The State of the NZ Private Motorhome Market: 2019–2025 Industry Report

Trends, Brands and Buyer Insights (2019–2025)

Based on NZTA Motor Vehicle Register Data

Prepared by Mary Hamilton from Wilderness Motorhome Sales

February 2026

1. Executive Summary

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the New Zealand motorhome market from 2019 to 2025, drawing on NZTA registration data to identify key trends in market composition, brand performance, platform use, and manufacturing origin. 2025 data shows significant market shifts and provides clarity on patterns of recovery post-COVID.

Key Findings:

• Total registrations (private & tourism): 11,449 new motor caravanscollective term that encompasses both motorhomes (built on a truck chassis) and campervans (built on a van chassis). registered over seven years, averaging 1,635 units annually. The market peaked in 2024 at 1,904 units, then settled to 1,633 in 2025. Chinese-manufactured LDV platforms captured 12.6% of total 2025 registrations.
  
  

• Private market approaching stabilisation: After four consecutive years of decline, the rate of contraction slowed markedly in 2025 (−1.9%) compared to prior years (−6.3% in 2024, −28.7% in 2023). At 739 units, the private market may be nearing its post-COVID floor.
  
  

• Tourism refleeting complete: Rental fleet registrations normalised to 701 units in 2025 after aggressive 2023–2024 refleeting (1,970 combined), returning toward the pre-COVID baseline of 513.
  
  

• JAYCO leads private sales: Australia’s leading brand captured 16.9% of the known private market in 2025 – up from 10.1% historically – becoming the #1 private brand for the first time.
  
  

• Platform dominance: FIAT Ducato accounts for 50% of private registrations, maintaining its top position in the private market.
  
  

• Market shifts toward higher GVM: New vehicle registrations saw a pronounced shift away from the sub-3,500kg category toward the 3.5–6.0 tonne category, which now dominates at 77% - reflecting the typical weight of coach-builtAn RV where a custom living area (the "coach") is built onto the back of a supplied "chassis-cab." European motorhomes.
  
  

• Australasian shift: For the first time, Australasian-origin motorhomes (37.5% of known private market) have overtaken European sources, driven by JAYCO and NZ-built growth.

2. Introduction

The New Zealand motorhome market has undergone significant shifts between 2019 and 2025, shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, changes in consumer behaviour, and broader economic conditions. Initially buoyed by strong domestic demand during border closures, the market saw a surge in registrations in 2020 and 2021. This was followed by a prolonged period of decline as supply constraints took hold and international travel resumed, which reshaped patterns of demand.

Sources and limitations of this report

This report draws on NZTA vehicle registration data to analyse the evolving dynamics of the market, including brand performance, sourcing regions, platform selection, and market segmentation. A key limitation of the data is that vehicle registrations are recorded based primarily on the vehicle platform – the first stage of manufacture. Motorhomes undergo a second stage of manufacturing where a base vehicle is converted into a motorhome by a specialist builder. This second stage is not consistently recorded in registration records.

As a result, important details about the motorhome conversion – such as the brand of the motorhome itself – are often missing. This is particularly problematic for locally built motorhomes, such as those produced by TrailLite, one of New Zealand’s largest private motorhome manufacturers, whose brand name does not appear on compliance plates. Approximately 23% of private market registrations across the seven-year period cannot be attributed to a specific brand.

3. A Brief History of the NZ Motorhome Market

New Zealand’s motorhome industry is rooted in a national love of road trips and outdoor adventure. For generations, Kiwi families have embraced camping as a quintessential summer pastime, spending holidays in tents or caravans set against the country’s stunning natural landscapes. This enduring culture of road travel laid the foundation for New Zealand’s domestic RV industry.

From Caravans to Motorhomes

As camping grew in popularity, caravans became the next evolution. By the 1950s, small-scale caravan manufacturing was booming in towns across New Zealand. Local producers like CI Munro, Jackson Caravans, and Liteweight built robust, practical models. The industry peaked in the 1970s before collapsing in 1979 due to a new luxury tax, from which it never fully recovered.

As caravans waned, motorhomes took off. CI Munro pivoted to motorhome production in the 1970s and was later acquired by Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL) in 1995. Rebranded as Action Manufacturing, it became the country’s largest producer, building for rental brands like maui and Britz. TrailLite, based in Pukekohe, also transitioned from caravan to motorhome production, evolving into New Zealand’s oldest and most established private motorhome manufacturer.

The earliest NZ-built motorhomes were practical and built for rugged conditions—based on underpowered Japanese trucks, carrying over caravan-style layouts with overcab berths and rear club lounges. These features remain common in locally built models today, though European design elements are increasingly influential.

The Rise of Imports and Decline of Local Manufacturing

The most significant transformation in the New Zealand motorhome market has been the shift from locally manufactured vehicles to imports. This transition unfolded over two decades:

• Pre-2000s: Most motorhomes were built locally by companies like TrailLite, Kea, and various caravan converters. Imports were limited to privately sourced vehicles and converted Japanese buses.
  
  

• Early 2000s: New Zealand’s strong dollar and reduced import barriers made European models attractive. Compact, efficient layouts and modern fit-outs drew consumer interest.
  
  

• 2004–2012: European brands like Benimar, Roller Team, and Bürstner grew rapidly. UK-built Swift and Auto-Trail models became popular with retirees. NZ manufacturers struggled to compete on price and volume.
  
  

• 2015–2020: Imports dominated the majority of new registrations. Many smaller local manufacturers closed, unable to compete with international scale and pricing.
  
  

• 2020–2022: COVID-era supply disruptions caused a temporary return to local builds as THL expanded NZ-based production. Demand for used motorhomes surged.
  
  

• 2023–present: Imports returned as supply chains recovered. The market now reflects a diverse mix of European, Australian, UK, and NZ-built motorhomes.

Today, Action Manufacturing (THL) and TrailLite remain the standout local producers in a landscape dominated by international brands. Boutique NZ manufacturers, including ACM Motorhomes, Tranztec RV, ALM Group (Allisee), Coastal Motorhomes, and Explorer Motorhomes, continue to serve niche segments with bespoke and premium builds.

4. Private Market Analysis

Market Trajectory: Approaching Stabilisation

The private market recorded 739 new registrations in 2025, representing a 1.9% decline from 2024’s 753 units. While this marks the fifth consecutive year of decline since 2021’s peak of 1,597 units, the rate of contraction has slowed dramatically – from -29.4% (2022), to -28.7% (2023), to -6.3% (2024), to just -1.9% in 2025. This deceleration suggests the market may be approaching its post-COVID floor.

The 2025 figure remains 31.1% below the 2019 baseline of 1,072 units. The seven-year average of 1,048 private registrations annually indicates the current level represents a significant contraction from historical patterns.

COVID Impact Analysis: Surplus Fully Absorbed

Using 2019 as the baseline year (1,072 new registrations), the COVID surplus period of 2020–2022 generated 754 units above baseline. This showed a pull-forward demand as locked-down consumers invested in domestic travel. The subsequent deficit period of 2023–2025 saw 920 units below baseline as the market worked through the surplus and faced economic headwinds. The net position at the end of 2025 stands at 166 units below the cumulative baseline, indicating the payback period is complete and then some.

Table 2: Private market COVID surplus/deficit analysis (baseline = 2019)

This analysis suggests 2026 should see continued stabilisation, with annual registrations potentially recovering toward 800–1,000 units over the medium term.

Brand Performance: 2025 Reshapes the Leaderboard

The 2025 data reveals significant shifts in brand rankings, with JAYCO emerging as the dominant private brand for the first time. The following analysis is based on the 77% of private registrations where the motorhome brand was identifiable (569 of 739 units in 2025).

Table 3: Top 10 private market brands in 2025 (known brands only)

*THL reported 109 retail sales for FY25. The discrepancy with our 46-unit NZTA figure is likely due to THL's July year-end and units sitting in the unidentified segment.

Key observations:

• JAYCO’s 6.8 percentage point gain is the largest brand shift in the dataset, driven by strong dealer support and Australian supply chain proximity.
  
  

• 7 of 10 top brands are gaining share, indicating healthy consolidation around quality performers.
  
  

• New entrants Sunlight (+1.8pp) and Laika (+2.7pp) have broken into the top 10, displacing traditional favourites.
  
  

• Benimar (−4.9pp) and Dethleffs (−3.1pp) experienced the sharpest declines among established brands.

Country of Origin: The Australasian Shift

The geographic source of private motorhomes shifted dramatically in 2025. Among identifiable brands, Australasian-origin vehicles (Australia + New Zealand) now represent 37.5% of the known private market—up from 23.9% historically. This is the most striking geographic shift in the dataset, with Australasian sources overtaking European imports for the first time.

Table 5: Private market country of origin — 2025 vs 7-year average (known brands only)

Australia’s gain is driven almost entirely by JAYCO’s surging popularity. New Zealand’s dramatic increase reflects improved attribution of NZ-built motorhomes in the data and the growing visibility of local manufacturers. Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom all lost significant ground.

Platform Analysis: FIAT Ducato Maintains Private Market Lead

In the private market, FIAT Ducato reclaimed a 50.3% share in 2025—recovering from a low of 40.2% in 2024 and approaching its historical dominance.

Table 4: Private market platform shares by year

Between 2021 and 2025, new vehicle registrations saw a pronounced shift away from the sub-3,500kg category (which fell from 46% to 18% due to the Clean Car Standard and declining campervans) toward the 3.5–6.0 tonne category, which now dominates at 77% (up from 52%), reflecting the typical weight of coach-built European motorhomes.

Vehicle Weight Trends (GVM)

Gross Vehicle Mass data (available 2021–2025) reveals a pronounced shift away from lighter vehicles. The sub-3,500kg category has fallen from 46% of new registrations in 2021 to just 18% in 2025, largely reflecting the decline in VW California campervans and the Clean Car Standard’s impact on lighter commercial vehicles. The 3.5–6.0 tonne range now dominates at 77%, reflecting the typical weight of coach-built European motorhomes.

Table 6: Private market GVM distribution (2021–2025)

5. Industry Reference: Brands, Dealers, and Manufacturers

The New Zealand motorhome market is served by a network of specialist dealers importing from international manufacturers, alongside a small but significant local manufacturing sector. This section provides essential context for readers unfamiliar with the industry’s structure.

Major Brand Groups and Their NZ Distributors

Two European conglomerates dominate the NZ market, alongside significant independent brands:

Table A: Major motorhome brands, parent companies, and NZ distribution

Parent Company Performance

Analysis by the parent company in New Zealand reveals structural shifts in market power:

The Trigano Group

This French leisure vehicle conglomerate boasts a robust portfolio of motorhome brands, including Roller Team, Benimar, Auto-Trail, CI, McLouis, and Mobilvetta. To support its vast brand network, the company maintains a strong European manufacturing presence with production facilities spanning across Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

In the New Zealand market, the group has recently experienced a downward trend. The company reached its peak in 2021, registering 456 units and capturing a dominant 28.6% market share. However, by 2025, sales volume had dropped significantly to 135 units, reducing their market share to 18.3%. This steady decline in the company's overall trajectory is being primarily driven by the falling market share of its Benimar brand.

The Erwin Hymer Group (EHG)

As Germany's largest motorhome conglomerate and a subsidiary of Thor Industries, EHG commands a diverse brand portfolio including Dethleffs, Bürstner, Carado, Hymer, Sunlight, Laika, Elddis, and Niesmann+Bischoff.

In the New Zealand market, EHG experienced a sharp decline from its 2020 peak of 266 units (21.3% market share) down to a low of just 70 units (9.3%) in 2024. However, the group staged an impressive recovery in 2025, rebounding to 131 units (17.7%). This strong resurgence has dramatically intensified local competition, narrowing the market share gap with their primary rival, the Trigano Group, to a mere 0.6 percentage points.

New Zealand Dealers by Region

The NZ motorhome retail market is served by approximately a dozen specialist dealers, concentrated in the upper North Island with growing South Island presence:

Table B: Major NZ motorhome dealers

Regional Market Distribution

Registration location data (available 2021–2025) reveals strong geographic concentration in the upper North Island, consistent with dealer locations and population distribution. Auckland accounts for nearly a quarter of all new private registrations, with Bay of Plenty and Canterbury the second and third largest markets.

Table 7: Private market registrations by region (2021–2025)

Notable observations: registration patterns correlate strongly with dealer locations. Taranaki’s share (4.5%) punches well above its population weight, driven by Nationwide RV’s New Plymouth base. Canterbury’s 2025 rebound (+38% year-on-year) suggests growing South Island demand.

New Zealand Motorhome Manufacturers

Despite the dominance of imports, a small group of NZ manufacturers continues to serve the market. Their products typically appear as ‘UNKNOWN’ in NZTA registration data because NZ builder brand names do not appear on vehicle compliance plates.

Table C: New Zealand motorhome manufacturers

Our proxy analysis of unbranded registrations on platforms used by NZ manufacturers estimates approximately 90–100 NZ-built motorhomes enter the private market annually (2023–2025 average), representing approximately 9% of the private market. This is likely an upper-bound estimate.

Understanding the Unidentified Segment

Approximately 22.7% of private market new registrations (1,669 units over seven years) appear as ‘UNKNOWN’ in NZTA records. This proportion has remained relatively stable at 17–29% across the study period. This segment likely comprises: NZ-built motorhomes from local manufacturers whose brand names do not appear on compliance plates; grey imports from Japan, UK, or Australia; custom and DIY conversions; and factory campervans registered under the base vehicle manufacturer only. The brand analysis in this report is based on registrations where brand attribution was possible.

6. The Campervan Market

A significant and growing segment of the overall motor caravancollective term that encompasses both motorhomes (built on a truck chassis) and campervans (built on a van chassis). market is campervans—vehicles built on a van chassis rather than a truck chassis. Campervans are typically lighter, more manoeuvrable, and increasingly popular as ‘daily driver’ alternatives to traditional motorhomes. However, this growth remains largely confined to the tourism sector, showing little momentum in the private market.

Private Campervans: VW Decline, JAYCO Emergence

In the private market, campervans peaked at 204 units in 2021 before declining to 57 in 2025. This decline is driven by the collapse of Volkswagen California/Grand California imports, which fell from 135 units (2021) to just 13 (2025). JAYCO’s JRV campervan has partially filled the gap, growing from zero to 25 units in 2025, but has not replaced the VW volume.

Table 9: Private campervans by brand

7. Market Outlook: 2026 and Beyond

The 2025 data suggests the New Zealand motorhome market is entering a new phase characterised by normalisation after pandemic-era volatility.

Private Market Expectations

• The COVID surplus has been fully absorbed, with a cumulative deficit of 166 units beyond payback. We expect new private registrations to stabilise around 700–800 units annually, potentially recovering toward 900–1,000 units over 2–3 years.
  
  

• JAYCO’s dominance may strengthen further as Australian brands benefit from supply chain proximity and familiar design language.
  
  

• Erwin Hymer Group brands are rebounding strongly—the group’s 2025 recovery to 17.7% (from 9.3% in 2024) suggests the portfolio’s NZ decline has bottomed out.
  
  

• The campervan segment faces a crossroads: JAYCO JRV is growing but has not replaced the VW California volumes. New entrants in this space are likely.

8. Conclusion

The New Zealand motorhome market in 2025 presents a picture of transition and normalisation. With seven years of data now available, we can distinguish temporary COVID-era disruptions from lasting structural changes.

Key structural shifts in the private market include:

1. JAYCO’s emergence as the private market leader, capturing 16.9% of known new registrations and reflecting a broader shift toward Australasian-sourced motorhomes (37.5% of known market, up from 23.9%).
   
   

2. The private market’s rate of decline slowing dramatically (−1.9% in 2025 vs −28.7% in 2023), suggesting the post-COVID contraction is nearing completion.
   
   

3. Erwin Hymer Group’s strong rebound (9.3% to 17.7%) nearly closing the gap with a declining Trigano Group (18.3%).

As the market settles into more predictable patterns, participants who have navigated the COVID-era volatility are well-positioned for sustainable growth. The fundamental appeal of motorhome travel – freedom, flexibility, and connection with New Zealand’s natural landscapes – remains strong, providing a solid foundation for the industry’s next chapter.

— End of Report —

Data source: NZTA Motor Vehicle Register 2019–2025

Analysis and report prepared by Wilderness Motorhome Sales