Caravan with 2.5 kWh battery: Finnish high-tech trailer from Karoo

The Kaukkila family from Pori and the Laihinen couple made separate motorhome trips to northern Finland. The family of four (parents and children aged 13 and 4) spent two weeks in the North Calotte region, where the sun did not set. Both trips were affected by injuries: Kari Kaukkila was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing in Pori in early June, breaking his collarbone, while his wife used crutches. The Laihinen couple also faced injuries. Despite this, both trips were successful.

The Caravan 2026 show will be held from 24 to 27 September 2026 at the Lahti Exhibition Centre. The four-day event will present next season's motorhomes, caravans and campervans, along with equipment and services. The theme is 'For All Roads'. Organisers are Eventum Lahti Oy and the Association of Motorhome Importers (MAT) ry. A Vanlife day will take place on Saturday 26 September, and DogFest on Sunday 27 September.

The third season of the Finnish documentary series Van Life premieres on September 20, 2026, on Yle TV2. The series follows a woman named Aino who has lived in an orange van for several years. In the new season, she decides to renovate the vehicle because daily use has revealed impractical solutions. Filming takes place in Norway, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Portugal. In the sixth episode, Aino ends her journey by the Atlantic Ocean.

At the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, the Finnish Karoo caravan prototype was presented, featuring an aerodynamic design that reduces drag by 50% compared to conventional models. When towed by an electric vehicle, consumption is about 30 kWh per 100 km, and a test trip from Helsinki through Lapland to Norway required a charging stop every 250 km. The caravan features a fully opening side wall, a pull-out kitchen module, a bathroom with shower, and smart home systems. The base price is €37,000, with optional equipment bringing the total to around €45,000. Production is set to begin early next year, with first deliveries before the summer season.

Rural associations in Finnish Lapland are building paid parking areas for motorhomes at former wild camping spots to manage uncontrolled overnight stays. In Madetkoski, a former wild parking area was upgraded with Leader programme support, including waste water tanks and a locked firewood store. The renovation cost less than 30,000 euros; last season the association earned about 1,000 euros from overnight fees. A similar site in Tennilä, Rovaniemi, saw visitor numbers rise from 14 to over 30 in a year.

Rural associations in Finnish Lapland are building paid camper parking areas to regulate uncontrolled overnight stays. In Sodankylä, the former informal parking area at Madetkoski has been upgraded with waste tanks and a locked firewood shed. The renovation cost less than €30,000. Last season, the association earned about €1,000 from overnight fees. A similar parking area in Tennilä village attracted over 30 visitors this year.