Category Archives: Motorhomes

Visit to Auto Trail.

06 Thursday Apr 2017

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I was lucky enough this week to be included on a visit to the new Auto Trail factory in Grimsby. Part of the all powerful Trigano Group this factory produces Tribute van conversions and Auto Trail coach builts in a modern, light and well laid out environment. As we all know, Trigano encourages brands to keep their very strong individual identities but the sheer size of the group must make their central purchasing operation based in Paris for the big components such as the power train a serious force to be reckoned with.

It was an extremely good visit and the Auto Trail management team was generous with its time answering literally hundreds of questions very openly indeed. On the day we were there we saw motorhomes being built for the UK, Australian and New Zealand markets. 

And what one thing most stuck in my mind? Care and attention to detail by everyone involved.  And maybe one unexpected fact? Like most motorhome manufacturers, Auto Trail has eliminated wood from the structural components but continues to build nearly all its own furniture. Waste timber is converted to pellets which feed a biomass boiler making the factory self sufficient for heating and hot water – coupled with a rain water collection system dramatically reducing fresh water consumption.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Erwin Hymer acquires Explorer Group.

10 Friday Feb 2017

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Erwin Hymer Group acquires The Explorer Group Ltd., one of the leading manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans in the UK.

 

  The strategic acquisition strengthens the presence of the Erwin Hymer Group in the second largest European market.  The Erwin Hymer Group is placing its trust in the existing management team of The Explorer Group Ltd.  The Explorer Group Ltd. will become the Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd.  Once the integration is complete, the sales and marketing activities of all EHG brands will be brought together under the umbrella of the Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd.  The closing date for the transaction is February 8, 2017.

 

Bad Waldsee (Germany), Consett, County Durham (UK), February 8, 2017 – The Erwin Hymer Group, Europe’s largest manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans, and the Constantine Group PLC, an investment company with its registered office near London (UK), have agreed that the Erwin Hymer Group will acquire 100% of the shares of The Explorer Group Ltd., including all of its subsidiaries.

 

After the closing, the name of the company will be Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd. The Managing Director of Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd. will be Robert Quine, formerly the Managing Director of The Explorer Group Ltd. 

 

The Explorer Group – On the UK market since 1964 The Explorer Group is a leading UK manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans with its registered office in Consett, near Newcastle in the north of England. Founded in the mid-1960s, the company has 400 employees and is predominantly active in the UK. With the Buccaneer, Compass, Elddis, and Xplore brands, the company has been able to steadily increase its share of the UK market in recent years. With a motorhome market share of 11% and a touring caravan market share of 17%, The Explorer Group is one of the three leading manufacturers in the UK.

 

“Since 2012, our SoLiD construction method has revolutionised the production process and resulted in a product that is stronger, lighter, and free from water ingress,” says Rob Quine. “Explorer has now invested over eight years into the development of SoLiD. This makes us the only provider of fully structurally bonded caravans and motorhomes in the UK.” The successful launch of SoLiD has resulted in the sales volumes doubling in the past eight years. 

 

  

The Explorer Group Ltd’s management has excellent knowledge of the British market and is therefore the perfect partner for the Erwin Hymer Group to further expand its position in the UK. The sales and marketing activities of all EHG brands in the UK will be brought together under the umbrella of the Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd.

 

The Erwin Hymer Group is already represented in the United Kingdom today by the Bürstner, Carado, Dethleffs, Eriba, Hymer, Laika, Niesmann+Bischoff, and Sunlight brands. The new Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd. provides an ideal starting point to strengthen and further expand market presence with a local manufacturing base. 

 

“By acquiring The Explorer Group Ltd., we are strengthening our involvement in the UK. As the leading European manufacturer, we see strategic opportunities in the second largest European caravanning market,” says Martin Brandt, CEO of Erwin Hymer Group AG & Co.KG. “Our aim is to further expand our strong position in Europe and to become a global supplier of high-quality motorhomes and caravans.”

 

For Joerg Reithmeier, Member of the Managing Board of the Erwin Hymer Group and responsible for the Caravan segment, the acquisition of Explorer is another component in implementing the caravan strategy: “By taking this step, we’re positioning ourselves as the leading manufacturer of premium caravans in Europe.”

 

“We’re all really looking forward to becoming part of the Erwin Hymer Group,” says Rob Quine, Managing Director of The Explorer Group Ltd. “It is fantastic that a successful organisation like the Erwin Hymer Group is investing in our future. As a new member of the Erwin Hymer Group, we will have access to unique know-how and expertise. We will exploit this strategic opportunity to create permanent added value for our customers.”

 

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews
 

 

 

Wellhouse Leisure – big range for the NEC Show.

24 Saturday Sep 2016

Posted by in Exhibitions and Shows, Motorhomes, Uncategorized

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Wellhouse Leisure offers the widest choice of campervans and more new model launches at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2016

 

• Wellhouse Leisure will have its largest and most diverse range of new campervans ever, including the show debut of five new models, on its stand in Hall 12 at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2016, at the NEC from 11 to 16 October 2016. This includes:

• Ford Terrier – SE, M-Sport and the new long-wheelbase model with up to seven seats

• Ford Evie – compact camping-car based on the Ford Transit Connect Grand Tourneo

• Hyundai i800 Camper – facelifted version returns to the Wellhouse Leisure range

• Mercedes Moselle – based on the new Vito, with all-new interior furniture by Tecnoform

• Zooom Mobile NV200 – a two-berth, compact campervan based on the Nissan NV200

• new Toyota Proace – prototype model fitted with elevating roof and windows only

• new Ford Nu-Venture – first Nu-Venture coachbuilt on a Ford Transit Custom cab

• new SsangYong Turismo – an MPV-based, four-berth camper with a kitchen, elevating roof and 178PS, 2.2-litre Euro 6 diesel engine, plus value for money with prices expected to be from £29,995

 

The Wellhouse Leisure stand in Hall 12 at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2016 is particularly worth visiting this year as it will have its widest range of eight different campervan ranges to see, including the debut of five all-new models.

 

Its most successful campervan, the Ford Terrier 2, will be there with three variants to see: the best-selling SE, the eye-catching M-Sport, and the new long-wheelbase model launched this summer which can seat up to seven people. All Terriers feature the practical, sliding rear seat, stylish, high-quality Tecnoform furniture and the new 130PS, 2.0-litre, Ford Euro 6 engine, with improved fuel economy and torque compared to the previous 2.2-litre, 125 PS TDCi unit, plus the new option of automatic transmission.

For something more compact based on a Ford there’s the two-berth Wellhouse Ford Evie camping-car, winner of the Micro Motor Caravans class of The Caravan Club Motor Caravan Design Awards 2016, available from £28,500.

 

The popular, and award-winning, Hyundai i800 Camper will be at The Motorhome and Caravan show after making a welcome return to the Wellhouse range this summer, with prices starting from £42,000. It has a particularly high standard specification, including oven, heating and hot water system, plus an external shower, with standard or special edition trim levels available, plus the option of automatic transmission.

 

Another model returning to the Wellhouse stand is its redesigned Mercedes Vito-based Moselle, which now features an all-new kitchen and storage unit from the Italian furniture designer, Tecnoform. It still has an SCA elevating roof, seats five people and has Wellhouse’s trademark sliding rear seat system, with prices from £44,500. The luxury specification includes solar panel, heating, a choice of three Mercedes BlueTec Euro 6 engines, with rear-wheel drive, plus the option of automatic transmission.

 

The Zooom Mobile NV200, based on the compact Nissan NV200 van, is a new model that Wellhouse Leisure is considering introducing for the UK in partnership with the German manufacturer, Zooom. It is offered with two or five seat models plus an elevating roof, and can be fitted with storage units in the back, including a fold-away kitchen unit.

 

The first of Wellhouse’s all-new models is based on the stylish, new Toyota Proace. Wellhouse is one of the first in the UK to develop a campervan conversion of Toyota’s new van. In fact, this exciting new model is so new that Wellhouse is not able to show the finished interior conversion yet, with the example on show fitted with side windows and an elevating roof only so that people can see what size and look of it, and pre-order one. It will have four-seats, an economical 1.6-litre diesel engine and a body length of 4.9m. Prices are expected to start from around £38,000.

 

Wellhouse has co-operated with Nu Venture motorhomes to develop a coachbuilt-style model based on a Ford Transit Custom cab, which makes its debut at the show. The two-berth coachbuilt body is the same width as the base vehicle to make it easy to drive and compact enough to be used every day. This two-berth model is 5.5m long with an entry door at the rear, and a comfortable interior with all the features of a full-height motorhome. This includes a front lounge with side dinette that converts into two singles or a double bed, over cab storage area, kitchen and full washroom with shower. Prices are expected to start from £46,000.

 

The final all-new campervan being launched at the show is its first conversion of the SsangYong Turismo MPV. This car-sized campervan, powered by a 178PS, 2.2-litre, Euro 6 diesel engine, really is a multi-purpose vehicle with an elevating roof, kitchen unit, four seats and four-berths, with prices expected to be from £29,995.

 

David Elliott, Managing Director of Wellhouse Leisure commented: “Wellhouse Leisure is really pleased to be launching more new campervans, and to be able to offer such a wide choice in a mixture of sizes and brands. Wellhouse now offers something for everyone and every budget, from micro campers to our best-selling, award-winning models, all offering exceptional value for money.”

 

http://www.wellhouseleisure.com

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews
 

Motorhome sales continue to grow.

11 Saturday Jun 2016

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New figures from the NCC show that the UK motorhome market continues to go from strength-to-strength. Interestingly, according to NCC members, increasing numbers of buyers are new to the sector.

 

Registrations of new motorhomes increased by 20.4% in the month of March 2016 compared with March 2015. A total of 2,352 units were sold in what is a peak month for the sector. New motorhome registrations for Q1 2016 as a whole, compared with Q1 2015, are also up nearly 20%1, to a total of 3,042 units with an estimated retail value of more than £150 million2.

 

All this is on top of a 21% increase in new motorhome registrations during 2015, making the UK one of the fastest growing markets in Europe3. Membership of the NCC’s dealer section is increasing too, rising nearly 25% in the last 12 months alone. Many of these companies are reporting near record new motorhome sales levels in 2016, including Newark based Brownhills, which enjoyed a 26% increase in Q1 this year.

 

NCC director general John Lally said: “We believe that strong demand for motorhomes will continue for the foreseeable future and we could see record levels of new motorhomes registered in the UK soon. As manufacturers increase production capacity and build even more attractive and innovative products that can be used year round, consumers, from young families to retired couples, will keep being drawn to the motorhome proposition. The Freedom to Go campaign is also working to draw more entrants to the market.

 

“Staycations are due to have another good year too boosted by the preference to take shorter breaks. In fact short holiday trips of 1-3 nights account for two-thirds of English holidays, are on the rise4 and are exactly the type of break a motorhome really enables. Whether it’s a last minute weekend away, supporting an outdoor activity like mountain biking, or indeed the longer annual summer holiday, motorhomes make it all possible.”

 

Frank Finch, NCC membership services director said: “It’s encouraging that dealerships are our fastest growing membership section, as this is where many consumers first interact with the industry. It’s our advice that for peace of mind, consumers should always seek out one of our members when looking to buy a motorhome, or indeed any other leisure vehicle.”

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

NCC conference highlights market opportunities.

29 Friday Apr 2016

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More than 200 delegates attended the NCC (National Caravan Council) Conference 2016 last week to hear a stellar line-up of expert speakers including: Nick King – Insight Director, Autotrader; Carl Castledine – CEO, Away Resorts; Harvey Alexander – Director of Marketing, The Caravan Club; and Alex Marshall of Management Consultants CIL. Kevin Keegan OBE was an extremely popular after dinner speaker, helping to raise £2,440 for the NCC Benevolent Fund charity.

John Lally, NCC Director General, said: “From start to finish our speaker line-up was excellent this year, delivering fresh insights and new perspectives while stimulating plenty of debate in the process. Topics included adjusting caravan products for Millennials and developing new ways of promotion (mobile-friendly, via specially designed apps, using social media etc). Speakers looking at the bigger picture examined how technology is changing the world, the state of the UK and worldwide economy and how positive thinking can influence your business in a positive manner.  

 “Getting together as an industry is really important. Following a successful 12 months for many, it remains vital our industry continues to innovate and attract new entrants to the market, to improve its customer service and product quality and embrace self-regulation. If we do that, our speakers were agreed that success will continue in 2016 and beyond.”

 

A selection of quotes from the event are shown below:

Carl Castledine – on innovation

‘As baby boomer spend slows, our industry must be ready for Millennials … who will become the primary engine of the UK consumer economy.’

Harvey Alexander – on new entrants to the world of leisure vehicles

‘A recent study showed 11 million UK adults are our potential audience – those who love outdoors but don’t own a leisure vehicle, and can potentially share our passion …’

 Alex Marshall – on the mergers and acquisitions outlook (holiday parks)

‘We will see strong valuations, further consolidation and further investment in the product …’

Nick King – on successfully selling vehicles

‘Forecourt visits are down 41pc in the automotive industry in three years. But we are still selling successfully. A buyer will now visit more websites than forecourts.’

Psychologist Dr Maureen Gaffney – on positive thinking

‘In this world the optimists have it not because they are always right but because they are always positive.’

Market commentator, Justin Urquhart Stewart – on the UK economy:

‘The UK is the world’s fifth largest economy. It’s got pulling power – the Number 1 in Europe for inward investment, with 85k new jobs created …’

 

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Win a California dream.

18 Monday Apr 2016

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Volkswagen campervans have always stood for peace and freedom: the chance to just drive away, follow your dreams and seek adventures. The most recent iteration of the classic camper, the California, is no different, and that’s why Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is giving would-be adventurers the chance to win their California dream through a new Facebook competition.

From Wednesday (20 April) until 4 May, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be posting images of the California hidden in stunning landscapes on its Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenCommercialVehiclesUK. The images – taken by award-winning photographer Harry Cory-Wright – show locations from the Peak District to the Alps, and the Dolomites to Tuscany – and, if you look carefully enough, you’ll spot the campervan. For your chance to win your perfect getaway, simply ‘like’ the competition post on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Facebook page and add a comment or a picture of your own California dream.

From all the entrants who share their dream, the winner will be drawn at random and subsequently enjoy the loan of a California Ocean for a week in Europe or the UK (full Ts & Cs are on the competition page on Facebook).

At the same time, a campaign will be running in Volkswagen Van Centre California specialists (see https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/find-a-van-centre for details) promoting the new model, and helping aspiring buyers to convert their California dreams to reality.

Based on the sixth-generation Transporter which went on sale in the UK last September, the new California remains the only factory-built camper van on the market. The latest model – and fourth to bear the California name – builds on the strengths of its highly successful predecessors. The range incorporates all the key features introduced on the new Transporter T6, including new, more efficient engines that are up to 15 per cent more economical than the outgoing units. The new California also features a range of advanced technologies designed to make life safer and even more enjoyable for occupants. These include driver assistance systems, a completely refreshed infotainment system and the availability of adaptive suspension.

To enter the competition go to http://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenCommercialVehiclesUK
For more information on the California, visit http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/findthecalifornia

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Three millionth Sprinter goes to Hymer.

17 Thursday Mar 2016

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Three millionth Mercedes-Benz Sprinter goes to motorhome manufacturer Hymer

 Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans (left) and Benrhard Kibler MD of Hymer (right)

 The latest Sprinter goes to Hymer to be turned into an ML-T

Mercedes-Benz Vans has celebrated a milestone with the Sprinter, used for a number of motorhome conversions. Since its market launch in 1995, the division has delivered three million units of its world vehicle to customers with 2015 being the most successful year for Sprinter in its history. In the year of its 20th birthday, sales of the Sprinter rose by 4% to 194,200 vehicles. Mercedes-Benz Vans is expecting further overall growth in demand in 2016.

Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, handed over the three millionth Sprinter to Bernhard Kibler, Managing Director of motorhome manufacturer Hyme. Hymer, a bodybuilder partner to Mercedes-Benz Vans, intends to turn the anniversary vehicle into one of its premium-segment Hymer ML-T motorhomes.

“Three million Sprinters in just 20 years is a sign of great success,” said Volker Mornhinweg. “The Sprinter was the founder of the segment for large vans and remains highly successful to this day – throughout the world. The Sprinter with its six production plants worldwide is a shining example of our growth strategy ‘Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global’. What’s more, for our partners the Sprinter provides the perfect base for a wide and varied range of bodies, from ambulances to luxury motorhomes.”

Mercedes-Benz Vans has developed along highly positive lines in recent years in the growing camper van sector. This year, too, the division’s global sales and market share are continuing to rise in this area. Growth of over 10% was recorded in the German market alone in 2015, amounting to sales of some 28,000 units – and it continues to offer potential. Specialist bodybuilders play a central role in this segment for Mercedes-Benz Vans, covering as they do a wide spectrum of customer demand – for additional variants of campervans, for example.

An important bodybuilder for Mercedes-Benz Vans is the motorhome manufacturer Hymer, based in Bad Waldsee in Baden-Württemberg. The company, which was founded in 1957, is the European market leader in the premium segment.. Hymer is an official ‘VanPartner by Mercedes-Benz’. This means that the company belongs to the exclusive circle of bodybuilders that Mercedes-Benz Vans audits and certifies as meeting its high standards in respect of quality, sales and after-sales. Hymer has relied on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as the base vehicle for its premium-segment motorhomes since 1995. The collaboration between the two companies goes back more than 40 years now: the first Hymermobil was based on a Mercedes-Benz van.

“Mercedes-Benz Vans is a strategically important partner for us. The vans with the star are acknowledged to be among the safest in their class. The Sprinter, in particular, offers an extensive range of safety equipment, with its various driver assistance systems such as standard-specification Crosswind Assist, which is unique in our sector. Combined with our bodybuilding technology and premium-class equipment and fittings, we can offer the customer a camper van that is uncompromising in its operating safety and living comfort. We are delighted that our longstanding partner is handing over the three millionth Sprinter to us. We offer our sincere congratulations to Mercedes-Benz Vans on this significant anniversary and look forward to continuing our excellent collaboration,” said Bernhard Kibler. “Our customers can look forward to a few surprises this year, too.”

The Hymer ML-T, for which the three millionth Sprinter is to serve as the basic vehicle, is the first partially integrated motorhome to be equipped with the innovative Crosswind Assist system from Mercedes-Benz Vans.

As I own a Sprinter myself…..

  
Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Talking up New Zealand motorhoming.

24 Sunday Jan 2016

Posted by in Motorhomes, Travel

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An independent survey by New Zealand’s largest seller of motorhomes shows New Zealanders are more likely to visit New Zealand destinations if they have the time to travel there in motorhomes.

Eighty per cent of the more than 10,000 New Zealanders surveyed are ‘extremely likely’ to recommend their country as a travel destination – in spite of New Zealanders themselves being more likely to holiday overseas than in their own country.

Twenty four per cent of New Zealanders surveyed are more likely to have taken a 10-day trip overseas in the last year than the 18 per cent who chose a domestic holiday – in spite of 83 per cent saying they don’t travel as much as they would like to.

More than half the sampled population 57 per cent, believe it is more expensive to travel in New Zealand compared to other countries.

For the RV super centre which sponsored the survey the result are encouraging:

Almost 70 per cent of New Zealanders want to see more of the country and about half of them want to do so in a motorhome. Second option is travelling by car and with two per cent saying it would be best to fly from place to place.

“Kiwis are known for being a nation of travellers, and being in a motorhome means they can take their time visiting all the beautiful locations New Zealand has to offer, with the added benefit of being able to pull over and have a cuppa or a make a bite to eat anywhere they like and get a bit off the beaten track. It’s a fun and explorative way to travel,” says RV supercentre managing director Grant Brady.

Bay of Plenty figures show nearly 60 per cent want to see more of the country. More people from the Bay say they are ‘extremely likely’ to recommend New Zealand to overseas than any other region, that’s 84 per cent of Bay residents compared with an average of 80 per cent.

People from the Bay recommend seeing New Zealand by motorhome/campervan over driving or flying. (56 per cent vs 43 per cent and 1 per cent respectively).

Thirty two per cent of the people polled from the Bay say they would consider living in a caravan or motorhome for six months or more, and when asked what they are more likely to buy over the next 10 years, 27 per cent of Bay of Plenty say it will be a motorhome, 23 per cent a house and six per cent a boat and six per cent a bach, and five per cent a tent.

Bay of Plenty residents are three times more likely to own a boat than a bach, and 45 per cent of people from the Bay felt it is too expensive to buy a holiday home/bach.

Nearly half of those polled, 48 per cent, chose owning a motorhome over a bach, boat, caravan or tent. As age increases, the desire to own a motorhome increases and the desire to own a bach decreases, according to the survey figures. Motorhomes are also becoming more attractive to younger travellers in recent years as the price of land in New Zealand increases.

“It was pleasing to learn that almost all of those surveyed agreed that it is important for Kiwis to see more of New Zealand, because it helps them to appreciate the country they live in and want to look after it, as well as supporting small towns and other tourist destinations outside of the big cities,” says Grant.

“Travelling in a motorhome allows Kiwis to take in the scenery while on the road – sometimes the journey itself is the most beautiful part, in a country like New Zealand, with the landscape changing from hour to hour,” says Brady.

Eighty per cent of those polled identify “the natural surroundings” as the best thing about travelling in New Zealand. Respondents voted three scenically stunning South Island locations as being the most worth seeing in the country – Milford Sound at 23 per cent, followed by Queenstown at 19 per cent, and Abel Tasman National Park at 14 per cent of the vote. Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, each received a meagre one per cent of the vote.

Rotorua is the most popular domestic destination, with a whopping 88 per cent of respondents having visited.

The survey was conducted by an independent party, with 10,703 respondents across the country, over the age of 18.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Failed to get a suntan…..

11 Monday Jan 2016

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My Scottish trip was great fun if a little damp and finished with a stay at Stratchclde Country Park (bottom two photos) followed by an easy run south on the M74 (top photo) and so to the Lake District and the last night spent at The Caravan Club’s Meathop Fell site at the southern end of the lakes.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Benimar back in Britain.

04 Friday Sep 2015

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Today I attended the local launch of the Benimar range at Marquis Motorhomes in Ipswich. Marquis has the national franchise for this Spanish built range – part of the Trigano Group – and has re-introduced the product to the UK with a high spec and totally Anglicised line-up. And very impressive too. 

Whilst the weak € is bad news for UK manufacturers it certainly makes these Spanish imports look attractive at the on-the-road level.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews