Camping at Lake Kummerow attracts families

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.

WDR reports on current trends in the caravanning sector. Key developments include growing demand for luxury motorhomes and fully self-sufficient off-road RVs designed for extended travel in remote areas. The feature is available until 19.08.2028.

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.