Happy campers

Insight summary

• •Outdoorsy, founded by Jen Young and Jeff Cavins, connects RV owners with renters and faced initial investor rejection but raised $50m in 2023.
• •Demand for Outdoorsy rentals surged 1,500% from April to mid-May 2023, driven by a global youth movement favoring camper vans.
• •In Europe, companies like Yescapa and Indie Campers target young customers wanting affordable camper van experiences without high purchase costs.
• •Camper van sales are growing worldwide: Japan saw a 63% increase (2012-2018), the US 15.9% year-on-year, and in Europe vans now compose nearly 40% of the motorised caravanning market.
• •The compact camper van trend includes customizable base vehicles and models like the Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo and Volkswagen Transporter conversions.
• •Westfalia, a historical camper van innovator in Germany, produces 7,000 vehicles annually and influences the global market, including US and European models.
• •Active travel trends and post-COVID preferences for self-contained, flexible holidays have boosted camper van popularity globally.