As the touring season starts, caravanners across the country will likely notice a few changes in terms of facilities, amenities, networks and product offering from the Caravan & Motorhome Club and various other companies in the leisure vehicle industry. Here are some of the latest news bites discussing major events in the world of caravanning, including buyouts, rebrandings and expansions. We start with the Caravan Motorhome Club, soon to become another household name for outdoor enthusiasts across the country:
1. Caravan Club Rebranding
Prompted by the need to keep up with a broadening membership, the Caravan Club has recently changed its name to the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Over 1 million trailer tent owners, caravanners and motorhomers are active members of the club, and diversity is on the rise in this large community of outdoor enthusiasts.
Over a century since its inception, the club is set to upgrade facilities across the entire national network, with Wi-Fi available throughout. The international travel offer is also expanding, as CAMC tries to cater to a more varied range of needs and interests.
Members will be receiving a letter confirming the Caravan and Motorhome Club's plans for the near future. In keeping with the company's more inclusive approach, the logotype now features two face-to-face 'C's intertwined to reveal the letter 'M' in between. The envelope the letter comes in will still display the old logo, but the letter itself will feature the new logotype to make the transition smoother for club members.
2. Marquis Leisure Sold to Trigano
After buying Adria, a Slovenian caravan manufacturer, the Trigano group has recently acquired a majority stake in the group that owns Marquis Leisure, the largest national caravan and motorhome dealer network.
Marquis Leisure welcomes the change as an opportunity to create purchasing and finance synergies within a much larger group. With 11 leisure vehicle dealerships across the country, being bought by a French company means Marquis Leisure will now reach customers across the continent, beside selling European models in the UK. Trigano also owns Roller Team, Benimar, Chausson, Auto-Trail and Mobilvetta.
As the majority shareholder of Auto-Sleepers Investments, Trigano has also effectively bought a controlling stake in Auto-Sleepers, the autosleeper specialist. Marquis Leisure's sister company is known for manufacturing some of the most sought-after Peugeot and Mercedess coachbuilts, autosleepers and campervan conversions in the UK.
The details of the transaction have not been made public, but Trigano is a group with a turnover of £1.3 billion that's bound to provide new avenues for Marquis and Auto-Sleepers to expand in Europe as part of a much larger group.
3. Erwyn Hymer Buys Elddis
German motorhome manufacturer Erwyn Hymer Group recently acquired the Explorer Group based in Consett, UK. The British company is known as a manufacturer of Elddis motorhomes and various caravan makes, as well as a dealer. The Explorer Group will henceforth be known as the Erwyn Hymer Group UK Ltd.
The change in ownership means that the company currently holding an 11% share in the British market will be able to access the expertise of the German giant to create added value for its customers. Known as offering the very best in specifications, technology and luxury, the Elddis brand now stands to reach even greater heights as it becomes available to leisure vehicle markets across the planet.
As for Erwyin Hymer, this leading European manufacturer will now be able to extend its continental market to include Europe's second largest caravanning market, strengthening its position across the continent. The Erwyn Hymer Group has already been selling sought-after motorhome brands in the UK, including Laika, Sunlight, HymerCar, Carado, Niesmann + Bischoff and Bürstner. It was only last year that the Hymer Group bought American Class B manufacturer Roadtrek, paving its way to expansion across North America.
