Living on the road

Mobile homes and caravans are showcased at Caravan Salon Dusseldorf 2015 in Germany. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

In 2010, the two brands entered the Chinese market as an early bird, and began to promote and distribute their German-made RVs of Hobby and Fendt brands through agents in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities. Since then sales of the two brands have increased every year, Bonometti says.

"Caravaning means a change of lifestyle," he says, adding that while China is a big market, it will require time to realize its potential in this sector.

The caravans, mobile homes or trailers offer necessities such as kitchen, sofa and TV, and for Chinese working in the big cities, there's scope for fun on weekends－sports, playing cards, barbecue, drinking and more. Special RV models, with sockets and air conditioning, have also been produced for the Chinese market, in a bid to meet local customer demand, Bonometti says.

Chinese campsites usually don't have a shower, which is why the caravans are equipped with small bathrooms, and have more water storage space given the lack of refilling facilities at natural sites here.

For such foreign companies, the main target clients in China are the middle-aged people, who have the money and the aspiration to indulge in RVs.