Travel and camping show in Essen displays industry trends

At the campsite in Lösnich (Moselle, Germany), motorhome owners faced systematic noise and dangerous maneuvers from jet skis. According to campsite cashier Carolin Müller, some guests left due to unbearable noise lasting from morning to evening, Friday through Sunday. The Trier water police acknowledge the difficulty of catching offenders: their large vessels are visible from afar, and the quality of amateur videos often fails to identify license plates or faces. In response, police have increased patrols by car along the shore and use radar to record speed violations and dangerous maneuvers.

In Dechsendorf, a tree fell onto a caravan during a thunderstorm. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred at the Dechsendorfer Weiher lake.

Knaus has launched the new Nordwind series, positioned above the well-known Südwind. The first model, Nordwind 660 PXB, is built on a twin-axle AL-KO chassis with a gross weight of 2500 kg. It features Alde Compact 3020 water heating, an L-shaped kitchen with an induction hob, and a 153-liter compressor fridge. Base price in Germany starts at around €49,000.

Standard navigation apps like Google Maps do not account for the specific needs of motorhomes, motorcycles, bicycles, or public transport. Specialized apps address these requirements. For motorhome owners, park4night helps find overnight parking, including campsites and free spots, with filtering by services. Motorcyclists can use Calimoto to find routes with more curves and fewer traffic lights. Bikemap for cyclists prioritizes bike paths and shows e-bike charging stations. For watercraft, Canua provides data on over 5,000 navigable waterways in Europe with navigation rules. Citymapper for public transport advises which car to board for faster transfers and alerts about delays.

Be Cool has launched the BC5CSKL26 split air conditioner for motorhomes and campervans. The unit is available at the CHIP Store for €449 (RRP €599). It consists of indoor and outdoor units connected by a pre-assembled 1-meter hose and is installed through a window. Cooling capacity is 1,472 W with power consumption of 546 W; it offers cooling, fan, and dehumidifier modes, controlled via display or app. Limitations: mounting fits walls up to 55 mm thick, no window seal included, power cable is 1.8 m long.

Bürstner has expanded its Signature line with a semi-integrated motorhome based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The SMT model will debut at the Caravan Salon 2026, with a starting price of around €94,000. It features a 150 hp Mercedes Sprinter engine, nine-speed automatic transmission, MBUX system, and AL-KO low-frame chassis with a double floor. Two floor plans are available: twin single beds (SMT 7.0) and a queen-size bed (SMT 7.4), with an optional electric drop-down bed.