AUSTRALIA’S caravan production has slipped but despite fears that the industry is poised to spiral, manufacturers and the caravan industry indicate it’s only a temporary fluctuation.

Production output by Australian caravan makers was down 4.9 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024, according to the latest Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s 2026 ‘state of the industry report’.

Three recreational vehicle manufacturers –  Network RV Caravans, Sunland Caravans, and Starvision – closed this year, with the first two entering voluntary administration and Starvision closing its showroom.

Retain Media’s Q2 2026 RV market brand consideration report, which tracks more than 2.2 million searches across 139 RV brands in the Australian market, showed imported caravan and RV brands extended their share of buyer consideration for a third consecutive quarter. However, production in 2025 remained significantly higher than 2019 output, showing the RV market is expanding.

The caravan association (CIA) report said Australian manufacturers produced 23,963 RVs during 2025, up 12 per cent on the 2019 production. 

Australian RV manufacturer Avida told GoAutoNew Premium that its sales were still strong.

Its sales and marketing manager, Billy Falconer, said Avida continued “to see record demand for our Australian-made products and we believe customers are increasingly looking beyond simply the purchase price when choosing an RV”.

“Quality, manufacturer experience, aftersales support, warranty and access to an established dealer and service network are all important considerations, particularly for a significant purchase such as a motorhome or caravan,” he said.

The CIA said there was a 4 per cent increase in the number of registered RVs in Australia, up to 937,000 vehicles of which about 817,000 were ‘towables’ and 119,000 were motorised.

This equates to about one registered RV for every 29 Australians, making it one of the highest per-capita ownership rates globally, the CIA said.

It said that towable vehicles remained “the backbone” of Australian production, accounting for 96 per cent of output. 

“Caravan production was particularly strong, increasing by 7.3 per cent to 18,438 units,” the CIA said. 

“At the same time, caravan trailer and component imports increased by 16 per cent to 23,244 units, demonstrating that substantial new supply continues to enter the Australian market.”

Billy Falconer

Retain Media reported that Jayco’s share of the overall market eased to 23.1 per cent “down 1.1 percentage points and back to its Q4 2025 low, reversing the recovery the brand posted in Q1 2026”.

“Winnebago was the quarter’s clearest gainer, adding share across the overall market, Australian-made and RVMAP-accredited rankings,” it said. 

The Retain Media report said imported brands lifted their share of total search to 27.8 per cent in Q2 2026, up from 26.7 per cent the previous quarter. 

It said that it aligns with the CIA data “showing Australian manufacturers built 5.0 per cent fewer RVs in 2025 while imports grew 16.0 per cent”.  

Avida’s Billy Falconer said imported RVs “certainly provide consumers with additional choice and form part of a competitive Australian market”.

“However, from our own results, we are not seeing evidence that customers are moving away from Australian-made Avida products in favour of imported alternatives,” he said.

The CIA also notes that while sales continue to stay strong – albeit with a slight fall in 2025 production – there is booming demand in the tourism sector and that any fall in the sale of new RVs did not match actual use.

The CIA said Australians took a record 17.3 million caravan and camping trips, generating $12.6 billion in expenditure and record caravan park revenues ($3.3 billion).

Mr Falconer said that Avida believed that the fundamentals supporting the Australian RV lifestyle remain strong.

“Australians continue to value domestic travel, regional tourism and the freedom and flexibility that RV ownership provides,” he said.