12 exciting accessory innovations at Caravan Salon 2026: Making campers smarter

On Sunday, a motorhome plunged about six meters down an embankment at the Rheinaue parking lot near the B9 highway. According to police, the driver, while parking forward, confused the accelerator and brake pedals, drove over a curb and down the slope, where the vehicle tipped onto its side. The driver and a female passenger were injured and received medical treatment.

Following a WOCHENBLATT report highlighting a discrepancy between the mayor's advice and actual parking rules, the municipality of Grünendeich quickly removed two signs that prohibited motorhomes from parking at alternative lots. Motorhome drivers can now use these lots at the standard car rate of €1.20 per half hour, making short stops at the Lühe ferry terminal more affordable.

Germany has become Europe's leading caravanning nation, with the industry generating €43 billion in revenue and employing 120,000 people. In 2025, 44.7 million overnight stays were recorded at 9,200 campsites, double the figure from 2005. Since 2020, motorhome parking fees have risen 32.2% and campsite charges 28.7%, outpacing inflation (21.9%). The Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf is scheduled for August 28 to September 6.

On Monday morning in Appel, Harburg district, a motorhome parked in a carport burned out completely. Around 10:45 a.m., passers-by noticed smoke coming from the Malibu vehicle, which could not be opened. The fire spread quickly to trees, the carport and bushes. Volunteer firefighters from Hollenstedt and Moisburg extinguished the blaze using foam. The owner estimated the original value of the motorhome at more than 70,000 euros. Police are investigating a possible technical defect.

A German publication has released a detailed checklist for preparing to leave a campsite in a motorhome, camper, or caravan. The list covers securing the interior, checking the gas cylinder, external equipment, and hitch for trailers, aiming to prevent common mistakes like leaving a window open or the gas valve unclosed.

On Sunday morning, a motorhome and a car collided on the A1 near Wildeshausen. According to police, a 70-year-old man driving a motorhome towards Osnabrück failed to notice in time that a 40-year-old woman in a car was slowing down, and rear-ended her. Both drivers sustained minor injuries. The vehicles were towed away, and the damage is estimated at around 30,000 euros.