Despite Corona lockdowns: new registrations of leisure vehicles in Europe stable

Even in corona times, caravanning is inspiring more Europeans than ever before. After an abrupt slump due to lockdowns in many European countries in spring, new registrations of motor caravans and caravans have been rising sharply again since June. In total, 153,024 recreational vehicles have been newly registered since the beginning of the year. This is only 1.2 percent less than in the same period of the successful previous year. The July figures impressively demonstrate that the trend reversal has been completed throughout Europe: last month, new registrations rose by 61.4 percent compared to July 2019. All markets (with the exception of Norway) were up at least 20 percent. “With a motor caravan or caravan, one travels individually and only with persons of one’s own household and is largely self-sufficient with the vehicle’s own living, sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities. That makes this form of vacation currently particularly safe and popular,” explains Jost Krüger, Secretary General of the European Caravan Federation (ECF).

Germany largest caravanning market

Business was outstanding in Germany, the largest market in Europe with 70,551 newly registered leisure vehicles. Since the beginning of the year, the Federal Republic has recorded growth of 15.3 percent compared with last year’s record result. This cannot be said for many other important countries. France, which had to record significantly higher infection figures and took more drastic measures to combat the pandemic, is still the second largest market with 21,574 new registrations (minus 8.5 percent) – by a large margin to Germany. Italy (5,022 vehicles), Spain (4,978 vehicles) and the United Kingdom (13,870 vehicles), as well severely affected by the pandemic, also suffered losses of 8.4, 19.7 and 36.3 percent respectively. In addition to Germany, the trend was particularly positive in Austria (2,411 vehicles) with a plus of 11.8 percent, in Denmark (2,972 vehicles) with a plus of 20.1 percent and in Finland (2,074 vehicles) with a plus of 14.7 percent. New registrations in the key markets of the Netherlands (6,944 vehicles), Switzerland (5,372 vehicles) and Sweden (5,168 vehicles) maintained their good results of the first seven months of 2019.

New motor caravan registrations continue to grow

New registrations of motor caravans have again developed positively since the beginning of the year, exceeding the previous year by 4.0 percent. In total, 103,447 motor caravans were newly registered throughout Europe up to and including July. Here, too, the picture is mixed in the individual countries due to the different course of the pandemic and the measures taken to combat it. Germany recorded an increase of 23.8 percent and is with 50,570 vehicles by far the number one motor caravan country in Europe. New registrations in this vehicle segment also increased in Austria (1,639 vehicles), Denmark (831 vehicles), Finland (1,405 vehicles), the Netherlands (1,838 vehicles) and Switzerland (4,293 vehicles), in some cases very significantly. In France (17,581 vehicles), the second-largest motor caravan market, Italy (4,654 vehicles), Spain (3,819 vehicles) and the United Kingdom (6,058 vehicles), the figures have so far been declining, but should soon turn positive again due to the strong upward trend of the last two months.

Successful turnaround also for caravans – industry cautiously optimistic

Caravan registrations were unable to maintain their level of the first seven months of 2019, falling by 10.6 percent to 49,577 vehicles. “Caravans are more sensitive to economic cycles than motor caravans, which is why the stronger slump in the spring and the slower recovery since the easing of measures are not surprising,” explains Krüger. In Germany, the largest caravan market with 19,981 vehicles, new registrations remained almost at the previous year’s level with a small drop of 1.7 percent. The second most important market, the United Kingdom, was hit harder, however: new registrations shrank by almost a third to 7,812 vehicles. France (3,993 vehicles) also recorded a drop of 21.3 percent. It is pleasing to note that the important Dutch market almost maintained its previous year’s result with 5,106 new registrations (minus 2.2 percent). Caravans throughout Europe also seem to have bottomed out, with new registrations in July showing a clear increase almost everywhere. “We assume that the catch-up effect will continue for a while and that we will continue to attract additional newcomers during this period because of the security of caravanning holidays,” says Krüger optimistically for the coming months.

This press release contains estimated figures as at 31 August 2020.