by Tom Evans
A couple of weeks ago we heard that the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany, the world’s largest caravan show, was expecting record numbers. The latest news suggests the organisers aren’t resting on their laurels and aim to make it the biggest yet.
The event, held at Dusseldorf Messe, will play host to 600 exhibitors, with over 130 Caravan and Motorhome manufacturers in attendance. To squeeze it all in this year, the event is spilling over into a 13th exhibition hall, in the past we’ve already seen it overflow into the outdoor exhibition space at the Messe too. To put that into figures, you’ll have to cover 214,000 square metres to see all of the 2100 vehicles on show.
To help anyone planning on navigating such a mammoth exhibition, the Caravan Salon team have given us a rundown of the latest trends we can expect to see on show. Here’s what they had to say.
“Caravanning as a form of holiday-making is enjoying a constant rise in
popularity. The sector is undergoing a real boom and the outlook for 2017 is
bright. We are looking to this year’s fair with lots of optimism and hope to
follow on from last year’s record results,” explains Stefan Koschke, Director
of the CARAVAN SALON. At the CARAVAN SALON recreational vehicles of
all types and sizes are on show. In Düsseldorf every caravanning enthusiast
will find their personal dream vehicle: from compact “iconic” caravans and
spacious motor homes for families to luxury mobile homes.
This year’s edition of CARAVAN SALON Düsseldorf is sure to once again
live up to its reputation and renown for presenting innovative products and
world premiers. For both motor caravans and caravans, the trend toward
greater comfort continues apace, because for people who opt to holiday in a
leisure vehicle, optimal comfort and an uncomplicated holiday experience are
paramount. Among the key factors that come into play here are the use of
ultra-modern materials in today’s leisure vehicles – and in particular the
integration of electronic devices that make using a leisure vehicle all the
more comfortable and convenient. Virtually all devices in leisure vehicles can
be operated safely via a main, intuitive control panel, where users can view
the charging status of batteries and the filling level of water tanks –
oftentimes using a smartphone app. And when it comes to parking, today’s
leisure vehicles are outfitted with extremely helpful electronic amenities such
as rear-view cameras and caravan maneuvering systems, which save a
great deal of physical effort and can be operated via remote control. “Today’s
customers are looking for leisure vehicles that feature better than ever and
high-quality equipment, and are ready and willing to pay more for greater
comfort and safety,” says Daniel Onggowinarso, Chief Executive of Caravaning Industrie Verband e.V. (CIVD).
This also holds true for driving comfort and convenience. Here, helpful
amenities that are also found in passenger cars come into play such as lane
guard systems (LGS), hill start aids, and distance warning devices. Such
features make the use of leisure vehicles not only more comfortable and
convenient, but also safer.
Individuality and independence are the elements that make leisure vehicle
holidays so special. This aspect is also reflected in leisure vehicle designs.
For example, customers are increasingly interested in obtaining
individualized equipment for their leisure vehicles – a need that leisure
vehicle manufacturers are meeting by offering an ever-growing portfolio of
products. Thus, for example, for production models there is already a
growing range of options in terms of layouts, cabin amenities, and various
equipment options. The dominant trend in terms of upholstery and furnishing
design is the interplay of brighter and lighter color schemes and darker and
more elegant looking materials.
In the interest of ensuring that leisure vehicles handle well on the road
despite the added optional equipment, leisure vehicle makers are turning to
ever lighter-weight materials. For example, paper honeycomb elements are
being used in lieu of heavier wood elements, and innovative adhesive bonds
are replacing heavier metallic bolts. At the same time, leisure vehicles are in
many cases more compact than they used to be. For a number of years now,
sales have been particularly robust in the conversion van segment. Despite
their compact dimensions, these vehicles feature a full complement of
amenities. Last year, conversion vans accounted for the lion’s share of motor
caravan production.
I think you’ll agree there’s plenty to look forward to and the CaravanTimes team cant wait to see what new Leisure-Tech is in store for us.
Le tus know in the comments what you’re looking forward to seeing at shows this year.
