Italia is Europe’s third-largest manufacturer of motorhomes
A record July with 819 vehicles registered (+52 per cent year-on-year)
The motorhome market continues to grow, driven by new registrations, a healthy second-hand market and demand for hire. This combination of factors makes the Italian market more vibrant than the European average, much to the benefit of the export-oriented industry. July saw a record 819 motorhomes registered, representing a 51.9 per cent year-on-year increase. This confirms and reinforces a trend that had already emerged in 2025, when 7,936 new motorhomes were registered in Italia over a 12-month period – 10.56 per cent more than the previous year. During the same period, transfers of ownership also rose, increasing by 6.05 per cent: Italians purchased a total of more than 44,000 motorhomes, including both new and second-hand vehicles. This growth continued in the first four months of 2026: between January and April, motorhome registrations in Italy reached 4,050 units, compared with 3,523 in the same period of 2025, representing an increase of 14.96 per cent.
“A motorhome holiday meets the need for personalised experiences: it’s a freer, more flexible and adaptable way to travel,” explains Gloria Oppici, brand manager of the Motorhome Show to be held in Parma from 12 to 20 September. “ It allows you to choose your own timetable and itinerary, visit authentic places away from the tourist crowds, and manage your spending along the way, whilst supporting local communities. The rise in registrations confirms that this form of holiday is a key driver of growth in Italian tourism.”
A comparison with the rest of Europe highlights the vibrancy of the Italian market even more clearly. In the first four months of 2026, motorhome registrations in Europe rose by 10 per cent, from 58,539 to 64,406 units: a significant increase, against which Italia nevertheless recorded growth of almost five percentage points more, thanks to 4,050 vehicles registered. Italia is Europe’s third-largest motorhome manufacturer, after Germany and France, and exports over 80 per cent of the vehicles it produces. The main European market remains Germany, which in 2025 recorded 75,368 new registrations, accounting for over 46 per cent of the European total. However, it is not only the manufacturers who support production: the supply chain includes companies specialising in chassis, components, accessories, fittings and services for recreational vehicles. The APC (Association of Caravan and Motorhome Manufacturers) itself brings together Italian and foreign companies operating across these various stages of production, whilst Italian components supply both domestic and European brands.
Tourists who choose to holiday in a motorhome have a significant impact on the local area: several studies indicate that the average daily spend for two people travelling in a motorhome is just under 200 euros, split between parking and accommodation, food and drink, local food and wine and crafts, museums, public transport and other items.
The sector’s growth is fuelled by many new enthusiasts who, perhaps on their first few occasions, try out a hire vehicle for a long weekend in a motorhome or caravan, embracing the ‘rent before you buy’ model favoured by the younger generations. The Parma Motorhome Show is the most important event in the sector in Italia and the second largest in Europe; spanning an exhibition area of over 110,000 square metres, hosting more than 310 exhibitors with 600 recreational vehicles on display across 13 different zones dedicated to events and hands-on activities. The previous edition attracted over 107,000 visitors. The Show thus becomes a meeting point where curiosity meets practical choice. Not only for experienced motorhome enthusiasts, but also for those who want to find out whether this way of travelling is right for them: comparing vans, motorhomes and caravans, discovering accessories, technologies, destinations, stopover sites, hire services and outdoor itineraries. The European context confirms that camping and caravanning now play a significant role: according to Eurostat, by 2025 the number of nights spent at campsites, recreational vehicle sites and trailer parks across the EU will have reached 413 million; Italia is among the leading European countries, with 49.1 million overnight stays. Against this backdrop, the exhibition serves as a gateway for anyone wishing to explore itinerant tourism: not just experienced motorhome owners, but also the curious, families and first-time travellers.
