Bartolacci Design, a leading company in RV lighting, is continuing its expansion by systematically entering the Japanese market in partnership with New Japan Yacht (NJY) in Shizuoka Prefecture. NJY, a company operating in the nautical sector that has recently expanded into the RV sector, is working with Bartolacci to strengthen the company's presence in Asia.The collaboration allows Bartolacci to utilize all of its unique features in the Japanese market, including a catalogue of lighting fixtures that can be customized or specially made for customers thanks to the company's direct production in Italy. This feature is particularly important in a market like Japan that has different needs compared to the European market. Bartolacci's technical organization and expanded machinery park allows the company to work with various materials and create a wide range of lighting fixtures for the RV industry. With the addition of thermoforming machines and pantographs, Bartolacci is able to offer a wide range of lighting and furnishing components made from a variety of materials. Through the partnership with New Japan Yacht, Bartolacci Design is expanding its presence in the Asian market, starting with Japan as its first target.

All in CARAVANING 2023 (AIC), the annual celebration of China's caravanning and camping industry, is set to make a comeback after a one-year hiatus. The grand event will be held as scheduled from June 16th to 18th at the Beijing Beiren Etrong International Exhibition & Convention Center.

AIC has always been regarded as a compass for China's caravanning and camping industry. AIC 2023 will present a brand-new image to the industry, with new exhibition areas, exciting new activities, and innovative approaches all ready to be revealed.

The event unites the entire caravanning and camping community in China and serves as a big family reunion for the industry. In addition, there are the indispensable exchanges, personal conversations and live encounters with existing and potential new business partners and of course the latest industry innovations.

“We are very excited about this new start and have used the time to introduce fresh ideas and further strengthen this fair with various conceptual adjustments. Caravanning continues to experience an upswing in China and the interest of the local population in this form of holiday is huge. We are excellently positioned with our concept and look forward to the coming fair with optimism. As the infrastructural conditions in China also continue to improve, we believe in the considerable potential of the Chinese caravanning market," says Stefan Koschke, Global Head Caravaning & Outdoor.

Since the postponement of the trade fair in 2022, exhibitors have been eagerly awaiting the event. As of the end of March, the RV parts zone has been sold out, and great demand is also noticeable in the other segments. "The interest in leisure vehicles, accessories and services continues to grow and the holiday form of caravanning has once again attracted many new customers due to the Corona crisis. We are therefore particularly pleased to be able to offer exhibitors a stage for their new products and innovations after the forced break. There will be a wide range of national and international brands covering all areas and price ranges. The spectrum in the exhibition halls ranges from very compact models with clever solutions to spacious luxury motorhomes as well as off-road special vehicles. In addition to caravans, motorhomes and accessories, tents, camping accessories and equipment, outdoor clothing and equipment as well as campsites will also be presented," says Project Director Josh Gu.

All in CARAVANING is also the international business meeting place for the Chinese market and enables representatives from politics, business and associations to meet. Experts from the caravanning and tourism industry come to Beijing for an exchange and discuss the current developments and challenges of the industry in accompanying conferences.

The German Pavilion, led by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and organized in collaboration with the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA), made its official debut at AIC 2021. This year, it will once again be present at the trade show at a higher level and with greater capacity, marking a significant milestone in the exchange and interaction in the caravanning industry between China and Germany. It is not only a significant opportunity for trade and economic exchanges between the two countries, but also a remarkable platform for attracting investment and promoting German companies in China, which greatly contributes to the long-term development of the industry.

In particular, the programme of accompanying events for the whole family will now also be enhanced once again. Visitors can look forward to a great programme brimming with activities, fun, games and highlights galore. “We want to place the caravanning experience even more centre stage and emphasise the emotional character of this form of holidaymaking. This lifestyle aspect strikes just the right chord with Chinese families allowing us to ensure precisely the right blend of traditional trade fair and entertainment for the whole family,” stresses Stefan Koschke.

For more information, please visit: www.aicshow.com.

The UK caravan and motorhome manufacturer Bailey of Bristol has announced that Stephen Howard, whose family has owned the business since the 1970's, has passed away.

Stephen was invited to join Bailey in 1977 by his brother Patrick, who was Managing Director at that time, and together they purchased the business shortly afterwards.

A fully qualified Civil Engineer by profession, Stephen became Technical Director and was part of a formidable Operations Management Team which also included Ceri Davies (Production Director) and Nigel Mattfield (Purchasing Director). Under the stewardship of the two Howard brothers the company grew to become the household name it is today and helped establish Bailey as one of the UK's favourite leisure vehicle brand.

Stephens’ two eldest sons, first Nick and then Simon, both joined the business in the 1990s and eventually took over the running of the company. Stephen remained a company Director until very recently and continued to show a keen interest in all things Bailey.

Stephen would have been 82 this week. He was a much-loved husband to Valerie (his wife of 60 years); Father to Simon, Nick & Robert; Grandad to Juliet, Matthew, Henry, Tamsin, Alfie, Benjamin, Georgina, Evelyn, Megan and Huw plus, of course, best friend to Berkeley the family Labrador.

Our thoughts are with Stephen’s family and friends at this difficult time.

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia has released its State of Industry 2023 report, the eighth one in this series. It examines manufacturing, import, RV registration, accommodation, and visitor economy trends for the previous calendar year.

The State of Industry 2023 report highlights the return to renewed growth for the caravan and camping industry following two challenging years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the back of strong consumer demand, manufacturing and import numbers exceeded 2021’s production record by 4,100 units. Similarly, the visitor economy saw record results for overnight trips and visitor nights.

Nonetheless, 2022 was not without its challenges: increased operational costs, supply chain restrictions from China, natural disasters, and weakened consumer confidence, among others, impacted businesses around the country.

Key takeaways from the report are:
- The industry has transitioned from recovery to growth, with 2022 the most successful year recorded for the industry as a whole;
- Consumer demand for caravan and camping remains resilient despite challenging economic conditions;
- The caravan and camping sector is well positioned to maneuver complex business conditions.

Although industry conditions will remain complex in 2023, there is reason to be optimistic. During the pandemic, Australians have embraced the caravan and camping lifestyle, and international travel costs are likely to remain high. With caravan and camping holidays, an integral part of our national travelling behaviour, caravan and camping is uniquely positioned to weather these uncertain times.

Members can contact: research@caravanindustry.com.au for a digital copy.

The REV Group, Inc. has appointed Mark Skonieczny as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Previously, Mark Skonieczny had served as Interim CEO and Chief Financial Officer. Mark Skonieczny joined the Company’s Board in January 2023 and will continue to serve as a Director. The company has initiated a comprehensive search for a new CFO.

Prior to joining REV Group, Mark Skonieczny held positions as Vice President and Corporate Controller of Adient PLC and spent 17 years at Johnson Controls in a variety of financial roles including Vice President of Corporate Development, Vice President of Finance, Global Aftermarket-Power Solutions, Vice President of Finance, Middle East, Latin America and NA Systems-Building Efficiency, and Assistant Corporate Controller.

“We are pleased that Mark will continue to lead the company,” said Paul Bamatter, Chairman of REV Group’s Board of Directors. “He has demonstrated the expertise and urgency towards action needed to profitably grow the business and provide its shareholders with long-term value. The Board has great confidence in Mark and believes that under his continued leadership REV Group will accelerate its transformation.”

Mark Skonieczny added: “I look forward to serving as President and CEO at this pivotal time for REV Group. Over the past three months as interim CEO I have been deeply engaged with our local teams to understand and put in place action plans designed to eliminate barriers to quickly unlock value. With an unmatched portfolio of iconic brands, resilient operating model, and strong balance sheet, we have significant opportunity to take our business forward. I look forward to continuing my work with leadership and leveraging my knowledge of the company to drive our strategic priorities.”

REV Group companies are designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. They provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers), and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles).

REV Group’s diverse portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands, including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of REV Group’s brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years.

MORELO, the premium motorhome brand from the Knaus Tabbert group, is expanding its production facility in Schlüsselfeld by building a new workshop so it can increase production to meet the growing demand for its vehicles. At the same time, the number of employees at MORELO will also increase sharply, from the current 450 to around 550 employees.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Reinhard Löhner, Managing Director of MORELO, spoke not only of a "real further milestone for MORELO, but also of a strong impulse for the entire region". While it was "normal" until a few years ago as an employee to make the daily journey from Schlüsselfeld to Bamberg, Würzburg or even Erlangen and Nuremberg, "hidden champions" such as MORELO now also say that going the other way "is a real option for more and more people". 

"With the factory expansion, we are taking the next big step into the future," says Robert Crispens, Managing Director of MORELO Reisemobile GmbH. "The new Plant 2 as well as the significant expansion of Plant 1 and the exhibition area for our vehicles - all this is the basis for being able to continue to grow under our own steam and at the same time to implement the first class wishes of our customers even better, more individually and faster can." 

MORELO has positioned itself as a top provider in the luxury motorhome market segment over the past 12 years and is now leading the premium segment. Due to the continuous growth, however, the Upper Franconians have now almost reached their capacity limits. Therefore, a new stage in the company's history is confidently heralded and an additional factory building is built, which will contain a fully-fledged, state-of-the-art production line. 

The new Plant 2 in the north of the MORELO company premises, which is within sight of the A3, will include a state-of-the-art production line, a second panel production, design and development including prototype construction, a warehouse, a canteen and a second employee car park for approx. 100 cars . 

The new construction of Plant 2 and the already completed production expansion of Plant 1 will significantly increase MORELO's production capacity in the medium term. 

At its National Conference Gala Dinner, the Caravan Industry Association of Australia announced the winners of its 2023 Industry Awards.

The Eric Hayman OAM Award for Excellence, considered the caravan industry's highest honour, was won by Alison Huth who has given over 30 years of service to the industry, providing assistance and advice to both Queensland parks and nationally over this time, and for her incredible and passionate dedication to the betterment of the industry. She has authored books on the industry and continues to write during her travels in a caravan for What's Up Downunder, positively profiling the caravan and camping industry to consumers. Alison is the first woman to receive this award.

For the second year running, The Gerry Ryan OAM Award for Innovation went to Newbook

The Richard David OAM Award was given to two industry figureheads this year, Donna Cocking and Dennis Austin, for their above-and-beyond service to the National Body.

The Chairman’s Award was presented to Rob Lucas for his lengthy service to Caravan Industry Victoria and his commitment to improving standards within the industry.

The THL Future Leaders Award saw Jeb Grose take home the trophy and a $10,000 scholarship, while the remaining finalists, Nick Braun, Amanda Dempster, Ben Reichstein, and Stephen Ritchie each received a $1,000 scholarship.

The European Caravan Federation (ECF) organized their 45^th Annual General Meeting and their 28^th Meeting of the European Leisure Vehicle Industry in the Dutch city of Utrecht last May 12. Although 2022 was a though year for the industry because of the challenges in the supply chain, there was a positive vibe among the 140 attendees.

The industry leaders gathered in The Netherlands to review the past year in terms of sales and production figures, but they foremost looked forward to the near and far future. Hosted by the Dutch caravanning industry association KCI a variety of speakers from across Europe -and even from the United States- presented their view on the current and future camping landscape. During the General Meeting ECF made clear that the supply chain problems that arose in recent years started to fade away in Q1 of 2023 and production figures are now clearly up, to pre-covid levels. Furthermore, ECF welcomed the national caravanning associations of Denmark and Romania as two new members, joining the 14 other member countries. 

USA vs Europe
For manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans sustainability is a big topic, especially with regard to the upcoming Euro7 emissions standard and the uprise of alternative fuels. ECF board members elaborated on those issues and on their efforts to influence EU decision making, on these topics as well as on the proposed rise of the maximum weight for motorhomes to 4,250 kilograms for holders of the B driving license. After a coffee break the General Meeting for ECF members transformed into ‘MELVI’, kicking off with insights from both Troy James (senior VP at Thor Industries) and Alexander Leopold (CEO at Thor-owned Erwin Hymer Group). They took the audience along into all of the differences between the US and European caravanning and RV market, and the two took a close look on how the manufacturers on both continents currently collaborate, and how they will do in the near future. 

Industry promotion
Alexander Wottrich, co-CEO at Truma Group and grandson of the company’s founder, shared his views on technical innovations for caravans and motorhomes, whether or not driven by EU legislation. Before the lunch break Dutchman Berry Helming addressed the philosophy behind his company Henk Pen Caravans, which he acquired as a co-owner in 2019 and is now one of the biggest caravanning retailers in The Netherlands. KCI board member and Thetford marketing manager Norbert van Noesel presented the promotional efforts of the Dutch industry association on promoting camping -even with their own TV series-, followed by trend researcher Adjied Bakas, who also was on stage last time around in Utrecht, ten years ago. Many of his predictions back then for the society as a whole and for caravanning and camping specifically became reality. University professor Carlo van de Weijer gave his view on sustainable recreational mobility, especially focusing on the speed of EV adoption across Europe and even globally. The final speaker of the day at MELVI was Stan Stolwerk, director of NKC, the Dutch association of over 65,000 motorhome owners. This makes NKC the biggest such organization in the whole of Europe and Stolwerk takes a prominent role towards sustainability and co-operation with manufacturers and other suppliers.

Utrecht, The Netherlands
The Jaarbeurs venue in Utrecht as the location for the ECF meetings was not chosen randomly by hosts KCI. The Dutch industry representatives annually organize their trade show here in October, with on average some 40,000 visitors over 5 exhibition days. Right next to the historical city center with its canals and characteristic ancient architecture, combined with contemporary art and high rise buildings, it provided a great opportunity to explore the city. And many of the attendees and their partners did.

Ford has revealed its all-new E‑Tourneo Courier, a five-seat multi-activity vehicle with a distinctive SUV-inspired design and a refined all-electric driveline. It is one of ten all-electric vehicles Ford has committed to offering in Europe by 2024

“Exciting new products like E‑Tourneo Courier are the future of Ford in Europe – electric, fun, and fuelled by a restless need for adventure. Our new all-electric multi-activity vehicle is the latest demonstration of our multi-billion dollar global push to scale EV production and deliver connected, must-have vehicles for our customers,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe.

Ford is investing $50 billion globally through 2026 to achieve a targeted run rate of more than 2 million all-electric vehicles by the end of that year.

The all-electric E-Tourneo Courier will arrive in 2024 for customers across Europe. It follows the EcoBoost petrol‑engined Tourneo Courier that opens for order this summer, with initial deliveries before the end of 2023.

E-Tourneo Courier was developed from the ground up to deliver a spacious and practical design in a manoeuvrable and compact package. Short overhangs and direct, straightforward lines strengthen the exterior’s visual width and toughness, while the EV-only front end features a futuristic-looking coast-to-coast light bar and Ford signature chrome diamond grille.

“We designed E-Tourneo Courier to help customers get the most out of life – whether out with family and friends or coming home with the rear seats flipped and bikes in the back – and the exterior design expresses that ‘no-nonsense’ character,” said Amko Leenarts, Design director, Ford, Europe. “The SUV‑inspired design is rugged outside and roomy inside, while the modern EV details add exclusivity and clearly announce E‑Tourneo Courier as part of Ford’s electric revolution.”

The all-electric multi-activity vehicle is developed to carry five adults and their luggage in comfort, and with practicality optimised using a 60-40 split rear bench and over 44 per cent more boot space than the outgoing Tourneo Courier.

It features a “digiboard” instrument panel that features a full digital instrument cluster and SYNC 4 infotainment controlled via the large 12‑inch touchscreen. The fully connected cabin features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, as well as a phone charging pad to stay connected on the go. Over-the-air updates can improve functionality over time without the need to visit a dealership.

The vehicle offers both 11kW AC and 100kW DC charging options, and charge management is made easier with Ford’s end-to-end home charging solution, handy app, and scheduling capability to take advantage of cheaper energy tariffs where available. A typical 7kW overnight domestic charge from 10-100 per cent takes 7.8 hours. Ford software and the BlueOval Charge Network, which is one of the largest in Europe and set to include 500,000 chargers by 2024, also facilitate public charging. At a DC fast charger, customers can add 54 miles range in just 10 minutes and charge from 10-80 per cent in under 35 minutes when needing a fast top-up away from home.

E-Tourneo Courier will be produced in Craiova, Romania, from the second half of 2024 alongside the Puma crossover – Ford’s best-selling passenger car in Europe, set to offer an EV variant by 2024.

The all-new Tourneo Courier with a 125PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine enters production later in 2023. ¹ Further details on the full product range can be found in the fact file.