Produce new camper it has become almost impossible and to have one you need to wait about a year: this is why, beyond the economic convenience, the market for used campers has exploded. The story, which was told by the Sun 24 Hours, is emblematic of difficulties in supplying industry, especially in the case of chips that are also blocking the automotive industry.
Camper: the lack of chips blocks the production of Italian companies
Basically, the companies of campers – which for 90% of cases are located in Toscana, between Florence and Siena and occupy a 8 thousand workers – have their portfolio full of orders, which amounts to approx 3,5 billion euros, but they are forced to close the factories because there is a lack of raw material to produce the campers, i.e. the microchip which feed the electrical part and which represent the heart of the frames. "We are missing out on a historic opportunity" complains Simone Niccolai, the president of theMotorhome manufacturers association.
Second-hand boom, but by now nothing can be found
On the other hand, the temporary impossibility of producing new campers did explode the second-hand market, testified by the fact that between 2021 September 30 and 2022 June XNUMX there were well 30487 changes of ownership with an increase, compared to the previous year, of 58%. A full blown boom.
"It is the signal - comments Ludovica Sanpaolesi, director of the Motorhome Manufacturers Association - that interest in motorhomes remains high and that the audience of enthusiasts is expanding" to the point that even stocks of used motorhomes are running out: “Now there's nothing left“. In short, demand has exploded, but supply is languishing.
