Writer: Helena Bergström
The fair Scandinavian Caravan Show, the Nordic region's largest trade fair for mobile life, opened its doors yesterday at the Elmia exhibition centre in Jönköping. Now there are packed days ahead right up to and including Sunday. The first day of the fair, Wednesday, started with a press meeting and we followed the meeting digitally, while we drove towards the fair ... Peter's brother Micke was there and took photos!
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Press meeting at Elmia Caravan Motorhome 2025
As is tradition, this year's Elmia fair began with a press conference, where a panel talked about trends in the world of camping and looked to the future. This year's panel included Klas Brandt (Exhibition Manager at Elmia Husvagn Husbil), Mikael Blomqvist (CEO Kabe) and Eva-Klara Blomberg Högväg (CEO Husbilslandet), together with moderator Bengt Spjuth.
Interest in motorhomes and caravans is hot
During the press conference, it was reported that sales of caravans had fallen by 15 per cent, while sales of motorhomes had increased by 49 per cent. The panel was pleasantly surprised that the increase in motorhomes was so large, while they explained the decline in caravans by the fact that these are mainly bought by families with children, and that families with children have a strained economy. However, it seems that there is no lack of interest. The second-hand market is hot.
Camping vehicles are used many weeks a year
New figures show that motorhomes are used for an average of 54 nights per year and caravans for an average of 50 nights per year. There are no figures from previous years to compare with, but the panel's feeling was that the utilisation rate has increased.
More pitches needed - an opportunity for municipalities and farmers
The panel described that Sweden's campsites are more or less full during the high season and that it may become even more crowded in the coming years, not least because it is becoming more and more popular for Europeans from more southern latitudes to go north during the summer. Therefore, it is felt that more pitches are needed, and preferably soon!
It was emphasised that there are good opportunities here for both municipalities and individual farmers. The pitches can range from well-equipped to simple, with very limited services. An individual family spends an average of SEK 6,500 during a camping week and for a municipality there are also many other benefits, such as new opportunities for summer jobs.
Hopes for the Driving Licence Directive and 100 km/h
There is a Swedish transitional rule that allows those who obtained their driving licence before 1 July 1996 to drive motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes on an ordinary B licence. Now more and more younger motorhome drivers are starting to arrive, having obtained their driving licence later, and are therefore not allowed to drive heavier motorhomes.
The industry therefore hopes that the new Driving Licence Directive which will allow motorhomes up to 4.25 tonnes to be driven on a standard driving licence. It is still some time away, but the panel saw no obstacles to the directive's adoption.
In addition, the following were discussed Speed 100, which in Germany allows caravans to drive at 100 km/h on motorways, if they make a special check and attach a sticker to the vehicle. There is a desire in the industry for this to be implemented in Sweden as well, and the issue is being worked on.
Trends in camping - what campers want in 2025
Many campers and motorhome owners want to experience the freedom of free camping, or to be able to stand on pitches without being dependent on plugging in electricity. Therefore, there is a great demand today for things like solar cells and lithium batteries. In addition, there is a demand for increased digitalisation, for example in the form of apps that 'talk' to the vehicle.
Both large and small motorhomes are in demand, by different customer groups, but the panel emphasised that there is a demand for slightly smaller vehicles, which are easier to park.
The issue of electric motorhomes postponed
On the subject of electric motorhomes, the panel said that the industry is taking a wait-and-see approach for the time being, and that the issue is being postponed. Electric concept motorhomes have certainly been developed, but there is no fully developed network to charge motorhomes across Europe, given the distances the vehicles can be driven, etc. The future will tell what happens with this issue.
What trends in the camping world do you see?
What trends in the camping world do you see? Is there anything in particular that you notice campers or motorhome owners are looking for in 2025?
English (UK) 
Svenska
Backe says:
I personally almost always look for pitches at a restaurant or pizzeria so I can go and have a good lunch. I have set up that the eatery should be a maximum of three kilometres from where I put the motorhome so you can walk there. there are less such places than you might think at least in the southern part of Sweden.
11 September 2025 - 7:12
Elisabeth Wallgren says:
Welcome to the car park
Ladys hage Anderslöv Skåne
One kilometre to restaurants
Greetings Elisabeth and Lars
17 September 2025 - 19:23
Peter Rydh says:
Nice to get a glimpse of the fair when you're stuck at work for another day before we steer the motorhome there!
It's a pity that the industry isn't more aware of electric power, Fiat Ducato has good electric base vehicles so it would have been easy to build the current shape of a car directly on such a car instead, and the claim that there is no charging is probably based on ignorance as it is no problem to drive around Europe with ordinary electric cars ...
11 September 2025 - 7:42
Monnah says:
This is completely unexplored terrain for us. However, we notice that the campsite here on Sturkö has high pressure right from Ascension Day and until September. It is a nice campsite!
11 September 2025 - 8:54
BP says:
Nice to see a positive trend for motorhomes. My husband grew up with a caravan, and it looked just like that Tabbert - like an egg. Fun with this retro trend. Honestly never understood why people choose a caravan over a motorhome. The only advantage I can see is that you can get to places near a campsite more easily with a normal car.
11 September 2025 - 19:42