Registrations of used motorhomes have exceeded those of new ones for the first time, mobility federation Traxio reported on Wednesday.
The new motorhome market contracted slightly in the first nine months of the year, shrinking by -2.7% to 4,807 units by the end of September, according to the federation.
After the 2020 lockdowns, registrations peaked in 2021 and, since then, the new motorhome market has fallen back slightly each year. Pop-up models seem to be losing popularity, while the larger (semi-)integral ones continue to appeal to Belgians.
The second-hand market has again seen strong growth this year, increasing by 18.6% to 5,301 units by the end the third quarter. This makes 2024 the first year in which second-hand registrations exceed new ones. According to Traxio, the attraction of second-hand vehicles stems in part from the significant increase in the prices of new models in recent years.
"The surprise is that many people who may have made an ‘impulse’ purchase of a motorhome during the Coronavirus pandemic have remained loyal to this mode of leisure. As a result, we see potential for growth over the next few years," says Filip Rylant, spokesperson for the federation.
Since 2017, the total fleet has grown by 30.1% to 83,227 motorhomes.
