Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Sunday
Road Warriors Take Britain by Storm
Aired May 04, 2003 - 18:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So, do you have plans for the summer? Well, if you're like millions of Americans your summer vacation may have you hitching up the family car to a camper and heading out to a state park.
Well, apparently the British are now getting the same idea, and as Jim Boulden explains, it is creating a whole new breed of British road warrior.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don't call these caravans, these are motor homes, some costing more than $80,000, and despite the hefty price sales in much of Europe are rising quickly. And this one costs about 30?
JOHN DE MIER, MOTORHOME INFO SERVICE: Thirty thousand pounds, yes.
BOULDEN: Thirty thousand pounds, about $50,000.
DE MIER: It's worth every penny of it. It's got four berths. It's got a shower (unintelligible), full kitchen there, fridge.
BOULDEN: None of the recent success is a surprise to motor home manufacturers. Customers are feeling flush after Britain's housing boom and some are looking for a second home on wheels.
DE MIER: We've got people now saying, okay, I'm 50. I'm not going to work full time anymore but I am going to be on six months on, six months off. These things are perfect for that kind of activity.
BOULDEN: But it's not just the over 50s anymore.
DAVID LEGGETT, JUSTAUTO.COM: There are also customers, younger customers, people who like to go surfing, that kind of thing. Those kinds of guys are emerging as a new kind of customer for the traditional motor home or caravan.
BOULDEN (on camera): Just a few years ago, the British motor home industry would see about a three to four percent increase in sales year on year. But because of the fear of terrorism and the change in demographics, 2002 saw a 16 percent increase in sales and this year is looking just as robust.
IAN CAPES, AUTO-SLEEPERS: Seriously what happened was we looked at it and spoke to all our (unintelligible) providers.
BOULDEN: Ian Capes led a buyout of Britain's largest manufacturer, Auto-Sleepers, just before the boom. His priority was giving motor homes the same creature comforts of a luxury car. Why do you think it changed and changed so dramatically?
CAPES: I think the benefit we've had is the marketplace itself has had a lot of growth, the product enhancements and the upscale customers now coming into it. I've seen a change in the whole industry. There is this issue of fear of travel, both from terrorism and more recently with SARS and the take up of that disease.
BOULDEN: And while sales are up strongly, rentals are through the roof. Vivanti Holiday Rentals has seen bookings up 80 percent so far this year. Their Web site is bringing in young families who wouldn't have dreamed of a touring holiday in the past. But a fear of traveling to Europe is hurting a part of their business.
DAVID PUTT, VIVANTI RENTALS: Whereas last year we were getting tour operator people working quite well for us, this year it's almost dropped off completely. Now that probably means people from Australia and South Africa and particularly America just don't want to fly.
BOULDEN: Expansion, takeovers, bigger motor homes, all are on the cards for Europe's motor home industry as it's betting the good times will roll on.
Jim Boulden CNN, Broadway, England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 4, 2003 - 18:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So, do you have plans for the summer? Well, if you're like millions of Americans your summer vacation may have you hitching up the family car to a camper and heading out to a state park.
Well, apparently the British are now getting the same idea, and as Jim Boulden explains, it is creating a whole new breed of British road warrior.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don't call these caravans, these are motor homes, some costing more than $80,000, and despite the hefty price sales in much of Europe are rising quickly. And this one costs about 30?
JOHN DE MIER, MOTORHOME INFO SERVICE: Thirty thousand pounds, yes.
BOULDEN: Thirty thousand pounds, about $50,000.
DE MIER: It's worth every penny of it. It's got four berths. It's got a shower (unintelligible), full kitchen there, fridge.
BOULDEN: None of the recent success is a surprise to motor home manufacturers. Customers are feeling flush after Britain's housing boom and some are looking for a second home on wheels.
DE MIER: We've got people now saying, okay, I'm 50. I'm not going to work full time anymore but I am going to be on six months on, six months off. These things are perfect for that kind of activity.
BOULDEN: But it's not just the over 50s anymore.
DAVID LEGGETT, JUSTAUTO.COM: There are also customers, younger customers, people who like to go surfing, that kind of thing. Those kinds of guys are emerging as a new kind of customer for the traditional motor home or caravan.
BOULDEN (on camera): Just a few years ago, the British motor home industry would see about a three to four percent increase in sales year on year. But because of the fear of terrorism and the change in demographics, 2002 saw a 16 percent increase in sales and this year is looking just as robust.
IAN CAPES, AUTO-SLEEPERS: Seriously what happened was we looked at it and spoke to all our (unintelligible) providers.
BOULDEN: Ian Capes led a buyout of Britain's largest manufacturer, Auto-Sleepers, just before the boom. His priority was giving motor homes the same creature comforts of a luxury car. Why do you think it changed and changed so dramatically?
CAPES: I think the benefit we've had is the marketplace itself has had a lot of growth, the product enhancements and the upscale customers now coming into it. I've seen a change in the whole industry. There is this issue of fear of travel, both from terrorism and more recently with SARS and the take up of that disease.
BOULDEN: And while sales are up strongly, rentals are through the roof. Vivanti Holiday Rentals has seen bookings up 80 percent so far this year. Their Web site is bringing in young families who wouldn't have dreamed of a touring holiday in the past. But a fear of traveling to Europe is hurting a part of their business.
DAVID PUTT, VIVANTI RENTALS: Whereas last year we were getting tour operator people working quite well for us, this year it's almost dropped off completely. Now that probably means people from Australia and South Africa and particularly America just don't want to fly.
BOULDEN: Expansion, takeovers, bigger motor homes, all are on the cards for Europe's motor home industry as it's betting the good times will roll on.
Jim Boulden CNN, Broadway, England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
