Tag Archives: Trigano

Visit to Auto Trail.

06 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in General, Motorhomes

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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

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British industry proving irresistible to German and French giants.

14 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Marketing

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Written by John Rawlings of Rawlings Communications Ltd.

Rawlings Communications

The strong market for caravans and motorhomes in the UK is obviously on the radar of the big French and German manufacturing groups, with news of two interesting acquisitions already announced this year. Will there be more?

The big news last week was that Europe’s largest manufacturer of caravans and motorhomes, the mighty Erwin Hymer Group, which last year had a turnover of more than 1.9 billion Euros, bought the UK’s Explorer Group Ltd, which owns and manufactures the well known Buccaneer, Elddis and Compass brands here.

This follows last month’s news that the French Trigano Group (another multiple European caravan and motorhome brand owner, and has already invested in a new factory for its UK subsidiary, Auto-Trail) bought a majority shareholding in the British motorhome brand Auto-Sleepers and its retail network, Marquis Leisure.

Interesting times.

I am sure that becoming part of the Erwin Hymer Group has to be good news for the The Explorer Group and its 400 employees up in the North East, but will we see more British caravan and motorhome brands being snapped up by overseas or global brands?

Although it has well established UK brands, the Explorer Group is far from being a market leader in the UK, having trailed behind the UK’s two biggest caravan and motorhome manufacturers, The Swift Group and Bailey of Bristol (both still privately owned), for many years. The new investment and purchasing power of The Explorer Group’s new parent company will surely work in its favour and give it valuable extra security for the years ahead.

We will have to wait (with much interest) to see if its new German owners implement any changes to product quality, specifications and production. The purchase price has not been disclosed, but the Erwin Hymer Group must have expectations for a reasonable return on investment, and it shows the significance of the UK caravan and motorhome market on a European and global stage. Surely that’s something we should be proud of?

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Auto-Trail owner acquires Italian motorhome manufacturer.

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by in Motorhomes

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SOURCE: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk
Click HERE
Andrew Baxter

Trigano Group announces acquisition of SEA Group.

Trigano Group, the French owner of Auto-Trail, has announced the acquisition of Italian motorhome manufacturer, SEA Group.

SEA Group produces motorhomes under the McLouis, Elnagh and Mobilvetta brands. It employs 365 people and has sold around 3,200 motorhomes in 2012; equating to total sales of €130m. The group had been in difficulties since 2006, due mainly to the decrease of the Italian motorhome market and high levels of debt with unfavourable financial terms and management instability, according to Trigano.

Trigano’s UK brands include Auto-Trail, Chausson and Roller Team.

The acquisition of SEA, which is subject to the agreement of the German and Italian
competition authorities, is part of Trigano’s strategy of development through external growth in the fields of leisure vehicles, accessories for leisure vehicles and trailers.

Trigano will acquire 100% of the capital and financial debt of SEA Group.

Christopher Macgowan
twitter: motorhomenews