British motorhome brand Elddis has a new owner – the Erwin Hymer Group. The German manufacturer has bought The Explorer Group, which owns Elddis, outright.

The Erwin Hymer Group says the acquisition will give it a stronger foothold in the second largest European market and says otherwise it is very much business as usual.

Despite the sale, The Explorer Group’s management is to remain unchanged, but the company is to be rechristened Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd, with Rob Quine continuing as managing director.

Production of the same Autoquest, Accordo and Encore Elddis motorhomes will continue in Consett, County Durham.

Spotlight on the UK?

Elddis have a reputation for making affordable and honest motorhomes. And as well as the brand’s trio of model ranges, Elddis ’vans form the basis of a host of dealer specials, including the Marquis Majestic range, one of Britain’s biggest-selling line-ups.

The acquisition suggests that the big Continental manufacturing groups are keenly eying up the UK at the moment.

It comes just weeks after the French Trigano Group, which already owns Auto-Trail in the UK, took a majority share in Auto-Sleepers and the Marquis Leisure dealership network.

Alongside Hymer itself, the Erwin Hymer Group already owns Niesmann+Bischoff, Laika, Bürstner, Dethleffs, Carado and Sunlight. By acquiring Elddis it takes on a brand that currently represents 11% of the UK motorhome market.

UK sales and marketing activities of all those other Erwin Hymer brands will now fall under the auspices of Erwin Hymer Group UK.

Investing for the future

Erwin Hymer Group chief executive Martin Brandt said: “By acquiring The Explorer Group we are strengthening our involvement in the UK. Our aim is to further expand our strong position in Europe and to become a global supplier of high-quality motorhomes and caravans.”

Rob Quine said: “It is fantastic that a successful organisation like the Erwin Hymer Group is investing in our future. As a new member of the group, we will have access to unique know-how and expertise. We will exploit this strategic opportunity to create permanent added value for our customers.”

He added that the attractiveness of the Elddis brand had been improved considerably in recent times, with the implementation of its SoLiD construction seeing sales doubling over the past eight years: “Explorer has now invested over eight years into the development of SoLiD. This makes us the only provider of fully structurally bonded caravans and motorhomes in the UK.”