{
  "id": 553045,
  "title": "Camping fair: These are the most important innovations of the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/campingmesse-das-sind-die-wichtigsten-neuheiten-des-caravan-salons-in",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-11T09:44:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/mobilitaet/motor/caravan-salon-in-duesseldorf-das-sind-die-neuheiten-der-campingmesse/100246459.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Neither the high fuel costs nor the increased prices for new vehicles seem to diminish interest in traveling by motorhome and camper van. The demand is still high, explains Daniel Onggowinarso, managing director of the German Caravaning Association CIVD. And this - albeit small - increase in registrations for recreational vehicles in the first half of 2026, as well as the large turnout at the 65th Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf (August 28 to September 6), confirms this statement in practice.\n\nIn the case of recreational vehicles, manufacturers are challenged every time to cover a wide range of customer wishes. This ultimately leads to a veritable flood of new products that must be tailored to a large family just as much as to the needs of an active athlete, adventurer, or a senior couple looking for comfort. And clear trends can be identified here.\n\nMore four-wheel drive in demand\n\nThe increasing demand for four-wheel drive vehicles has led to the Düsseldorf trade fair management bundling the 4x4 colossi across brands in a separate off-road area.\n\nThe camper van CV 595 X-Edition, a four-wheel drive vehicle, is making its debut here, produced by the popular entry-level brand Carado, which belongs to the Erwin-Hymer Group.\n\nThe six-meter-long panel van with a transverse double bed at the rear, which is also available from the sister brand Sunlight as the identical model Ibex, is offered on the basis of the VW Crafter from €88,600.\n\nHowever, the Mercedes Sprinter has largely fueled the all-wheel drive scene, which in its current third generation offers excellent off-road capabilities at significantly lower surcharges.\n\nEven very price-conscious providers such as Pössl and Hannes-Camper had already introduced the Mercedes transporter in six-figure price regions last year.\n\nAutarky with electricity from the roof\n\nThe same applies to the successfully launched Eura Xtura, which was sold around 200 times in the first year as a chic adventure mobile at prices between €150,000 and €180,000 - and represents another important trend: Autarky.\n\nAlthough, except in Norway, it is not actually permitted to camp freely in any European country, motorhome enthusiasts seem to increasingly value the longest possible stand times without mains electricity.\n\nThis is made possible by solar cells on the roof and additional lithium batteries, which can generate electricity on board via an inverter.\n\nIf this is also used for an induction hob in larger models, in combination with the compressor refrigerators and diesel heaters that are increasingly being used (this too is a recognizable trend), the motorhome can be operated gas-free.\n\nHeavy gas cylinders can then be dispensed with.\n\nFrom the customer's desire for more comfortable washrooms, the trend towards combined wet cells with a large swing wall and even towards a new basic layout pattern with a wagon-wide rear bathroom has developed.\n\nThe sanitary area with an extra shower tray, toilet, and washbasin offers a lot of freedom of movement, but a rear garage has to be dispensed with.\n\nTraveling with a real queen-sized bed\n\nThis alternative to single or queen-sized bed layouts is, like the 6.40-meter-long, new semi-integrated Yrteo Y885 from the Spanish brand Benimar, almost exclusively combined with a hub bed for two people that can be lowered above the seating area.\n\nThe only exception: The new Hobby T740 WE places two laterally hinged single beds directly in front of the rear bathroom, but it is also a good meter longer than the Spanish motorhome.\n\nParticularly unusual floor plan ideas are presented by the French Rapido Group for the new model year.\n\nOnce with the camper van conversions Rapido V64 and Dreamer D64, which implement a real queen-sized bed in a 6.36-meter Fiat Ducato for the first time.\n\nAnd at the German Westfalia subsidiary, the Columbus Liner is celebrating its premiere, which includes the roof with roof terrace in the living area and is supposed to offer luxury on three levels on the same Fiat basis.\n\nOverall, however, the craze for panel vans has subsided slightly.\n\nThey still form the most popular type of motorhome with a share of over 50 percent.\n\nThe semi-integrated vehicles have gained the most in popularity with customers.\n\nAlso in the plus is the luxury class of integrated vehicles, which presents one of the highlights of the season with the Master Line of the Hymer B class.\n\nThe alcove plays an important role, especially for families and in rental, primarily due to the large space offered and the relatively low prices.\n\nThe completely renewed A699 from the entry-level brand Forster, for example, is offered in three versions with seven and even eight sleeping places from €59,000.\n\nElectromobility remains a niche phenomenon in camping\n\nCurrently, no trend can be identified in terms of electromobility.\n\nApart from a few purely electric conversions, such as the Eifelland camper van based on the Nissan Interstar-e, all studies from previous years presented with great optimism by Dethleffs, Knaus, and Bürstner have completely disappeared into obscurity.\n\nThe weight problem with the 3.5-ton limit could not be brought under control.\n\nIn the meantime, the new driving license directive with the increase in the weight limit to 4.25 tons has been approved by the European Parliament, but still needs to be implemented into national legislation.\n\nThis must be done by 2028, which is why it can be assumed that the development departments of the major manufacturers are already working on solutions behind the scenes.\n\nSolutions are also being sought by the caravan manufacturers.\n\nWith the exception of a small interim high during Corona, registrations have been declining for years.\n\nAlso this year.\n\nThe caravan sector seems threatened with extinction.\n\nHowever, ideas have not been lacking in the past.",
  "summary": "Interest in recreational vehicles and camper vans remains high. Which new features stand out in Düsseldorf and which sector is causing manufacturers concern.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}