A lot happened in the motorhome world this past week: Xiaomi announced its entry into the camper market with the SkyNomad hybrid SUVs; at the Tokyo show on 11–12 July Japanese brands revealed dozens of new models; in Antalya 80% of caravan makers shut down; and two Indonesian retirees, aged 65 and 61, set off in a camper from Tangerang on a journey all the way to Europe.
The week's highlights
- Xiaomi registered the SkyNomad sub-brand in China along with four hybrid SUV-camper models, the N70 and N90; the top version got a pop-up roof and up to 500 km of electric-only range.
- At the Tokyo Camping Car Show 2026 (11–12 July) Japanese brands showed dozens of new models — from the Toy Factory Da Vinci 5.4 camper at 15.84 million yen to the first electric camper from Direct Cars, built on the Kia PV5.
- A blown tyre in the Netherlands' Westerscheldetunnel set a caravan on fire — and it wasn't the only trailer blaze in Europe that summer week.
- In Antalya around 80% of caravan manufacturers closed down: after the pandemic boom, the industry was hit by rising raw-material prices and a shortage of skilled workers.
- Two retirees from Indonesia — Teuku Faisal (65) and Indriati (61) — set off on 13 July from South Tangerang on a round-the-world camper trip, with a plan to reach Europe.
Xiaomi enters the motorhome market: the SkyNomad sub-brand and the N70 and N90 hybrid SUV-campers
Xiaomi — the Chinese maker of smartphones and consumer electronics that has, over the past couple of years, become a notable carmaker too — registered a new sub-brand called SkyNomad in China, along with four models at once. The key ones are the N70 and N90 SUVs, and the top N90 Max version got a pop-up roof and built-in camping equipment. For the industry this is bigger than just another launch from a niche builder: a giant that knows how to make gear cheaply and in very large batches is entering the motorhome market.
According to the specs, the N90 is a 5.28-metre-long SUV with a hybrid powertrain: a 1.5-litre turbo engine works as a generator and charges the battery, while the wheels are driven by two electric motors with a combined 422 hp. Electric-only range runs from 370 to 500 km depending on the version, and the petrol generator removes the biggest headache of an electric camper — the fear of being left without a socket out in the middle of nowhere. Xiaomi also announced a "camper" version of the Pengcheng N90 with the same pop-up roof.
For now this is only a registration of the models in China, and these vehicles won't reach Europe or other markets any time soon. But the direction is set: if tech giants like Xiaomi start making campers the way they make smartphones — at scale and at aggressive prices — traditional manufacturers will have to either cut prices or offer what a mass-production giant can't: hand assembly, service and reputation. For the buyer, in the long run, that's mostly good news.
What this means for you
If you've been dreaming of an affordable electric camper and waiting for prices to come down, players like Xiaomi entering the market work in your favour: competition drives prices down over time and pushes technology forward, like the hybrid-with-generator setup that removes the fear of running flat far from a socket. But don't rush to put off a purchase waiting for a "Chinese miracle": these models are so far registered only in China, and it could be years before sales, service and spare parts arrive in Europe. If you need a motorhome for this season, get a proven vehicle with clear warranty support close to home. And if you're just watching the market — keep in mind that the balance of power over the next few years is likely to shift, and dealers of traditional brands will become more flexible on price.
In brief
- Japan, show: the Tokyo Camping Car Show 2026 ran on 11–12 July, where Toy Factory showed its new Da Vinci 5.4 camper on the Fiat Ducato priced at 15.84 million yen.
- Japan, EVs: Direct Cars unveiled the DC EVLIFE electric camper based on the Kia PV5 — five seats and two berths, with 100-volt sockets.
- USA, market slump: Colorado-based DM Vans sold out its entire 2026 model year three months ahead of schedule — against a 14.4% drop in wholesale shipments across the industry.
- USA, new model: Grand Design RV revealed the Class C Lineage Series E on the Ford E-450 chassis — with a 7.3-litre V8, FOX suspension and a king-size bed; deliveries from mid-July.
- Germany, anniversary: for its 20 years in Europe, Airstreamⓘ released a limited-edition 534 caravan with a 13,375-euro discount — with air conditioning and a lithium battery, priced at 112,850 euros.
- USA, off-grid: California startup Aboard showed a hybrid electric trailer, the T4, with up to 7 days off-grid — from 80,000 dollars, deliveries late this year.
- Japan, overnight stays: the Lawson convenience-store chain is expanding its sleep-in-your-car service in its car parks — from 17 July at roughly 30 locations, a night costing 2,500 yen.
- Germany, iconic brand: Volkswagen released a special edition of the California Ocean camper called Generation — with three engine options, priced from 91,309 euros.
- Turkey, crisis: in Antalya around 80% of caravan makers have closed — hit by rising raw-material prices and a shortage of skilled workers after the pandemic boom.
- USA, lightweight trailer: Aliner unveiled the Scout 15 folding trailer made of fibreglass — it unfolds in 30 seconds by one person, priced in the US from 15,500 euros.
- Spain, stays with private hosts: the RadarCamp platform for pitches on private land has launched — each host takes 1–2 guests, with the focus on local character.
- Japan, gear: Alpine released its first air conditioner for campers — the DC Cooler, rated at 2.6 kW and running off the onboard electrical system.
Where to go
France, July. If you've long wanted to drive across France in a motorhome but were put off by the logistics of overnight stops, this summer it's worth learning about the "Village étape" network: 79 villages across ten regions, marked with a special road sign bearing a motorhome pictogram. Dreamed up back in the 1990s, it's an alternative to faceless motorway rest areas: instead of parking by the road, you turn off into a living village with a café, a market and places to pitch. In July the Tour de France runs across the country, and a special atmosphere surrounds the route — caravanners stake out mountain passes like the Aspin in the Pyrenees in advance to catch the race. The format suits both a relaxed family trip with stops in villages and an active mountain route following the cycling race. The "Village étape" sign is free for those passing through and leads to the real France, not to yet another petrol station.
Take care
- Italy, roads: a tourist with a mini-caravan got stuck in a low underpass in Trieste, blindly trusting the sat-nav. Check the height and width of passages in advance, and don't turn into narrow streets just because the car's sat-nav tells you to.
- Europe, summer heat: several caravans caught fire in a single week, and a common cause is a blown tyre that set a caravan alight in the Westerscheldetunnel. Before a long drive, check the pressure and condition of your tyres, especially on a trailer that often sits idle.
- Germany, the B4 road: near Bad Bramstedt, an oncoming Dodge crossed into the lane and destroyed a trailer being towed by a VW Bus. Keep your distance and remember that an evasive manoeuvre is harder with a trailer — slow down on narrow country roads.
- UK, Stafford: the organiser of an illegal caravan site was given a two-month suspended sentence for breaching a court order. Don't set up unauthorised pitches on someone else's or protected land — in some countries that risks not just a fine but a criminal case.
Something good to end on
Two stories worth forwarding.
Retirees drive from Indonesia to Europe. Teuku Faisal Laksamana (65) and his wife Indriati (61) from South Tangerang didn't spend their retirement on the couch: on 13 July they set off on a round-the-world camper trip with a plan to reach Europe itself. Sometimes the best age for a big journey is the one you're at right now.
A home carved from a single log. In California, the "One Log House" has been restored and reopened to the public — a dwelling hollowed out inside the trunk of a giant redwood more than 2,100 years old. Around 10 metres long and over 4 in diameter, the trunk was once put on wheels — essentially the oldest "home on wheels" in the world.
This week's questions
What is the SkyNomad brand that Xiaomi has launched?
SkyNomad is a new sub-brand from the Chinese giant Xiaomi, under which the company is entering the motorhome market. The first models, the N70 and N90, are hybrid SUVs with a 1.5-litre turbo generator, and the top N90 Max version got a pop-up roof, camping equipment and up to 500 km of electric-only range. So far the models are registered only in China.
How do you avoid getting stuck in a low or narrow passage in a motorhome?
Don't rely on the car's sat-nav alone — it often ignores height and weight. Look up your vehicle's dimensions in advance (its height including the air conditioner and roof box) and plan your route in apps for trucks and campers, where you can set height and mass. If a narrow street or a tunnel with no height sign lies ahead, it's better to go around than to get stuck, like the tourist with a caravan in Trieste.
What is the "Village étape" sign in France?
It's a French network of 79 villages across ten regions, marked with a special road sign bearing a motorhome pictogram. The sign was dreamed up back in the 1990s as an alternative to faceless motorway rest areas: it leads into a real village with a café, a shop and places to pitch. For those passing through it's free and convenient for an overnight stop along the way.
Why do caravans and trailers catch fire so often in summer?
One common cause is the tyres. A trailer sits idle for long stretches, the rubber ages and cracks, and on the road in the heat a blown tyre overheats and ignites the structure — that's exactly how the caravan caught fire in the Netherlands' Westerscheldetunnel. Before the season, check the age and pressure of your tyres, especially on the trailer, and keep a fire extinguisher within reach.
Is it true that the motorhome market is going through a slump?
In some countries, yes. In Antalya around 80% of caravan makers have closed, and in the US wholesale shipments fell 14.4% over the year. Yet demand hasn't gone anywhere: America's DM Vans sold out its entire 2026 model year early, and new players like Xiaomi are entering the market. The market isn't disappearing — it's reshaping, with the weak leaving and the strong and tech-savvy staying.
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