The new Volkswagen California. With its brother the Grand California, they are among the best-selling vans in France.
It’s a tradition. At the time of the leisure vehicle show, which was held at the end of September at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center, the profession is taking stock of the past year. And curiously, during the event, the exhibitors all looked happy.
It’s simple: when car manufacturers cry, van, van and motorhome manufacturers laugh. And for good reason. Sales of mobile homes increased by 8.16% between August 2023 and the same month of this year, while conversely, car sales in August alone were down by 16. 5%. But, obviously, not all types of models are in the same boat.
Motorhomes are on the rise, but vans dominate
If everything that drives with a bed and a dinette in the back is on the rise, we are seeing a real return of affection for this good old motorhome, to the detriment of vans and vans. Sales of the former increased by 12.90%, while those of the latter only increased by 4.76%. But let’s make no mistake: more than half of the market is still made up of vans and vans.
But what can explain this renewed interest in camper vans and the disaffection, in part at least, for vans and their little brothers the vans, while the folklore of vanlife has made large machines obsolete since years?
According to the professionals met at the show, several reasons explain this turnaround. Many van owners deplore the height of their vehicles (more than 2 m) which does not allow them to access any parking lot. However, they had acquired these vehicles because they are more maneuverable than a camper van.
In addition, they went on a slimming diet. The current fashion for narrow profiles makes them shorter, narrower and easier to maneuver, almost as much as vans. Except that they are more habitable than the latter and, more or less, are sold at the same prices, which have fallen. Today this new type of motorhome starts at around 50,000 to 60,000 euros.
In this euphoria, however, there is one area that looks gloomy: it is the second-hand market. It is down 3.93%. This decline is ultimately a sign of good health for manufacturers and their dealers. This is because, until 2023, manufacturing times, and therefore delivery times, were so long that customers fell back on second-hand models. It’s over. Dealers have stock, sometimes too much. As a result, not only are enthusiasts served quickly, but they also benefit from small discounts on new items, saving them from having to resort to second-hand purchases.
Volkswagen tops sales
In these statistics provided by the leisure vehicle union, we also find the Top 5 of carriers, vans and motorhomes combined. By “carrier” we of course mean the utility vehicle which serves as the basis for the vehicle. And without mystery, as has been the case for a good ten years, the Fiat Ducato takes the cake, with 33.9% of market share. Behind him, in second position, we find the excellent Ford Transit. The French share the last three steps, with the Citroën Jumper, the Renault Master and the Peugeot Boxer.
Finally, in terms of specialized manufacturers, Volkswagen is very surprisingly in the lead, with its California and Grand California which are far from being the cheapest. The German is ahead of Chausson and Challenger. So you don’t have to be a member of the elite to win.
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