Motorhome sales about to set new records

Brownhills, the major Newark-based dealer, has confirmed that sales of new motorhomes are returning to record levels. It saw a 26% increase in sales during the first quarter of 2016 and expects the full year to end 20% higher than last year, which itself was 20% up on the previous year.

The dealer, which sells the British marques, Auto-Trail, Elddis and Swift, as well as two European marques, Rapido and Adria, said all the British manufacturers have committed to manufacture more models next year to meet the anticipated demand.

“This year they just didn’t make enough, so they have all committed to make more next year,” said Steve Cullen, the CEO of Brownhills. To help it meet the increase in demand, Brownhills began to sell Adria motorhomes in 2015.

“Adria fed a substantial part of our growth this year but, going forward, we will see all manufacturers making more.”

He said he expects the record of 11,600 new motorhomes sold in one year – which dates back to 2007 – will be beaten this year and probably again in 2017, when he said it’s likely over 16,500 new motorhomes could be sold.

Indeed, Brownhills has already started ordering 2017 models and is increasing the number of models it is ordering for next year by some 20%.

Buyers he said are snapping up almost every model with only sales of large tax-axle motorhomes showing signs of slowing. “Everything is selling really well,” he said. “The vehicles selling out most quickly are our Elddis Evolution, Rapido and Adria ranges with our best single model seller being the Adria 50^th Anniversary Edition. We went back to Adria twice to get more. We had 30 of them and we only have two left.”

Interestingly, while the industry has been suggesting the recent growth in sales is the result of people having delayed replacing their current motorhome, figures from Brownhills, which sold 1,150 motorhome last year and has over 250 motorhomes for sale on its site near the A1, suggests otherwise. “Some 42% of our customers are new to motorhoming,” said Steve, adding that, while the changes to the pension rules in April, have resulted in an increase in people buying motorhomes, it may not be as significant as some have suggested.

The decision on what to buy continues to be driven by layout rather than manufacturer. Buyers rarely buy a model based on who made it,” he said “It’s all about layout.”

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