Used caravans and motor caravans in great demand despite Corona crisis

Caravanning has enjoyed increasing popularity in Germany for years. As people travel individually with a motor caravan or caravan and are largely self-sufficient with their own sleeping, living, cooking and sanitary facilities, this form of vacation is experiencing additional popularity in these times. Beside new vehicles, used caravans and motor caravans are also in high demand. Altogether 100,363 changes of ownership of used leisure vehicles registered the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg since January. This is 3.2 percent more than in the first seven months of 2019: “Due to the measures taken to combat the corona pandemic, motor vehicle dealerships had to close temporarily in the first half of the year. This caused the second-hand market to slump by around a quarter in April and May. Since June, the number of ownership changes has been rising sharply again,” explains Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of the caravanning industry association CIVD.

Strong catch-up effect since June in both vehicle segments

Since the beginning of the year, 53,881 motor caravans in Germany have changed hands. This is 12.9 percent more than in the same period of the previous year, despite a sharp drop in April and May due to corona. In contrast, the number of caravans transferred to new owners fell by 6.2 percent compared to 2019 to 46,482 vehicles. Looking only at the past two months for which numbers are available the figures rose sharply by 34.6 and 21.4 percent respectively compared with the respective month last year due to catch-up effects. “The Corona pandemic hit the market between March and May, particularly for caravans, which are more sensitive to economic cycles than motor caravans. However, this vehicle segment also managed to turn the corner with a massive increase in June and July. We are confident that the positive trend in both vehicle types will continue in the coming months,” Onggowinarso said optimistically.

Ever more leisure vehicles registered in Germany

Since the vacation mode of caravanning is constantly gaining new supporters, ever more German motor caravans and caravans are on the roads. On the cut-off date of January 1, the number of vehicles in use rose to a new record of almost 1.3 million – around 7 percent more than a year ago. Roughly 590,000 motor caravans represent a strong increase of over 10 percent. About 700,000 caravans are 3.5 percent more than in 2019.