Volkswagen unveils electric California and inflatable camping concept

Volkswagen will present the ID. California Cruise electric camper concept at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, opening on August 28. Based on the ID. Buzz, the concept is not yet a production model. The company also developed with Stuff Bubble a detachable inflatable kitchen weighing under 10 kg and a flexible bed measuring about 200x134 cm for the California Beach. Battery, power, range, and pricing details remain undisclosed.

Along the A3 motorway, from the Dutch border to Austria, 21 stopover sites for motorhomes have been identified. All are located so that the detour does not exceed 25 minutes round trip. Options include free lakeside parking, winery stops, and dealer sites with service facilities.

According to an ACSI study, 90 out of 10,000 European campsites are adults-only. Their number grew by 41% in five years, from 64 in 2021. Most are in the UK (40), the Netherlands (23) and France (13). Germany has four, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria and Brandenburg. Eight of the 90 sites also ban dogs. Family camping remains popular: family showers increased by 25%, indoor playgrounds by 9%, and water playgrounds by 44% since 2021. German courts have allowed private campsites to exclude children.

The camping.info app helps find available campsites across Europe and book them directly. It lists over 23,000 campsites and 18,000 pitches, with nearly 2,200 in Germany. A live availability system is being rolled out gradually, enabling operators to manage occupancy and travelers to see real-time availability.

German camper converter SpaceCamper from Darmstadt has created four variants of the Volkswagen Caravelle to mark its 20th anniversary, involving about 350 owners in the design process. The most notable is the Classic+Dog version, featuring a dog bed in a cutout of the main bed, with a ramp, spill-proof water bowl, shower, and ventilation with temperature monitoring via smartphone. Other versions include the Classic+ Bike for carrying bicycles and the Classic+ 6.Sitz with an extra removable seat. A toilet-equipped model will be unveiled at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf at the end of August.

In Varel, unknown perpetrators broke into a motorhome parked on Emil-Heeder-Straße since late July. The incident was discovered on Monday afternoon. The thieves pried open a door, searched the interior, and stole cash. Police are seeking witnesses and ask to call 04451 923-0.