Xiaomi enters the camper market with the SkyNomad brand · VanLife Weekly #28
Xiaomi launches the SkyNomad brand and enters the camper market. Plus new models at the Tokyo Camping Car Show and 80% of Turkey's caravan makers closing.
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Locality · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
VanSky index for Arles, France — 39 out of 100 (Challenging). Decide in seconds: temperature, precipitation, wind and solar output. Data refreshed several times a day from real weather observations.
The main score is weekly (7-day average). The “Today” toggle shows the current day, and the region page compares cities “by area”.
Arles, France — VanSky 39 out of 100. Difficult — consider alternatives. Ranked #1003 of 1026 cities in the country (as of 14 July 2026). Temperature 34°C, wind 17 km/h. Solar panels yield 2.9 kWh/day at 400 W — enough for full autonomy.
Cities with a close score — route alternatives
A weather comfort index for travel: a 0–100 score. Recalculated daily from live weather data — temperature, rainfall, wind and sun.
How it's calculated:
Data: Open-Meteo · Updated several times a day
Arles ranks 797 of 1026 cities. Country average VanSky — 53.
Updated: 11.07.2026
SP95-E10
$2.22 /l
€1.95 · £1.66/l
123 of 133
pricier than 92% of countries
SP98
$2.29 /l
€2.01 · £1.71/l
80 of 92
pricier than 86% of countries
Gazole
$2.21 /l
€1.94 · £1.65/l
120 of 134
pricier than 89% of countries
Gazole premium
$2.23 /l
€1.96 · £1.67/l
32 of 41
pricier than 76% of countries
GPL
$1.19 /l
€1.05 · £0.89/l
44 of 51
pricier than 84% of countries
Superéthanol-E85
$0.95 /l
€0.83 · £0.71/l
3 of 5
cheaper than 60% of countries
On July 12, 2026, two major fires broke out in France: in Cluny (Saône-et-Loire) 5,000 m², two caravans and a car burned; in Port-Bail-sur-Mer (Manche) 21 hectares, 13 motorhomes, 7 cars and 2 caravans were destroyed.
Arthur Vialle, a former Decathlon salesperson, has been traveling the Loire department for eight years in his converted van to repair bicycles at clients' homes. He decided to spare customers the hassle of transporting their bikes to a store, and his service has spread through word of mouth.
The Gabary app uses Google Maps with an extra data layer for large vehicles, alerting drivers to low bridges, tunnels, and weight restrictions. After entering vehicle dimensions and weight, the system evaluates the route. A recent update added Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The app focuses on France, with subscriptions costing €4.99 per month or €39.99 per year.
Jessica, a piano teacher from Dordogne, has been traveling across France in her motorhome since April to bring music to residents of nursing homes (EHPAD). She performs in facilities, plays melodies, and teaches seniors to play the piano using colored stickers on keys and sheet music. At the Abbé François nursing home in Steenwerck, about 15 residents participated in her session. Next week, Jessica will head to Oise and then to Alsace.
CI has launched a special Air Edition series for its Magis semi-integrated and A-class motorhomes. Standard equipment includes a roof-mounted air conditioner, automatic transmission, 200 W solar panel, and an awning. The series comprises four models, all 7.45 m long on a Fiat 140 hp base.
French herpetology experts and camping associations have issued guidelines to prevent snakes from taking shelter under caravans and awnings. Key measures: mow grass to under 5 cm, remove all stored items under the chassis, install fine-mesh wire (less than 1 cm) buried 5 cm deep, and ensure the caravan skirt is taut against the ground. If a snake is found, do not attempt to catch it — back away, create ground vibrations, and call a specialist. In France, all grass snakes are protected, and vipers are partially protected by law.
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