Swift appoints official Aussie distributor

Two of the latest models from top-selling UK manufacturer Swift are on display at this week’s Queensland Caravan, Camping & Touring Holiday show, following the appointment of Swift Group Australia as the official distributor of the stylish British vans Down Under.

Swift Group Australia’s business development manager, Alex Kammerlocher said the re-introduction of the Swift brand to Australia (the UK caravans were last officially sold here in 2009) is good news for those looking for a classy alternative to other lightweight European caravans on offer including Adria and Bailey.

Mr Kammerlocher said Swift Australia was undertaking all the necessary steps to ensure it would remain in business for the long term, unlike its predecessor, Eurotech Caravans and Motorhomes, which shut up shop as the official Swift distributor in 2009 after only a couple of years.

“There is a lot of money involved when you become a sole distributor for a certain brand especially for one like Swift and it has been a very long process to get that going,” he said.

“As you know the previous importer did not perform that well so Swift was very, very clear in their dealings with us that this would not happen again.”

Unlike some ‘grey’ or private importers of Swift caravans in Australia, Mr Kammerlocher said Swift Australia would be able to offer full customer support and back-up including Swift’s full, factory-backed warranty which extends to three years on internal fittings, six years on chassis and 10 years bodyshell (including water ingress).

Swift Australia is in the process of setting up a nationwide dealer network, with
dealers already appointed for Queensland and NSW and a Victorian dealer "to follow very
soon”. Approved repairers in each state will have access to a comprehensive range of locally-stocked spare parts “so there’s no big delay when it comes to repairing things”.

Mr Kammerlocher said Swift Australia was close to achieving full ADR compliance so the British vans can be registered as well as insured here, noting that at least one major RV insurer is now refusing to provide cover for imported vans not backed by a full support network.

"CIL Insurance will only insure caravans that have been brought in through the correct channels,” he said. “Before they insure someone with a European caravan they will check the VIN number with the importer and if turns out the caravan has not been imported through one of the main channels they simply won’t insure it."

While they will remain relatively light across the range, with ATMs from around 1100kg to 1900kg, locally-sold caravans will weigh up to 60kg more than British versions due to upgrades including heavier duty chassis designed to cope with rough Australian roads.

Because the Swift vans are supplied directly from the UK factory, “our caravans are on average between $5000 and $10,000 cheaper,“ than some grey imports currently being offered, he said.

So far, Swift Australia has released pricing for 33 models out of more than 50 available in the UK, including Swift sub-brands Sprite and Sterling. Tow-away prices for the on-road caravans start at $27,990 for the entry-level Sprite Lite 2, up to $55,000 for the Conqueror 645 Elite Explorer.

On display at the Queensland show was a 1047kg (Tare) Sprite Alpine 4, which squeezes four berths, a shower ensuite and kitchen within its 4.7m long body. Fitted with optional Truma air-conditioning, Fiamma awning, water tank upgrade, TV/DVD combo and a tailored towing cover, it had a 'show special' price of $33,000 towaway.

The other display model was a range-topping Sterling Elite Explorer. With 6.27m body (internal) and 1884kg Tare, the four-berth luxury van was fitted with the same options as the Sprite, for a special price of $55,000 towaway.

Along with being easy to tow and “very reasonably priced”, Mr Kammerlocher said the Swift vans' high-tech construction, classy finish and impressive features had already resulted in some prospective buyers commenting “they’ve never seen anything like it (in a caravan)”.

A number of 2012-model Swift caravans are currently making their way to Australia, with the first customer deliveries expected later this month.

Mr Kammerlocher also expressed interest in setting up an Australian chapter of the Swift Owners Club, which he says “is one of the biggest caravan clubs in the world”.

See the
Swift Australia website for further details, and check out the video below of the recently-released Challenger Sport, priced in Australia from $38,000.