Sixth Beijing Show Slated to Run March 21-24

The Sixth Beijing International RV and Camping Exhibition will be held March 21-24 in Beijing’s Fangshan district, according to a press release.

The biannual event, initiated in 2010, is currently the country’s largest and most well-known expo focused on recreation vehicles and camping. Nearly 300 exhibitors and 300,000 visitors from home and abroad are expected to attend this year’s expo.

The expo, which opens with a trade-only day, offers consumers great opportunities to explore various RVs and accessories, as well as outdoor and camping products produced by preeminent international companies.

RVs and motorhomes on display will feature units from leading brands in China and abroad, including Great Wall Motor, CenTech Specialty Vehicles and Beijing North RV, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Jayco Inc., Knaus Tabbert, Hymer and Camp-let.

The fifth show, which was held Aug. 8-12 last year received nearly 200 exhibitors and about 30,000 visitors. More than 400 RVs were shown on site and deals inked totaled around $47.6 million.

The event is hosted by Beijing Tourism Development Commission, the People’s Government of Fangshan, Beijing and China RV & Camping Association.

 

 

China to Enact First Regulation on RV Industry

China’s first regulation for the recreational vehicle industry will likely be launched this year. The regulation was initiated by the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration and is being jointly created by tourism authorities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.

The standards are in the final stages of drafting and the first part, which deals with camps for recreational vehicles, will go into effect later this year, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.

The newspaper quoted an anonymous source as saying that the first batch of camps will be built in first-tier cities in Shanghai and in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.

Shanghai has plans to build 14 caravan parks. An association for RV tourism will also be established soon.

The Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration told China Daily that details of the draft couldn’t be revealed yet because the process is still ongoing.

Zhu Guojian, vice director at the administration’s policy and regulation department, said that all kinds of segments from the RV industry, ranging from production to sales to operations, are looking forward to regulation.

Shanghai’s website eastday.com quoted Jin Xinghua, who’s in charge of a local RV club, as saying that “the consumers still regard recreational vehicles as a transportation mode rather than a tourism concept”.

Jin said that he’s glad to see that authorities are paying attention to the industry.

Beijing RV, Camping Show Set For March 21-24

The 6th Beijing International RV and Camping Exhibition will be held from March 21-24 in Fangshan, representing the largest RV show in China.

The event, held in the Beijing RV Expo Center, is hosted by the Beijing Tourism Development Commission, People’s Government of Fangshan and the Beijing China RV & Camping Association. A trade day will be held on March 21 followed by three public days.

Organizers report that exhibits will include a range of motorized and towable RVs along with RV parts and accessories, outdoor/camping products and representatives from campgrounds and parks.

The Beijing International RV and Camping Exhibition launched in 2010. Last year’s show ran from Aug. 8-12, concurrent with the China RV and Camping Rally, and featured more than 100 exhibitors and 400 RVs on site while attendance totaled around 30,000.

 

Airstream Inc. Expanding International Footprint

Airstream Inc. announced it has appointed new dealers in China, South Korea and Australia as part of the company’s global expansion strategy.

According to a press release, Airstream will manufacture and assemble the trailers at the company’s factory in Jackson Center, Ohio, but redesign the units to “fit the unique specifications of each country.” Once completed, the units will be shipped abroad to independent dealers in each market.

Airstream said its three new dealers in China, located in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen, will service a “burgeoning population of consumers that are discovering the RV lifestyle.” As China continues to grow its campground infrastructure, Airstream expects to be a brand in demand by both traditional RVers and collectors because of its iconic American design.

Airstream’s retail expansion into South Korea and Australia allows the brand to “tap into existing RV markets and reach outdoor adventure enthusiasts looking for a well-built RV that represents the highest of quality and design.”

Airstream is already established in the UK, continental Europe and Japan, and is evaluating interest from other markets including South America, South Africa and Russia.

“The addition of these five dealers to Airstream’s global network is a key part of the company’s long-term strategy that we anticipate will generate a new group of passionate Airstreamers abroad,” said Airstream CEO and President Bob Wheeler. “Advancing Airstream’s international business with the right partners is the key to our success in foreign markets, and through the highly selective process I feel we have found great representatives in these new countries.”

In China, Airstream will operate under the name Flying Cloud by Airstream Inc., USA, and produce units no larger than 23 feet and 2.5 meters wide in accordance with regulations set by China’s department of transportation. By early 2013, each dealer across China, South Korea and Australia will have product inventory available including the Sport, Flying Cloud and International models.

Additional information on the new dealers includes:

• Shanghai, China: Ameritrade Trading Ltd. will represent Airstream in Shanghai. The dealership owner has a deep fondness for the brand, so much so that he named his son Wally after Airstream founder Wally Byam. As former president of the Harley Owners Group in Shanghai, the dealer has a unique understanding of how to market American products to the Chinese.

• Beijing, China: LanDE currently has a network of Jaguar/Land Rover dealerships and has an outstanding reputation for attention to detail and customer service in the luxury automobile sector. The Beijing retailer brings a blend of successful business background with knowledge and passion for Airstream and the lifestyle it represents.

• Xiamen, China: Smart Hero, based in the picturesque city of Xiamen, has a diversified portfolio of unique dealership businesses. They are the authorized Chinese dealer of recreational products such as Cessna aircraft, John Deere utility vehicles, and Sea Ray Yachts. The addition of Airstream travel trailers to their current lineup of these well-known brands is intended to establish Smart Hero as the marquis dealer of high-end recreational products.

• Bateman’s Bay, Australia: A&A Industries will operate Airstream Australia and specializes in providing recreational vehicles to high-end luxury travelers who want to experience long term travel on the open roads. Wheeler recently attended the grand opening of Airstream Australia as the brand’s official launch in the market.

• Seoul, South Korea: Bluebird RV is a full-service RV dealership in Seoul that retains the experience and manpower to make Airstream a key competitor in the market. The dealership’s location provides access to more than 400 commercial campgrounds and national parks.

ATC Show in Beijing Attracts 10,000 Attendees

The recent debut of the ATC Show 2012 in Beijing demonstrated the growing RV and camping industry in “China,” according to a press release.

Jointly organized by Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai Co. Ltd. and YASN International Exhibition Co. Ltd., the trade fair attracted 242 Chinese and international exhibitors displaying motorhomes, RVs and RV accessories as well campsite management and development companies. Offering 215,200 square feet of exhibit space, the event drew over 10,000 visitors. A wide range of ancillary events, such as forums, conferences and games complemented the exhibits.

Hans Werner Reinhard, deputy managing director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH and chairman of Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd., commented: “With the first ‘All in Caravaning Annual Conference’ and the first All in Caravaning show, Messe Düsseldorf has expanded its activities in the Chinese market. I’m very pleased that our company has been part of this debut.We, as the organizers of the No. 1 trade fair for RVs and mobile homes – Caravan Salon International Düsseldorf – will do our utmost to promote our common Chinese activities to the benefit of our exhibitors, visitors and partners.”

Reinhard reported that All in Caravaning 2012 was well-received by the exhibitors and the lively atmosphere in the exhibition halls confirmed the growth of the RV industry in China. The target group of RV customers has increased from a few “RV enthusiast” to the general public.

The industry also witnessed considerable developments in infrastructure and the overall quality of industry employees and “companies from the U.S. and Europe showed great interest in entering the Chinese RV market,” according to the release.

Hesselbart Addresses National China RV Rally

Al Hesselbart, RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum historian, curator and librarian, recently returned from an historic trip to Beijing, China, where he one of the keynote speakers at the 1st National China RV Rally. According to a press release, Hesselbart spoke to a large crowd on the America’s RV history and evolution.

“I was tremendously honored to be invited to speak at this historic event,” Hesselbart said. “My thanks go out to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) for referring me and to the China Tourist Bureau and the First National China Rally Organizing Committee for making me feel welcome.”

According to Hesselbart, the show’s promoters described the event as a rally, but he noted it was unique by American standards.

“The rally which was held in conjunction with the 15th FICC (Federation International des Camping and Caravanning) rally was truly an international event,” he said. “It was attended by representatives of the RVing associations and industry from countries around the world. Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Korea, Japan and more were represented and most of them referred to the USA as the most active RVing country. The U.S., however, was noticeably absent on both sides, consumer and industry, with a few US products displayed by Chinese distributors.”

Hesselbart observed in several presentations that the Chinese unit balance is over 80% motorized and 15% to 20% towable including both tent campers and travel trailers. He noted, “No fifth-wheel units were shown. Chinese highway laws limit trailers to no more than 8 meters (25 feet) in length so the trailers, as well as the motorized units, were small by U.S. standards. The most prevalent brands of imported units were Hobby and Fendt from Germany as well as a few from Landhaus and some Isuzu-based motorized rigs.

“The motorized units were primarily small diesel units built on Mercedes and Isuzu chassis with a note that Fiat chassis had previously been used but are politically banned from import to China at this time. The towable units showed a wide variety of design from some unique folding campers, through teardrops, and conventional travel trailers.”

The largest RV shown was a Jayco Melbourne Class C on a Ford chassis. It was the only motorized unit noted to have an automatic transmission, the Chinese favoring manual shifting on their vehicles, according to Hesselbart.

Hesselbart concluded, “In my opinion the event which was held at the Xiedao Resort in September, was very well run, and Millian Hu and Sarah Song, the rally organizers, are to be congratulated on a job well done.”

Hesselbart to Keynote During Beijing RV Show

Al Hesselbart, RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum historian, curator and librarian, has been invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the 1st National China RV Show.

According to a press release, the event will be held at the Xiedao Resort in Beijing from Sept. 12-16.

The show is sponsored by the FICC Asia-Pacific Commission, the China Tourism Automobile and Cruise Association and the China Tourist Attractions Association.

According to Hesselbart, he was contacted by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) General Counsel Craig Kirby in June and asked whether or not he would consider being a guest speaker at a large RV show in Beijing. Several Chinese business people who are sponsoring the event had contacted RVIA about providing a speaker on the evolution of the RV industry in the United States.

“When I accepted, I was contacted by Ed Han, director of the RVIA Asia Project, who put me in contact with the show staff in China,” Hesselbart said.

Hesselbart intends to present an illustrated lecture on the evolution of the U.S. RV industry through its first 100 years. “I hope to amaze, educate and entertain the Chinese audience on the rich and varied history of industry products,” he noted.

Besides his duties at the RV/MH Hall of Fame, Hesselbart is a frequent speaker at RV rallies and events across the United States. This trip to China will not be his first. In 2010 he was one of four U.S. representatives who participated in the 3rd Annual Hangzhou China Outdoor Lifestyle Show in support of the growing Chinese RV industry.

RVIA: 4th China Trade Mission Yields Progress

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) is reporting substantial progress in the trade organization’s efforts to facilitate the involvement of U.S. RV companies in the growth and development of the Chinese RV industry following a fourth trade mission to China.

According to a press release, RVIA President Richard Coon, RVIA Vice President and General Counsel Craig Kirby and RVIA Vice President of Standards and Education Bruce Hopkins visited Shanghai and Beijing June 19 to July 1 for a series of meetings with Chinese governmental agencies and other companies and organizations to discuss further establishing and growing the RV market within China.

One of the key achievements of the trip was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between RVIA and the China Automotive Technology and Resource Center (CATARC) to work together on RV standards issues. As a technical administrative body in the auto industry and a technical support organization to the Chinese government, CATARC assists the government in such activities as auto and RV standards development and product certification testing.

The group met with RVIA in Beijing on June 24 to discuss the current voluntary minimal RV standard developed by CATARC and to receive a briefing from Hopkins on the NFPA 1192 standard.

“This Memorandum of Understanding with CATARC is a significant step toward developing a more formal RV standard for China that is harmonized with our North American standards, which would be a boost to U.S. RV manufacturers and suppliers interested in doing business in the Chinese RV market,” said Coon.

In other key meetings, RVIA met with:

• The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers to discuss RVIA’s role on a new RV committee formed by the organization.

• The China Ministry of Transport to discuss road use regulations pertaining to RVs.

• The Shanghai Tourism Administration to discuss their RV and campground projects and to visit a potential campground site.

China Travel Services, the country’s leading travel services provider which operates an expansive campground near Beijing (which RVIA toured), to explore how the company can work with RVIA and its member companies.

• China National Tourism Administration representatives who are planning to establish an RV association and would like for RVIA to participate.

“These were very productive meetings that allowed us to begin addressing some of the regulatory and market barriers limiting the involvement of U.S. companies in the Chinese RV market,” said Coon. “We were also able to further develop relationships with key contacts to lay the groundwork for future efforts. And, we added to our knowledge of the Chinese RV market and business culture. It was a very successful trip.”

In addition, RVIA also met with foreign commercial services officers from the U.S. Embassy to enlist their support of RVIA’s efforts and scouted potential office locations while in Beijing.

 

VIDEO #3: China RV Industry Ready to Explode

Editor’s Note: Today’s video comes from Reuters, examining the burgeoning RV industry in China. To view the video scroll down the right side of the RVBUSINESS.com home page and click on the play button. Below is an excerpt from an accompanying story and a link to the complete version on the Reuters site.

Dong Xuemin can’t wait for weekends when he heads out with family or friends to the mountains north of Beijing or to a lake for a picnic.

As reported by Reuters, Dong is a “Red Ant” – a member of a club of urban Chinese who’ll find any excuse to hit the road, not in ordinary cars, but in recreational vehicles, those quintessential Western chariots of leisure transportation used by “Snowbirds” in North America typified by white-haired retirees heading south for the winter.

“RVs have a long and glorious history in the West,” says Dong, 41, who runs a logistics and storage business in Beijing where he stores his RV, boat, all-terrain vehicle and motorized surfboard. “Chinese are the same; we love the outdoors. So we’re learning the American and Western RV culture.”

China’s RV market is still minuscule compared to North America. Chinese buyers bought an estimated 1,000 RVs last year compared to more than 250,000 sold in the United States. A lack of government regulations, campgrounds, plumbing and decent roads in many parts of the country are among the challenges stalwart road-warriors face.

Experts, however, say the RV business in China is about to take off, benefiting domestic manufacturers and foreign makers alike. The RV China Association expects sales to increase 40% between 2012 and 2015 to close to 4,000.

To read the entire article by Reuters click here.

 

 

Beijing to Host Major RV Events Aug. 9-12

The fifth Beijing International RV & Camping Exhibition and the third China RVing & Camping Rally will be held Aug. 9-12 at the Beijing RV Exposition Center.

The show and rally began in 2010. Since then, one show in March and one show and one rally in August have become the largest events on RVing and camping in China, according to a news release from the show sponsors. Makers of caravans, motorhomes made in China and imports, accessories and camping equipments gather here to show and do business.

The show and rally also feature forums on RVing where industry representatives, experts and RV owners and outdoor enthusiasts attend to share information on this growing part of Chinese life.

To have a look at the March 2012 show, click here or visit www.rvchina.cn.

For more information on the show and rally, call 86-10-84644302 or e-mail to 21rv@163.com.

 

 

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