Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV), Hanover, and the Erwin Hymer Group (EHG), Bad Waldsee, have concluded a framework agreement for delivery of 6,000 Crafter panel vans as the base vehicles for EHG brand camper vans. The agreement was signed by Alexander Leopold, CEO Erwin Hymer Group, and Lars Krause, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales and Marketing at VWCV. The vehicles will be delivered to the Erwin Hymer Group from 2024.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is a leading manufacturer of light commercial vehicles and, as a brand of Volkswagen Group, is fundamentally shaping the transportation of goods, people and services in a new and sustainable way. The Erwin Hymer Group is the European subsidiary of Thor Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles.
On the occasion of the signing of the contract, Lars Krause announced: “We are delighted to have gained the Erwin Hymer Group as a new partner that will offer its own camping solutions using our vehicles as the basis. We see the Crafter panel van as a benchmark in its class. It offers plenty of space and great flexibility for a wide range of solutions and is a first step in our collaboration. We are also looking forward to discussing further projects for other vehicles, such as the Crafter chassis and T6.1 successor.”
In recent years, caravanning has become a lifestyle topic that inspires people across all age groups. Young target groups and families in particular appreciate the flexibility and everyday usability of compact camper vans. This development is also reflected in the number of vehicle registrations. In 2020, camper vans recorded a 44 per cent share in motorhome registrations in Europe. This already increased to 50 per cent in 2021 and grew once more to 54 per cent in 2022.
Alexander Leopold: “With the Crafter as a base vehicle, we are in an even better position to meet the strong demand for powerful and compact camper vans. In addition, we can very well imagine joint projects with our partner VWCV in areas such as alternative drive systems, for example.”
Alexander Leopold, CEO Erwin Hymer Group, and Lars Krause, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales and Marketing at VWCV