2024 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:13
The VW California is popular with customers. The 10,000 mark will fall for the first time this year. Head of Development Ludanek also attests the potential of the new Crafter, which is in the starting blocks, as a motorhome.
The general motorhome boom is also driving the bestselling camper van VW California to ever new heights. Harald Ludanek, who has only been the new head of development at Volkswagen's commercial vehicle division for a few months, proudly announced on the eve of the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon that the 10,000 mark could even fall for the first time this year.
"In 2015 we achieved a record result of 9,100 Californias. In the current year we are already around 7,000 copies after seven months." That means an increase of 14 percent. Although the VW camper is a sinfully expensive vehicle that is well equipped and can quickly reach regions from 60,000 to 70,000 euros, the T6 vehicles with pop-up roofs are produced in three shifts at the Hanover-Limmer plant in order to keep delivery times halfway through To get a grip. In the best case scenario, a new car customer has to wait six months for his California. But it can also take longer than a full year.
Crafter with wet room
With such a run on the VW camper that was newly introduced last year, the desire for profound changes is superfluous, which is why the Hanoverians are more cautious with their innovations in Düsseldorf and only add a little color with the Ocean special models Red, Blue and Gray bring. The two-tone paintwork known from the T6 transporter in combination with white is also found in the motorhome variant, including the pop-up roof in the corresponding color.
Harald Ludanek also indicated that a new chapter in motorhomes could be opened as early as next year. "The new Crafter, which we will be introducing shortly, has great potential in this regard," explains the chief developer, pointing out the numerous assistance and safety systems. So far, they have been used sparingly in the caravan sector, but are becoming more important for the not so young clientele. Another plus point is that a wet cell with toilet and shower can finally be implemented on the Crafter basis.
But more shouldn't be revealed just yet, said Ludanek - even if the name Sven Hedin was often mentioned that evening, a high-roof classic that was once built at Westfalia on the predecessor LT, but also available as a Crafter upgrade until 2009 was. Whether you look for cooperation partners or produce a Crafter motorhome, whatever it looks like, on your own, is a question of costs, says Ludanek. "But everything is conceivable." (SP-X)
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