The 65th edition of Caravan Salon Düsseldorf has attracted 164,000 visitors for the first six days of its duration – an indicator that interest remains strong in caravanning, according to organisers.

“Up to and including Wednesday 2 September, 164,000 caravanning fans have already made their way to Düsseldorf,” said Caravan Salon Director Stefan Koschke.

“This impressively demonstrates the sheer level of enthusiasm for mobile travel and the interest in the latest developments in the industry. Our visitors arrive at the fair very well-informed and with specific ideas in mind. At the same time, we are experiencing the special atmosphere that defines the Caravan Salon: people who share a passion for caravanning meet manufacturers, dealers and experts from all over the world.”

Koschke went on to say that the hugely diverse range of brands, layouts, vehicle concepts, technical innovations, and equipment options on display at Caravan Salon help to attract visitors at a time when consumer confidence is at a relative low point.

“It is precisely this unique combination that makes the Caravan Salon so valuable to visitors,” he said. “It is therefore not only the caravanning world’s major showcase, but also the most important venue for direct comparison from the customer’s perspective and one of the industry’s most significant sales platforms.”

The positive sentiment was echoed by Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of the Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD), who added: “Once again this year, the exhibitors are impressively demonstrating what our industry has to offer. The packed halls and the enthusiastic response from visitors prove just how great the fascination with caravans and motorhomes is, and what a magnet the Caravan Salon is.

“Dialogue with political decision-makers is an integral part of the Caravan Salon for us. We are delighted that high-ranking political representatives, including State Secretary Dr Claudia Elif Stutz and Luxembourg’s Minister for the Economy and Tourism, Lex Delles, were present and were able to see for themselves the importance of our sector. After all, caravanning is far more than just a form of holiday. It is a significant economic and tourism factor in Germany, Europe and beyond.”

The show, which is hosting 834 exhibitors from 41 countries, remains on until 6 September.

Photo: Messe Düsseldorf / Tillmann

Caravanning tourism is achieving record levels in Germany, according to new data from the German Economic Institute for Tourism (dwif).

During 2025, German campsites recorded 56 million overnight stays, while there were also 20 million overnight stays on pitches outside of campsites – both record-high figures.

The dwif study also estimates that the caravanning industry generated almost €23 billion in revenue for the domestic economy in Germany in 2025 – this is more than the €21 billion generated in 2024, and a huge 80 per cent increase compared to 10 years before in 2015. It also represents a new record high figure.

At the opening press conference of Caravan Salon 2026, Dr. Holger Siebert, Vice President of the Caravanning Industry Association (CIVD), commented on these figures: “The new record values impressively show the importance of caravanning for business and tourism in Germany. Nearly 23 billion euros in revenue for the domestic economy is a strong signal. It is particularly important that a significant part of this added value is directly received in the holiday regions. This benefits gastronomy, retail, leisure activities and local service providers. Especially for smaller municipalities and rural areas, caravanning thus opens up great economic opportunities.”

These figures have been enabled by Germany’s focus on developing its camping infrastructure – it is estimated that there are now 80 per cent more camping pitches in Germany than there were 20 years ago.

This boom in German caravanning tourism is also supported by strong figures in the recreational vehicle industry. From January to July 2026, 63,329 new leisure vehicles were registered in the country. In the motorhome segment, 50,118 vehicles were newly registered, 3.3 per cent fewer than in the previous year. Caravans accounted for 13,211 new registrations, a slight fall of 1.9 per cent.

While this represents a slight year-on-year decrease of around 3 per cent, it is still considered a healthy figure by CIVD, considering current geopolitical uncertainty and economic strain.

“A weak economy, subdued consumer sentiment and geopolitical uncertainties mean that the economic environment is currently anything but easy,” said Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of the CIVD.

“This makes our sector’s resilience all the more remarkable. Across Europe, registrations are almost at the previous year’s level, and for motorhomes they are even slightly higher. Above all, however, enthusiasm for mobile holidays remains undiminished. Caravanning gives people freedom and flexibility, whilst also allowing them to plan their own itineraries and budgets. This is particularly valuable in uncertain times.”

Photo: CIVD

One of the United States’ largest family-owned recreational vehicle dealership groups, Fun Town RV, has announced that Jason Lippert has been named as its new chief executive officer.

Jason Lippert, who stepped down as President and CEO of LCI Industries in June after 32 years with the company, will work alongside Jarrod McGhee, who has moved into the role of Founder and Chairman at the RV dealer chain, which has 32 different locations around the United States.

The appointment will see Fun Town RV headed up by two well-respected RV industry leaders with complementary skills and experience – Jason Lippert spent decades building LCI Industries into a multibillion-dollar public company, while Jarrod McGhee grew Fun Town from a single dealership into a multi-state network.

“This is an important new chapter for Fun Town RV,” said McGhee. “We have built this company by working hard, moving quickly, taking care of our customers, and never losing the entrepreneurial spirit that got us here. Jason understands this industry at a level very few people do; even more importantly, he understands people, structure, leadership, culture and what it takes to build an organisation for long-term success and sustainability.

“Bringing his experience and leadership to Fun Town RV gives us an opportunity to take what we have built and make it significantly stronger.  Getting from one store to 32 required one set of skills.

“Getting from where we are today to where we believe Fun Town RV can ultimately go requires us to keep evolving. Jason has already helped build and lead an organisation at a scale far beyond where we are today. That experience is incredibly valuable as we think about the next decade of Fun Town.”

Lippert added: “Fun Town RV is a remarkable entrepreneurial success story, and what Jarrod and his team have built is extremely difficult to replicate.

“To grow from one location to 32 dealerships, largely through organic growth, requires tremendous energy, conviction and an exceptional understanding of the consumer. I have known and collaborated with Jarrod for over a decade and watched them become one of the dominant players in the retail side of this great industry, and I see an enormous opportunity to combine Fun Town’s entrepreneurial DNA with the operating disciplines and organisational capabilities that can help a great company become even better.  I feel I will bring an energy level, experience and passion to the Fun Town family that will help get them to the next level.

“I’m excited to work alongside Jarrod and the entire Fun Town team. My focus will be on our people, our customers and building the infrastructure that allows Fun Town to continue growing without losing what makes their business unique.  I know I can help Fun Town become one of the most coveted and respected dealership franchises in the entire industry as we look to innovate and improve the entire customer ownership experience.”

Fun Town RV says this appointment will help it realise its ambition to build upon its successful entrepreneurial foundation and create an organisation capable of operating at substantially greater scale.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]The RV Industry Association’s survey of recreational vehicle manufacturers in the United States for July 2026 has revealed that 19,948 units were shipped during the month. This figure is around 11.9 per cent down on the 22,633 units shipped in July 2025, as the market generally shows signs of consolidation and stabilisation. For the seven months of January to July 2026, 183,592 RV shipments have been recorded in the United States, which is 13.9 per cent down on the 213,338 recorded for the same period last year. In July 2026’s figures, towable RVs led the way with 17,754 shipments (-9.8 per cent year on year), while motorhomes recorded 2,194 unit shipments (-25.6 per cent year on year). Park Model RVs finished July up 29.7 per cent compared to the same month last year, with 410 wholesale shipments. To date, park model RVs are up 24.5 per cent with 3,015 units shipped. Graph and data: RV Industry Association[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

More than 85,000 people attended the preview day and opening weekend of the 2026 edition of Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The strong start to this year’s show, which is slightly down from the almost 90,000 who attended the opening weekend in 2025, is a clear indicator that the enthusiasm for caravanning and the mobile tourism lifestyle remains as strong as ever, according to organisers.

“Mobile leisure is much more than a certain way of going on holiday today. It stands for the freedom to decide for yourself when and where to travel and how to design your holiday. It is precisely this diversity that people experience here at the Caravan Salon. Interested parties will find a unique overview of vehicles, products and current developments and can buy their dream vehicle directly on site,” said Show Director Stefan Koschke.

Running from 28 August to 6 September, this year’s Caravan Salon is hosting 834 different exhibitors from 41 different countries, showcasing its credentials as a truly international platform for the caravanning industry.

The large crowds on the opening three days brought advice from the show organisers for the remainder of the show, with Stefan Koschke adding: “For the second weekend, we recommend all guests to use public transport due to the expected high number of visitors or to book a fixed parking ticket directly on arrival by car.”

Check out Aboutcamp BtoB issue 52 for a full Calon Salon preview.

Photo: Messe Düsseldorf / Tillmann

The members of the Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD) have elected Bernd Löher as President of the industry association. This marks Löher’s second term at the helm of the CIVD, having previously served as President from 2023 until early 2026. As part of the regular Board elections, Alexander Leopold, Thomas Siegert and Jürgen Vöhringer were confirmed in their positions. Jan Francke and Matjaž Grm were newly elected to the association’s highest governing body.

With Bernd Löher, Director Business Development at Eura Mobil GmbH and Trigano Deutschland, an experienced industry professional once again takes the leadership of the CIVD. Löher has more than two decades of experience in the caravanning industry and has been actively involved in various association bodies for many years. From 2020 to 2023, as a member of the CIVD Executive Board, he was responsible for Finance, before serving as President from 2023 until early 2026. “I would like to thank the CIVD members, also on behalf of the entire Executive Board, for the great trust they have placed in us. The caravanning industry has developed extremely successfully in recent years and has impressively demonstrated its enormous appeal. At the same time, we are facing important economic, political and technological challenges,” said Bernd Löher. “Our task as an Executive Board is to work together with the association’s members to create the right framework conditions for the continued successful development of the caravanning industry. We want to represent the interests of our industry with a strong voice, promote innovation and consistently strengthen the long-term future of our sector.”

Thomas Siegert of Westfalia Mobil GmbH will take on the role of Vice President. He was confirmed in his position on the Executive Board, as were Alexander Leopold of Erwin Hymer Group SE and Jürgen Vöhringer of Vöhringer GmbH & Co. KG. Bernhard Kibler of Dethleffs GmbH & Co. KG chose not to stand for re-election. The previous Vice President, Dr. Holger Siebert, also did not seek another term due to his retirement. With Jan Francke of Erwin Hymer Group SE and Matjaž Grm of Knaus Tabbert AG, two further experienced executives from the caravanning industry have now joined the CIVD Executive Board.

New Executive Board assigns responsibilities

At its inaugural meeting, the newly elected CIVD Executive Board agreed on the allocation of responsibilities. In addition to overseeing Technology, Environment and Infrastructure, Thomas Siegert will serve as Vice President. Alexander Leopold remains responsible for Exports, while Jürgen Vöhringer will continue to represent the interests of the supplier industry. Jan Francke will take over responsibility for Finance, while Matjaž Grm will oversee Public Relations.

Jan Francke and Matjaž Grm join the CIVD Executive Board

Jan Francke, COO of the Erwin Hymer Group, has joined the CIVD Executive Board for the first time. “Being elected to the CIVD Executive Board is a great honour for me and, at the same time, an exciting responsibility. I would like to thank the members for the trust they have placed in me,” said Jan Francke. “A strong and well-positioned association is of central importance to our industry. The CIVD brings together the different players in our sector, represents their shared interests and provides important impetus for the industry’s further development. I look forward to contributing my experience and working together with my fellow Board members and the association’s members to secure the long-term competitiveness and attractiveness of our industry.”

Also newly elected to the Executive Board is Matjaž Grm, CSO of Knaus Tabbert AG, who will take responsibility for the association’s Public Relations activities. “I would like to sincerely thank the CIVD members for their trust and am very pleased to have been elected to the Executive Board. Caravanning stands for freedom, individuality and a unique way of travelling. This fascination is attracting more and more people. Making it visible, while also convincingly communicating the social and economic importance of our industry, is one of the CIVD’s key responsibilities,” said Grm. “In recent years, the association has carried out highly successful communication and marketing activities. I look forward to continuing along this path together with the Executive Board and the CIVD team and to further strengthening the visibility and appeal of our industry.”

Dr. Holger Siebert steps down after 28 years on the Executive Board

With the retirement of Dr. Holger Siebert, the CIVD is saying farewell to one of the most influential figures in the caravanning industry. His career in the sector began at Bürstner. He later spent many years as Managing Director of Eura Mobil, playing a major role in the company’s successful development. Dr. Siebert had been a member of the CIVD Executive Board since 1998 and, for almost three decades, contributed his extensive industry expertise to the association’s work as the Board member responsible for Public Relations. In recognition of his exceptional commitment to the association and the caravanning industry, the CIVD awarded Dr. Siebert its Gold Medal of Honour, the association’s highest distinction, during the General Assembly.

In his tribute, former CIVD President Hermann Pfaff praised Dr. Siebert not only as a highly knowledgeable industry expert and an important contributor to the association’s development, but above all as a personality who has shaped both the CIVD and the caravanning industry on a personal level over several decades.

As Caravan Salon 2026 opens its doors, recreational vehicle components expert AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group is using the platform to reveal a new brand identity.

From this show onwards, the company is consolidating its brand identity under the name AL-KO VT – a move that it says brings a stronger focus and clear brand architecture.

This change means that brands that have previously operated under their own independent identities, such as E&P, SAWIKO, de Haan, Winterhoff, ALKO VTE, CBE, Nordelettronica, and Toptron, will be gradually integrated into the AL-KO VT brand.

The brands managed by AL-KO VT Australia will also be part of this consolidation and will be grouped under AL-KO VT in future.

Brand architecture is also being streamlined across other divisions of the company, with the hydraulics division that currently includes CERMA and Fluid-Press to be merged under the SAFIM brand, while Brink will remain the brand for the Towbar business unit.

This leaves a future with three clearly defined brands: AL-KO VT for the core business and as a brand of the group, SAFIM for hydraulics, and Brink for towbars.

AL-KO VT stressed that this change relates only to brand identity, and that the organisations, areas of expertise and locations behind the brands, as well as the existing product and service portfolio, will not be affected. Customers and partners will continue to have access to their usual points of contact and services.

“With the new brand architecture, we are consolidating our expertise under strong, clearly positioned international brands. With AL-KO VT, we are making it even clearer what we stand for: innovative and reliable vehicle technology solutions for our customers and partners worldwide,” explains Jörn von Ahlen, Head of Marketing at the AL-KO VT Group.

German company Frankana Freiko will be using its presence at the upcoming Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf to demonstrate how modern camping accessories, technical expertise and a strong specialist retail network can work together effectively.

The company, which will be located at booth C13 in Hall 14, will be showcasing the latest additions to its range, including products from the HighQ range, coolers from Waeco and Truma, as well as selected new products featured in the current trade fair magazine.

It will also be presenting products that help cater to the latest trends in the caravanning and camping world, such as power supply, batteries, inverters, electrical equipment, and sanitation from leading brands such as Juicetray and Renogy.

A statement by the company said: “For the technically sophisticated products from Juicetray and Renogy in particular, Frankana Freiko relies on distribution through specialist retail partners and qualified workshops. This is because the right product, expert advice and professional installation go hand in hand.”

This focus on speciality retailers will be further highlighted by the promotion of Frankana Freiko’s online B2C catalogue, where consumers can select the products they want and then choose their most convenient specialist retailer to purchase them from – payment is made in the shop.

This ‘pick online and buy local’ strategy combines the benefits of digital product search with personal advice, the right product selection and, where required, direct access to a qualified specialist workshop.

Another key focus of the company’s development is EMAS – the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. As part of the implementation of the European environmental management system, Frankana Freiko has carried out a comprehensive assessment of its environmental impact – from energy and water consumption to materials and waste streams.

This process has resulted in more than 400 individual action points, which are being addressed step by step. Regular internal and external audits support the process. For Frankana Freiko, EMAS is therefore not a one-off project, but a long-term commitment to continuously improving its environmental performance.

Frankana Freiko will also be sharing its trade fair presence with the team from Camping Unterstützungs Programm Europa (CUPE), or the Camping Support Programme Europe.

The latest round of tariffs between the United States and Canada does not appear, at this stage, to have a direct additional impact on Canadian-manufactured RVs entering the US market. However, the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA) is following developments closely as broader trade tensions between the two countries continue.

Following a request for comment from Aboutcamp BtoB, Shane Devenish, President of the CRVA, said the association was disappointed that Canada and the United States had been unable to reach an agreement before the latest tariffs came into effect.

“The Canadian and US RV industries have benefited from free and open trade for decades. Our industries are highly integrated, our companies do business on both sides of the border, and ultimately we believe the best outcome for manufacturers, dealers and consumers in both countries is a return to tariff-free trade,” Devenish said.

According to CRVA’s current understanding, the new 50 per cent Section 338 tariffs do not impose an additional tariff on Canadian-manufactured RVs entering the United States: “At the present time, our understanding is that the new 50 per cent Section 338 tariffs do not impose an additional tariff on Canadian-manufactured RVs entering the United States,” Devenish added. “However, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely, particularly as additional tariff measures and possible Canadian retaliatory measures are being discussed.”

The comments follow the introduction, on August 22, of 50 per cent US tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of selected Canadian goods after negotiations between Washington and Ottawa failed to produce an agreement. The measures had been delayed by three days in an effort to give both sides additional time to negotiate.

President Donald Trump subsequently said on August 24 that tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel would be raised to 50 per cent from January 1, 2027. Further details have not yet been released. For the RV sector, the immediate impact appears limited. The industry will nevertheless be watching the situation, particularly because manufacturing and supply chains in the United States and Canada are closely connected across a wide range of components, materials and vehicle-related products.

Canada has also announced plans for retaliatory tariffs beginning on September 8, with measures expected to cover goods including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics. A full list has yet to be published. The US measures are based on Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which allows the President to impose additional duties in response to trade practices considered discriminatory or disadvantageous to US commerce.

Devenish (pictured above) also expressed the hope that the dispute would not develop into a broader deterioration in relations between the two countries: “More broadly, we do not want to see this dispute escalate into further tariffs or damaging rhetoric between our two countries. Canadians and Americans have been neighbours, trading partners and friends for generations, and that relationship extends well beyond business.

“Our citizens travel across the border, camp together and enjoy each other’s destinations. We hope both governments can lower the temperature, return to the negotiating table and focus on rebuilding the strong economic and personal relationship that has benefited both countries for so long.”

The United States' RV Industry has also released a comment about the trade deal break down, they said: “The RV Industry Association reviewed the complete, unfiltered list of all 874 tariff items for finished-unit HS codes covering motorhomes (8703.23/24/33/40/50/60/70), vehicle bodies (8707.10), slide-in campers (8708.99), and camping/travel trailers (8716.10). None of these codes appear anywhere on the September 8 list. The only Chapter 87 (vehicles) items present are motorcycles (8711.50) and goods/livestock/farm trailers (8716.39). Canada's pre-existing 25 per cent surtax on U.S.-origin motor vehicles (in place since April 2025) is a separate, ongoing measure with a more nuanced picture.”

For now, the new measures appear to have limited direct consequences for the RV industry, but the sector will continue to monitor any further changes affecting vehicles, components and cross-border trade.

Main photo: CRVA