Have white bread eaten by passenger cars? See balance sheet for the first seven months of the year provided to us by AAA Data, it looks like something has really caught on in the realm of motorhomes and campers. After the already gloomy 2022 sales fall again (-6%). In total, the drop in two years is -28%. In addition, these are mostly mobile homes, with – 40% from 2021! However, according to Pierre Rousseau, president of the UNI VDL Recreational Vehicles Union: “There is nothing to worry about as attendance at dealerships remains at a good level, as are the number of orders booked.” It’s true, if we go back a bit in time, we can see that the number of registrations is the same as in 2019.

Semiconductor crisis, lack of raw materials…

As Pierre Rousseau points out: “Manufacturers of motor home components or RV accessories are highly dependent on the supply of model manufacturers – the vehicles that serve as the basis for recreational vehicles.” Thus, the crisis of semiconductors and the lack of raw materials are associated with a drop in the number of registrations : “Even if the situation is improving, the profession still lags behind in childbirth. Some vehicles require nine months before receiving the keys.” To reduce these delays, Trigano, Rapido, Pilote… are working hard. Another explanation for the market slowdown: the French are already very well equipped. With a fleet of approximately 600,000 recreational vehicles in circulation! However, the structure of the French market has changed quite profoundly over the years.

Campers on the rise

While he certainly reigned for a long time, the motor home now flows worse than a converted van. A phenomenon that is explained (slightly) lower prices, both new and used, with a size that is easier to understand and an adventurer image that seems to be more in line with the wishes of a customer segment that is more “father” of the family than “grandfather”. We can also imagine it the builder brand appeases some neo-adventurers. We find, in fact, “ready” models in catalogs. Ford (Transit Custom Nugget), Mercedes (Marco Polo), Renault (Trafic SpaceNomad) or even Volkswagen (California and Grand California). If the automotive industry is experiencing its energy transformation at a forced pace, it is more comfortable on the side of recreational vehicles. Until Volkswagen will present a hybrid concept car at the Caravan Show in Düsseldorf at the end of August – the first time the California T7 is announced – almost all VDLs still run on diesel….

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