Carado on the road to success
Carado’s consistent product and marketing concept of outstanding quality “Made in Germany” and unbeatable value for money has become well established on the market in recent years. Carado customers can enjoy the best time of the year safe in the knowledge of having bought a high-quality product at a fair price. “Smart customers choose Carado!“ is how Senior Sales Director Thomas Gross sums up the company’s brand philosophy.
Though still a young brand, Carado has already seen a marked increase in its sales for last season.
The current season 2010/2011 has brought a continuation of this positive trend. By 31.08.2011, approximately 1,700 Carado motorhomes and caravans will have left the production line at Capron GmbH, an increase of well over 30 percent on the previous year.
The Carado vehicles are made at Capron GmbH in Neustadt, near Dresden. In total, over 3,400 vehicles will be produced this season (up to 31.08.2011) by the currently 190-strong workforce.
Together with its network of dealers, the Carado team has set itself the target of delivering over 2,000 recreational vehicles to satisfied customers in the 2010/2011 season.
In order to achieve this, Carado is implementing a range of product, market and customer-oriented measures.
The caravan market in particular offers further growth potential. In addition to the existing caravan models, customers can now look forward to a new lightweight, compact and reasonably priced caravan range – ideal for smaller towing vehicles. The new range is set to launch in 2012 with three new layouts – C 160 L, C 161 L and C 167 L – and will be positioned in the low-end, entry-level segment with a basic price starting at 8,999.- euros. This concept is designed to ease pressure not only on the customer’s wallet, but on the environment, too. It also completes the lower end of Carado’s caravan range in order to make better use of the existing market potential.
The coming season has great things in store for Carado motorhome fans, too. The alcove model A 361 has been almost entirely revamped, for example. A family vehicle through and through, with rear bunk beds, a large seating area and an extra-roomy alcove, this model now accommodates up to six people with a length of just 6.63 metres and a gross vehicle weight rating of 3.5 tonnes.
The latest addition to the range of semi-integrated motorhome layouts is the new T 448 model. This vehicle is set to wow customers in the coming season with its twin rear beds, large fold-down bed over the seating area and spacious garage. The increasingly popular T 449 model – featuring a queen-size rear bed with all-round access – will be available with a high-quality bathroom in 2012.
What’s more, the interior design of all motorhomes will be further enhanced with a fresh new look for the overhead locker doors, lending the vehicles a distinctive, feel-at-home ambience.
All Carado motorhomes for the 2012 model year are built on a Fiat Ducato low frame or ladder frame with a wide-track chassis. As for the engines, there are three different options to choose from – from the economic 115-hp Multijet through the sophisticated 130-hp model to the sporty 2.3 litre, 148-hp version. Needless to say, all engines conform to EU Regulation No. 715/2007, under the EURO 5 emissions standard.
The policy of good quality at a low price is likewise reflected in the price structure. All 2012 model motorhomes in the basic version with the new 115-hp engine and wide track Fiat chassis cost only 300 euros more than the previous year’s 100-hp version, for example. On the other hand, Carado has reduced the premium for the 130-hp engine by comparison with the 2011 price, so that a 2012 model Carado motorhome with a 130-hp engine actually costs slightly less than before.
This consistent pricing policy applies equally to the caravan sector, where the previous season’s prices have been successfully held despite the difficult market conditions. The same goes for the new lightweight caravan range described above, whose basic price ranges between 8,999.- and 9,999.- euros.
Thanks to the extended product portfolio, new innovations and attractive pricing, Carado is ideally equipped for the new model year and can look forward with great optimism to the coming season with its total of 21 models – four alcoves, seven semi-integrateds and ten caravans. At the same time, the new communication and marketing measures will help put the brand across with a greater freshness and self-confidence than ever before.
As for the Carado team – reinforced since the beginning of 2011 with new sales and marketing staff – they look forward to presenting the new models to customers and inspiring them with the unique Carado feeling.
