China boom in sales of caravans surprises even distributors
The demand for European or American-made recreational vehicles is so strong, new buyers must wait up to two years for delivery
Sales of recreational vehicles (RVs) and caravans are booming on the mainland, to the surprise of even car dealers.
Last month, a four-day exhibition of the home-like vehicles in Beijing ended with sellers pocketing 550 million yuan (HK$700 million) in revenue. About 40,000 visitors streamed into the show, and more than 500 vehicles were sold.
"It is crazy," said Li Mengsha , a sales consultant with Beijing Camper RV, the largest distributor for RVs and caravans on the mainland. "Many vehicles came straight to the show from seaports. Most were sold before I had a chance to step inside for a look. I am a sales agent, for heaven's sake!" she said, sipping a cup of tea in one of the few caravans left at the company's headquarters more than a week after the event. Outside, more than a dozen potential buyers were checking out the vehicles.
"And people have kept coming even after the show was over. Their enthusiasm has exceeded my wildest guesses," Li said.
Recreational vehicles have been on the mainland market for more than two decades, but they had long been regarded as a luxury purchase for niche buyers because of their high prices and lack of supporting facilities such as camping sites.
But recently, the demand has exploded. "A few years ago, there were only a few thousand RVs in China. But now the total number might reach tens of thousands, though no official figure has been given," Li said.