90 years Dethleffs: Pioneer and inventor of an industry

At that time, only a few people knew the word "leisure" and holidays were a privilege reserved for a few. Today, almost 90 years later, many people can hardly imagine life without caravanning and it has experienced a real boom in recent years. Reason enough for the Dethleffs company, which completely stopped the whip production in 1959 in favour of the caravan production and since 1983 also produces motorhomes, to pay special tribute to its company pioneer and his invention. The model year 2021 is filled with anniversary vehicles and special anniversary offers. In addition, the company, which has been based in Isny in Allgäu since its foundation, is still working on further surprises for the big anniversary next year.

The model program for the 90th birthday

The actual anniversary will not be celebrated until 2021, but the model program for this is already fixed. Special anniversary editions and attractive anniversary packages are available for both caravans and motorhomes. The new designoriented caravan series Aero, which was designed for young and young-at-heart campers and offers an attractive 90th anniversary package with comprehensive equipment as a birthday present, is the first of these. Of course, we have also thought of the motorhome owners. With the new anniversary low profile Just 90 the caravan and motorhome manufacturer Dethleffs, which has already been awarded the German Fairness Prize three times, offers a special incentive especially for beginners. Because it already has everything on board that is needed for a carefree camping trip. Additionally Dethleffs will present the Pulse Classic 90 as well as the Globetrotter XLI Edition as edition models with a special anniversary equipment package.

But also the Camper®, which like no other caravan series at Dethleffs stands for family and was especially designed for it, gets a fresh cell cure in the new model year. And the Nomad can look forward to three new layouts as a new addition to the family.

Chronicle of an idea

1832 – Foundation of the Dethleffs KG for the production of whips
1923 – A ski pole factory is added
1931 – "Not without my family," says Arist Dethleffs and invents the first caravan in Germany
1934 -The first customer models are called Tourist
1936 – 6 permanent employees are working in the department of caravan construction
1939 – The war slows down construction. Medical sledges are produced
1948 – Resumption of caravan production
1952 – Series production: The first Camper® rolls off the production line
1958 – Whip production is abandoned in favour of the strong demand for caravans
1966 – 60 employees build Dethleffs caravans in a continuous production
1973 – Construction of the new plant at the current location with 12.000 sqm production area
1974 – Dethleffs now has 235 employees and belongs to the ten largest German caravan manufacturers
1976 – Annual production is 4,700 caravans
1983 – Erwin Hymer takes over the Dethleffs company and the first Dethleffs motorhome, a pirate, rolls off the production line
1992 – Extension of the production by 6.300 qm
1996 – On 14 February Arist Dethleffs dies at the age of 88 years in Isny
2001 – A new production hall, a paint shop and a new main gate are built
2006 – Extension of the administration; In the 75th anniversary year of the caravan Dethleffs has more than 850 employees and produces 7.150 motorhomes and 5.950 caravans and generates more than 275 million Euros
2011 – The 80,000th motorhome rolls off the assembly line
2017 – Opening of a new workshop with 11.000 sqm production area
2019 – Dethleffs is awarded the German Fairness Prize for the third time in a row

Erwin Hymer Group

The Erwin Hymer Group is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Thor Industries, the world’s leading manufacturer of leisure vehicles with more than 25,000 employees worldwide. The Erwin Hymer Group unites motorhome and caravan manufacturers as well as motorhome and caravan accessory specialists, hire and financing services under one roof. The motorhome and caravan brands Buccaneer, Bürstner, Carado, Crosscamp, Compass, Dethleffs, Elddis, Eriba, Etrusco, Hymer, Niesmann+Bischoff, Laika, LMC, Roadtrek, Sunlight and Xplore, the motorhome rental companies McRent and rent easy, and also the chassis specialist Goldschmitt, the accessories specialist Movera and the touring portal freeontour all belong to the Erwin Hymer Group.