Demand for camping cars growing in Korea

The demand for recreational vehicles is on the rise in Korea, with more young families seeking to enjoy convenient outdoor leisure activities during their holiday breaks.

The local camping car market, which was initially formed with imported trailers from 2010, gained momentum in 2013 with the launch of the motorhome Starex camping car by the nation’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor.

Sales of recreational vehicles in the local auto market have jumped to roughly 8,000 units this year from less than 3,000 units in 2012, according to the Korea Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. The figure combines sales of both motorhomes -- self-propelled recreational vehicles -- and caravans -- trailers towed behind a road vehicle.

“The recreational vehicle market here is expected to hit 10,000 units this year with the demand growing among young families, who seek to enjoy more convenient outdoor activities,” Kwon Min-jae, vice president of Korea Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, told The Korea Herald by phone.

“Camping is increasingly being regarded as a casual weekend activity rather than a big event carried out once a year,” he added.

Consumers driving the market are also becoming younger, to those in their 40s and late 30s, and the demand for smaller and cheaper vehicles is growing. 

“The best-selling cars are now more compact and affordable ones at around 20 million won ($16,800) to 30 million won,” said Cho Woong, manager of Bluebird Enterprise, a local distributer of trailers imported from Germany’s Knaus, America’s Airstream and the U.K. Swift Group.

The camping car market is expected by industry experts to grow further with Hyundai Motor being ready to roll out a new recreational vehicle Solati this year, a bigger and more upgraded version of Starex, which was launched in 2013.

Sales of Starex was restricted by the government until last year to protect small camping car manufacturers but the quota was lifted this year. The automaker plans to expand the sales of recreational vehicles with a new launch of Solati slated to be on display at Busan Motor Show in June. 

“We plan to expand the recreational vehicle market this year as we have noticed the rising demand for the cars (through the launch of Starex),” Hyundai Motor’s spokesperson said.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)