Evaluating caravan supply chains: Would ‘onshoring’ pay off?

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Can we build more of our caravans here in Australia — and make it stack up economically?

That’s the big question driving a new research project by Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s Luke Chippindale, who is investigating whether key caravan components could be made locally rather than imported from overseas.

Right now, we are heavily reliant upon international supply chains to help build our products, which makes our industry vulnerable to freight delays, cost blowouts, and global supply chain shocks. Luke’s research is taking a closer look at whether reshoring some of that manufacturing could make financial sense – especially for regional SMEs – and what role government policy, investment, and automation might play in making it viable. 

The study uses real-world data and economic modelling to compare the true cost of importing versus making locally, factoring in not just dollars and cents, but also reliability, risk, and long-term value. It is expected that the research will set a baseline for the future of potential regionalisation or “Glocal” manufacturing that sees a mix of international, regional and local manufacturers coming together to manufacture in order to shorten supply chains.

This is a critical conversation for the future of our sector—and we’re proud to support research that could help shape a stronger, more self-reliant caravan manufacturing industry in Australia. Luke will be engaging directly with a number of key industry stakeholders from manufacturers to industry leaders.

Stay tuned for more updates as the study progresses.

Read Luke’s Research Proposal: DOWNLOAD HERE

Watch a snippet from Episode 3 of the Under the Van podcast, where Luke unpacks the key drivers behind the push for onshoring.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify