FORD TRANSIT CONQUERS CAMPER SEGMENT
COLOGNE, June 29, 2005 – For the last forty years, the Ford Transit has been Europe's workhorse vehicle of choice for everybody from delivery drivers to painters. Now, the Ford Transit is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers who want the comforts of home on four wheels.
The same qualities of versatility and flexibility that make the Transit the most successful commercial vehicle in its class are leading to a growing number of Transits being converted into motor homes.
Over the last four years, the numbers of campers built from a Ford Transit chassis has increased dramatically. In 2001, just under 1,000 Transit chassis were sold to camper manufacturers – this figure grew remarkably to 7,000 in 2004.
An even bigger surge is underway this year. In the first half of 2005, almost 10,000 units were expected to be ordered by the European camper industry. The largest increases were seen in Germany. In the first quarter of 2005, sales of Transit chassis increased by 62 percent while the overall German camper industry grew at just 8.8 percent.
Growing in Popularity
Motor homes are growing in popularity around Europe. There are currently more than 900,000 campers registered in Europe and the segment is experiencing double-digit growth.
Numerous manufacturers use the Ford Transit as the base for their own models. These include: Hobby, Eura Mobil, Dethleffs, LMC, T.E.C., la strada, Westfalia and Hymer in Germany; Trigano in France and Rimor in Italy. Additional manufacturers are expected to make use of the Transit in the future.
In addition to offering base vehicles for conversion by camper specialists, Ford sells its own leisure models such as the Tourneo Connect, with a built-in kitchenette and fold-away bed, or a Transit with a living area, kitchen, raised ceiling and tilting sunroof.
The Ford Transit's tremendous versatility and flexibility is emphasised by the 400-plus variations of both front and rear-wheel-drive models that are available across the vehicle range. It is also reflected in the special models offered as a base for camper conversions. Whether they need front or rear-wheel-drive, cab-van-floor or flat chassis, rear-wheel-drive with cab-van-floor chassis and single or double wheels - the Ford Transit range caters to the camper manufacturers' particular needs.
"This flexibility allows motor home producers to plan confidently a variety of add-on concepts for the future," said Hans-Joerg Klein, manager commercial vehicles/special vehicles, Ford of Germany. "This matches the growing desire among customers for more variety and features in their motor homes, be it air-conditioning, heated floors or even flat-screen televisions.
"More and more people want to have all the comforts of home in their camper," added Klein. "The demand for comfort has significantly increased. Alongside it, customers want a lot of storage room and plenty of engine torque so that getting their home away from home through traffic can be as stress-free as possible."
Prices for "holiday mobility" generally begin at around €25,000. An average customer in Europe pays about €45,000 for a motor home.
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