RV registrations crack 700,000

At a time when the number of recreation vehicles registered in Australia reached an all-time high of 711,000, demand for locally-built new RVs continues to slide amid economic worries and the growing popularity of cheaper Chinese imports.

According to latest figures from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, production of locally-built RVs declined for the fifth consecutive month in October. The CIAA said a total of 2000 units were manufactured for the month, down 11.3 per cent year-on-year. The year-to-date total to the end of October was 18,187 units, a 6.1% decrease from 2018 figures.

The peak industry body said the latest RV production figures correspond with a similar dip in new car sales across Australia. Local RV manufacturers are also battling the increasing number of camper trailers, hybrid campers and full-size caravans being imported from China.

On a more positive note for the local industry, the RV lifestyle has never been more popular with RV registrations increasing by 4.6 per cent in 2019, to 711,000 units, according to ABS figures. The CIAA said this “growth figure was 2.5 larger than the registrations of total vehicles (1.7%)".

“This demand is also evidenced by the fact that caravan and camping trips are at an all-time high across Australia,” the peak national body said.

Breaking down the latest RV production figures, the ‘towables’ sector took the biggest hit, with monthly production of caravans down to 1245 (from 1414 in October 2018) and pop-tops dropping from 388 to 355 for the month.

Campervan and motorhome production was also down overall for October, with the only positive a 48.5 per cent rise in B-class motorhome production (to 49).

The CIAA said the figures also reflect a change in buying behavior among RV consumers, with increased demand for more affordable second-hand and imported RVs.

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