How China is winning the Aussie caravan war

One of Australia's biggest and oldest RV importers says Chinese-built caravans are now ahead on technology and innovation, as well as price, when compared to their locally-built budget rivals.

"These days a lot of the technology that we incorporate in our 'vans is a little more advanced than what you find here," Ezytrail's Chief Strategic Officer Dean Porter said in a GoRV podcast.

"In the early days it was all about price. Nowadays it's about being first to market with the next big thing..."

Ezytrail just launched its latest MK4 hybrid caravan range with a big 24V lithium battery, inverter and solar system that you'd struggle to get in a similar Aussie-built product priced from around $65,000.

Porter said it's all about "giving the consumer what they want, and giving the consumer the ability to do what they want when off grid", at an appealing price point.

Established in 2005, Ezytrail has played a big part in the rapid rise of Chinese-built hybrids and caravans on the market over the past 10 years.

"Us and MDC, we basically taught China how to build caravans," Porter said.

Ezytrail is currently one of four importers in the 'Top-5' biggest selling RV brands in Australia, and delivered close to 2000 campers in 2025.

According to Porter, that number will increase in 2026 despite a general market slowdown.

"We're going to buck the trend and we are up on last year, both on our show programs and through our retail outlets," he said.

Porter said big-selling importers like Ezytrail haven't stolen sales from local manufacturers as some claim, but instead have expanded the market by providing more affordable and better value campers and caravans.

With around 35 Chinese RV brands now competing for buyers down under, he said his biggest competition today is from rival importers, who are lightning quick to copy and implement the latest trends, thanks to advanced, nimble Chinese production facilities that often cater to multiple brands.

"In the import space China is the land of zero IP protection," Porter admitted. "So you get a window of opportunity to innovate before the competitors have got it. That window is usually 12 to 18 months."

It's also "easier and cheaper" in China to secure desirable components like one-piece body panels and other materials used in the latest full composite builds.

"Next generation PET core panels are also now readily available in China," he said.

Superior production quality is no longer the trump card it once was for Aussie manufacturers either.

Porter claimed build quality in China has gone from "pretty ordinary" around 15 years ago, to "construction techniques (that) are world class".

Ezytrail has stepped it up by being one of few Aussie RV companies to boast ISO 9001 accreditation, while it's also seeking to become the second importer to achieve coveted RV Master accreditation.

"The number one thing for us is now innovation and customer service," he said.

Porter still thinks full Aussie-made caravans have an edge, especially when it comes to premium upmarket builds.

Most importers like Ezytrail can only offer limited customisation, as it makes "delivery times blow out".

"We're all about volume," he said. "You need volume to be able to compete (on price)."

Apart from high-volume builders like Crusader with its cut-price Dreamhaven range, he said most local manufacturers should "stop trying to compete with the import market".

"The import market is price driven, volume driven; I found a 'van, it's got everything I want, I want it tomorrow," he explained, referring to Ezytrail's relatively quick three-month lead times.

"If you want the customised, beautiful house-style design living, you're going to choose an Australian-made product as we simply don't have that ability..."

"I think there will always be space for Australian made caravans, it's a different market to us."

Unlike MDC, Ezytrail doesn't currently offer a $100K-plus caravan range to take on the Aussie heavy-hitters, although that could change later this year when the company releases its new Airlie 48V off-grid, full-size caravan range.

Ezytrail is also looking to neutralise another competitive advantage of the Aussie manufacturers -- greater internal width compared with narrower Chinese 'vans that have to squeeze into tight shipping containers.

Porter said Ezytrail would consider paying the higher freight costs required to ship wider Chinese-built caravans.

"If there's a market there for us to do that we'd look at it certainly," he said.

Watch this space...