APC’s 2016 REPORTS

This year’s APC Reports underline the recovery that has been going on in our industry. The National Report figures show how tourism in freedom represents an increasingly predominant role in the italian economic and manufacturing scene. Over 5,500 people employed, and annual sales over 700 million Euros, make Italy one of Europe’s top three motorhome manufacturers, with 12,406 vehicles rolling off the production lines in 2015 (+ 41% vs 2014). In terms of new motorhome enrolment, the end of 2015 saw an excellent increase of 7.9% over the previous year. Also outstanding was supply and demand of the tourism sector. Every year, about 3.9 million Italians and 4 million visitors from abroad, cross the Italian Peninsula on board of recreational vehicles. At national level, tourism in freedom comes third in terms of popularity behind art heritage cities and seaside tourism. Exports have shown steady growth over the last three years, rising from 6,829 vehicles in 2013 to 9,856 in 2015, with an increase of nearly 45%.This is a sign reflecting the indisputable quality of the made in Italy products, much appreciated abroad for the innovative design and advanced manufacturing technology.

Italy’s most important region for new registrations of motorhomes and caravans is once again Lombardy, and this year’s APC Regional Report on Tourism in Freedom on Campers & Caravans is dedicated to Lombardy. Between the Italian regions, Lombardy has one of the lowest used/new ratios both for motorhomes (5.3, beaten only by smaller regions with limited markets, i.e. Valle d’Aosta and Trentino), and for caravans (6.2), which underlines what a dynamic and attractive market this is for manufacturers.