A lot happened in the motorhome world last week: sales of new motorhomes and caravans in Germany fell for the third year in a row, while Munich-based camper van rental company Vanever filed for bankruptcy; Tenerife opened its fourth free waste disposal point, now also serving the north of the island; 18 citations were issued to motorhome owners in Sesimbra, Portugal, in a single day; and 137 vintage caravans gathered in Beaugency, France, with the oldest dating from 1934 and still roadworthy.
Last week's highlights
- Germany registered 63,329 new motorhomes and caravans in the first seven months of 2026, 3% fewer than a year earlier; motorhomes fell more sharply, down 3.3% to 50,118 vehicles.
- The Tenerife Island Council opened the first free public waste disposal and water refill point in the north of the island, at La Guancha, and the fourth on Tenerife; 166 caravan travellers used two of the previous facilities in their first month.
- On August 18, the environmental unit of Portugal's GNR police inspected an informal campsite in Sesimbra and issued 18 citations for improperly parked motorhomes.
- In Spain, camper vans over 10 years old must undergo a roadworthiness inspection every six months; reclassifying the vehicle as a motorhome reduces the frequency of inspections.
- From August 18 to 23, the French Retro Camping Club held its 30th gathering in Beaugency on the Loire: 137 caravans attended, the oldest built in 1934, and every one was roadworthy.
German motorhome sales fall for third year in a row
Germany is Europe's largest motorhome market, and its figures usually show where the entire industry is heading. CIVD, the German caravan industry association representing motorhome, caravan and equipment manufacturers, published statistics for the first seven months of 2026: 63,329 new registrations, 3% fewer than in the same period last year. Motorhome registrations fell by 3.3% to 50,118 vehicles, while caravans declined more gently, by 1.9% to 13,211. The market had already lost 2.3% in 2025, making this the third consecutive year of decline.
Two reasons are being cited, and both are straightforward. The first is a weak economy and high prices: people are simply postponing major purchases. The second is dealer inventory. Demand was so strong during the pandemic that manufacturers built up stock, and some of those vehicles remain unsold. The rental market is also under strain: Munich-based FreeVenture GmbH, operator of the Vanever motorhome rental platform, filed for bankruptcy on August 7. The court accepted the filing on August 12, and the company ceased operations on August 16. Reasons include higher fuel costs, changing customer behaviour and the termination of a contract with a key vehicle supplier. Customers who have already paid for a booking will need to file a claim in the bankruptcy process or seek help through their payment provider.
Yet the industry looks buoyant from the outside. The 65th Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, opening on August 28, has attracted more than 830 exhibitors, surpassing last year's record of 810, and expects a quarter of a million visitors. CIVD managing director Daniel Onggowinarso calls the situation a normal correction rather than a shrinking market. But a show with a record number of stands while demand is falling means one thing: competition for buyers is intensifying, and negotiating a better deal should become easier.
What this means for you
If you were planning to buy a new motorhome, this is a good year to negotiate. Dealers want to clear unsold 2024 and 2025 stock more than you want to buy it, while the record-sized show in Dusseldorf makes late autumn the best time to ask about a discount and complimentary extras. If you are looking at the used market, do not rush: when new vehicles become cheaper, prices for three- to five-year-old models tend to follow. If you plan to rent a camper van, Vanever's story is a direct warning: pay by card or through a payment service that offers refunds, do not transfer a large deposit directly to the company, and do not book with a small rental business six months ahead. Keep a backup plan too: if a booking is cancelled at the height of the season, a replacement will be costlier and farther from home.
In brief
- United States, design: Airstreamⓘ has asked Italian design studio Pininfarina to redesign its trailers; the same studio has designed Ferraris and Maseratis. The first results are due before the brand's centenary in 2031, so the legendary "silver bullet" is being handled very carefully.
- United States, new models: Winnebagoⓘ has unveiled the Arka off-road motorhome on a Ram 5500 chassis for $332,000. It can spend up to 14 days without water or electricity hookups, although only a curtain separates the toilet from the sleeping area.
- United States, affordable options: Hunker has launched its $32,995 removable Hunker Pod in the US, turning an empty Ram Promaster into a camper van in an hour without drilling into the body. A package with a used van starts at $55,000.
- Germany, engineering: Sealander sells a caravan that can be launched on water and powered by an outboard motor. It weighs 750 kg, sleeps two and costs EUR 39,750 without the engine.
- China, policy: the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has promised measures to develop motorhome tourism, including access to natural areas and incentives for purchases. In a country where sleeping in vehicles is already widespread, this is a first step towards proper infrastructure.
- Spain, inspections: camper vans over 10 years old must undergo roadworthiness inspections every six months, while official reclassification as a motorhome allows longer intervals.
- France, court ruling: an administrative court ruled that height barriers and signs restricting motorhomes were unlawful in La Faute-sur-Mer and Longeville-sur-Mer, and ordered the municipalities to remove them.
- Japan, trial: the tourism association at the Shikabe resort began renting trailers for overnight stays beside a roadside station on August 16, initially as a pilot project.
- Japan, emergency preparedness: the city of Matsue has agreed with a private company to rent trailers during earthquakes and heavy rain. They will serve as medical rooms and isolation spaces at evacuation centres.
- South Korea, clearance sale: the city of Yeongju has listed 12 old caravans from the Yeongjuho Lake campsite in an open Onbid auction. They are being replaced as part of the site's refurbishment.
- United States, investment: Elite Casino Resorts has begun building the $35 million Blackjack Beach complex in Iowa, combining a water park with a motorhome campsite.
- Germany, campsites: ADAC is converting part of its campsite at Lake Mohne into 116 motorhome pitches, replacing permanent residents. Demolition of the lower section will begin in September.
Where to go
Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain), autumn and winter. The Canaries are the logical place to visit just as continental Europe ends its season: temperatures on Tenerife are around 20-24 C from October to February, and campsites and pitches are not packed. The island's main practical problem for motorhomes was the scarcity of legal places to empty waste tanks. That has now become noticeably easier: the Tenerife Island Council opened a free facility at the La Guancha logistics centre for emptying grey and black water and refilling drinking water, the first in the north of the island and the fourth on Tenerife. The northern side is the most rewarding for a slow journey: Anaga's humid laurel forests, winding roads above Taganana, the banana terraces of La Guancha and Icod de los Vinos, followed by the climb to Teide, where a volcanic desert rises above the clouds. The two facilities in Arona and Jagua served 166 caravan travellers in their first month, and the authorities promise to add disposal points to every waste collection centre on the island. If you have been postponing a winter in the Canaries because of practical concerns, this is a suitable season to go.
Take care
- Portugal, Sesimbra, now: the environmental unit of the GNR police issued 18 citations during a single operation on August 18 at an informal motorhome stop. On the Portuguese coast, staying overnight outside a campsite is not a grey area but an offence carrying a fine: use an official site or private land with the owner's permission.
- Italy, Syracuse, summer: the coastguard fined a campsite and a motorhome stop in Pachino and Portopalo for illegally discharging wastewater. In Italy, both the site and the driver can be fined, so empty tanks only at a designated facility and ask the site to show you exactly where the waste goes.
- Isle of Man, Douglas, race days: motorhome owners face parking restrictions on Douglas Promenade during the Manx Grand Prix. If you are travelling to any major race, book a pitch in advance and do not assume you can park "where everyone else does"; familiar spaces are often closed during competitions.
- Spain, Bueu (Galicia), now: the municipality found that waste emptied from motorhomes was blocking beach toilets and urged visitors to stop. A beach toilet is not a waste disposal point: one such incident can prompt a town to ban motorhomes altogether, as has already happened elsewhere on the Spanish coast.
Something good to finish
Two stories worth sharing.
Twelve years on the road so his wife could see the country. Liu Peijin, 69, from Weifang, China, converted a seven-seat minivan into a living space because his wife is partially paralysed due to diabetes and ordinary travel is impossible for her. Since then, the couple have travelled through all 31 provinces of China, spending more than ten years on the road. He did not build a dream motorhome; he built a way for them not to remain at home.
137 caravans, with the oldest now 92 years old. From August 18 to 23, the French Retro Camping Club held its 30th gathering in Beaugency on the Loire: 137 vintage caravans attended, the earliest dating from 1934. This was no museum display: every caravan was roadworthy and arrived under its own tow. Participants also preserve period interiors, from tableware to clothing.
This week's questions
Should you wait for discounts on new motorhomes in Germany?
Yes, and autumn is a good time to ask. Registrations fell by 3% to 63,329 vehicles in the first seven months of 2026, the market has declined for three years, and manufacturers still have unsold inventory built up during the pandemic boom. At the same time, more than 830 companies will exhibit at Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf from August 28, a record. More sellers and fewer buyers mean that negotiation and complimentary extras are becoming a normal part of the conversation, not an unreasonable demand.
How often does a camper van need a roadworthiness inspection in Spain?
A camper van over 10 years old must undergo an inspection every six months. If the vehicle is officially reclassified as a motorhome, the interval becomes longer. Check the category listed in your vehicle documents: the difference between a "camper van" and a "motorhome" amounts to two inspections a year.
Where can you empty a waste tank for free on Tenerife?
There are now four locations, including the new one at the La Guancha logistics centre in the north of the island, where you can empty grey and black water and refill drinking water free of charge. Two other facilities operate in Arona and Jagua. The Tenerife Island Council promises to open such facilities at all the island's waste collection centres, so it is worth checking the latest list before your trip.
Can a municipality simply block motorhomes from entering a car park?
No, and a French court has just confirmed this: height barriers and signs installed in La Faute-sur-Mer and Longeville-sur-Mer were ruled unlawful, and the municipalities were ordered to remove them. A restriction must be justified and formally enacted, otherwise it can be challenged. If a restriction appears to have been introduced for no clear reason, ask the town hall for the number and date of the relevant order.
Can you make a camper from an ordinary van without converting it?
Yes, if the van is a compatible model. The American Hunker Pod is a removable module with a kitchen, dining area, bed and toilet that can be installed in an empty Ram Promaster in an hour without drilling into the vehicle body. It costs $32,995, while a package with a used van starts at $55,000. Similar systems are available in Europe, where the idea originated. The advantage is not the price but reversibility: the module can be removed, returning the vehicle to a cargo van.
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