EUROPE'S biggest caravan and motorhome manufacturer will launch a new value-for-money brand on the Australian market.

Hymer's Carado caravan

The Carado range of caravans and motorhomes from the Hymer Group was scheduled to begin Australian sales before the end of next month through Hymer's Australian distributor RV-Asia Pacific.

Principal Greg Scott expects the Carado range to capture a significant share of the local recreational vehicle market.

"Demand amongst Australian RV buyers for European quality and design has grown significantly in the last couple of years," he said.

"We are seeing a move by consumers towards stronger, lighter and more spacious RVs that feature a toilet and shower as standard.

"Hymer's Carado range will offer those advantages at a price that is very competitive when compared with locally made RVs," Mr Scott said.

His company is targeting a starting price for Carado caravans below $30,000 and for motorhomes at around $100,000.

The sharp prices for Carado recreational vehicles are the result of the huge economies of scale generated by the Hymer Group in Germany.

Since it began in the 1950s, Hymer has grown to become the largest, most successful recreational vehicle manufacturer in Europe.

Its buying power enables it to bulk-purchase construction materials for use across all their brands, including Hymer, LMC, Buerstner, Dethleffs, Eriba and now Carado.

"Hymer has streamlined its processes, eliminating unnecessary costs and minimising factory and office wastage, enabling the company to devote more resources towards standardising the quality of caravans and motorhomes produced," Mr Scott said.

"Carado can therefore offer construction, material quality and features considerably better than its price range would suggest."

Hymer launched the Carado brand in Germany in 2006 in response to the challenge from cheap imports from eastern and southern European countries.

The brand has been an immediate success in western European markets, thanks to its made-in-Germany quality at a competitive price.

Hymer became the world's first caravan and motorhome manufacturer to qualify for ISO 9001 quality assurance.

Carado motorhomes and caravans feature the most popular and approved sandwich construction.

The method is based on a wooden frame with 30mm-thick polystyrene inlays and guarantees excellent insulation values.

Interior walls are covered with patterned foil and the vehicle exterior offers a gloss hot-enamelled aluminium.

The Carado range of recreational vehicles destined for the local market will be specifically adapted to Australian conditions and safety standards.

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