Caravan Trends: From Luxury Motorhomes to Self-Sufficient Off-Road RVs

In the first seven months of 2026, 63,329 new motorhomes and caravans were registered in Germany, 3% fewer than in the same period last year, according to the Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD). The decline follows a 2.3% drop in 2025. Weak economic conditions are prompting consumers to postpone large purchases, while manufacturers still have unsold vehicles produced in response to pandemic-era demand. Despite the downturn, the industry sees it as a normal correction, and the number of registered recreational vehicles has doubled between 2015 and 2025 to about 1.8 million.

A motorhome caught fire in Rieste while traveling to the Alfsee. The occupants, a mother and her two children, escaped just in time before the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported.

Max Kleesattel, a 27-year-old from Schwäbisch Gmünd who recently ended his career as a professional climber, travels across Europe in a self-converted camper based on a Peugeot Boxer. He invested around 250 hours of work and 30,000 euros in the conversion, installing a bed, wardrobe, oven, fridge, sink, outdoor shower tank, solar panel, and chemical toilet. Over his trips in various campers, he has covered nearly 100,000 kilometers without a breakdown. He plans to drive to the North Cape in Norway soon, then start training as a professional firefighter in Heilbronn.

The Gravelotte campsite on Lake Kummerow in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is popular among tourists. Families with children appreciate the friendly staff, well-kept grounds, and the on-site snack bar. Some guests stay for the season, others for weekends, and one seasonal camper keeps a 102-year-old wooden boat there.

According to the Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD), new registrations of motorhomes and caravans in Germany fell by 3% to 63,329 units in the first seven months of 2026. The previous year saw a decline of 2.3%. The downturn is attributed to weak economic conditions and high prices, as well as unsold inventories from the pandemic period. Motorhome registrations dropped by 3.3% to 50,118, while caravan registrations fell by 1.9% to 13,211.

Car camping means sleeping in your own car without converting it into a motorhome. According to ADAC, about 40% of German drivers have slept in their car at least once. To start, you only need a mattress, a sleeping bag, and window shades. Note that in Italy, sleeping in a vehicle outside campsites is almost entirely prohibited, with fines ranging from 100 to 500 euros.