by 23.5 per cent to 30,822 newly registered motor caravans, the British market by 12.3 per cent (14,066). Germany is once again by far the largest European motorhome market in 2021, with an increase of a 4.3 percent increase in registrations (81,420).
Demand for caravans in Europe increased again
The demand for caravans also developed with significant growth rates, but in absolute terms not quite as successful in absolute terms as for motor caravans. A total of 78,094 new caravans were registered in Europe. The top scorer in this vehicle
segment was Germany with 24,718 caravans, but a minus of 15.2 per cent compared to the previous year. All other European countries recorded positive positive growth rates, some even in the double-digit range. The Netherlands increased by 22.6 percent (8,521 caravans), Austria by 16.2 percent (1,160 caravans) and Spain by 14.1 percent (1,926 caravans). percent (1,926 caravans).
With almost 260,000 new recreational vehicles registered, we are looking forward to a new all-time high. And this against the backdrop of difficult market conditions because of the pandemic with raw material shortages and supply chain problems.
The trend towards mobile, individual holidays close to nature started long before the pandemic and continues: many people spend their leisure time with motorhomes or caravans – and the trend is rising. Motor caravans and caravans are still in great demand and the manufacturers’ order books are well filled. The pandemic has given this long-term trend a further boost.
2022: Challenges for the industry
The high demand for vehicles faces problems in production and delivery. Stagnating supply chains have been burdening the caravanning industry for more than a year. There is a shortage of materials and components across all sectors. Vehicles often cannot be delivered because individual components are missing. Prices and availability of numerous materials and components are constantly changing. Companies lack planning reliability.
In motor caravan production, the lack of vehicle chassis is clearly reflected in the new registration figures. This mainly affects the classic motor caravan types and panel vans. Only for ultra-compact campervans does the supply situation look somewhat more positive. Manufacturers who produce both types of vehicles have increasingly focused on the production of caravans in recent months to avoid production gaps.
Industry remains optimistic
The lower new registration figures compared to the previous year are, however, no reason for the CIVD to be too pessimistic about the future. The recent figures are a solid result given the extremely difficult conditions and shows how well the caravanning industry has responded to the crises. Manufacturers and suppliers are hoping for an easing of the delivery situation in the coming year.