Production of the Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 is coming to an end which will also see production of the Volkswagen California using the current platform finish too. To commemorate the last of this generation of California camper vans, Volkswagen is to produce a special "Last Edition" model for the final 1500 production units of their hugely popular California.

The last 1,500 VW California camper vans will roll off the production line in Hanover-Limmer by the end of the summer and to celebrate their departure VW is adding a little finishing touch.

Each of the last camper vans will receive a sticker on the D-pillar with the designation "Last Edition".

The California 6.1 has been on sale since 2019 and was the latest in a long line of dedicated camper van models from the Volkwagen van line-up. A the time, new features included a touchscreen in the roof console to control all the essential camper settings.

All models of the Volkswagen California, in the Beach, Coast and Ocean trim options are now sold out.

Speculation as to what will replace the California has been rife after Volkswagen entered into a product sharing agreement with Ford for their commercial vehicles.

The next generation of Volkswagen Transporter will be built by Ford and based on the latest Ford Transit Custom. Volkswagen has also developed its own mid-sized platform that would be suitable for a camper model. The Volkswagen Multivan is an obvious choice for the next generation of California as it is available in multiple powertrains including a Multivan PHEV.

An extension to the California range was also expected using the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo platform, however, VW Commercial Vehicles CEO Carstan Intra recently confirmed that the ID Buzz California would not be an immediate priority and won't arrive until later this decade. Intra also revealed that VW would continue to build its own large vans with an electrified Volkswagen e-Crafter model arriving by 2028. Previously, Volkswagen has chosen to produce a Grand California version using the Volkswagen Crafter platform.

The world premiere of the next Volkswagen California will take place on May 7, 2024 in Berlin.

Citroën will enter the camper market after showing a new Type Holidays camper at the Düsseldorf Caravan Show which mimics the famous Type H van.

The new camper is a one-off built on the Citroen SpaceTourer model with a pop-up roof, bench seat that converts into a bed, fold-down table eating area and a kitchen.

Designed to look like the H van – most commonly found now as mobile food trucks at trendy street food markets – the concept is the first in what will become a range of campers built on the Citroen SpaceTourer model with the same interior layout as the H van.

The Type Holidays camper is the work of Italian coachbuilder Caselani who have in the past also created other ‘neo-retro’ bodies of Citroen models.

It gets a pop-up roof, which is high enough to allow someone to stand upright in the living space area. It is also large enough to fit a double bed, giving the van space for four when using the fold flat bed of the rear bench seats. The rear bench seat is also completely removable to improve storage space, while the two front seats are swivelling captain chairs that can rotate to the living area to give comfortable four seat dining around the fold-out table.

There’s a complete kitchen with a cooking area, mini sink and fridge as well as several storage cupboards for pots and pans.

The retro exterior styling imitates the corrugated look of the original Type H van but combined with a modern interior suitable for a family getaway. Although Citroen is the second largest supplier of motorhome chassis in Europe, the Type Holidays is the beginning of a new line of camper van models set to be part of the Citroen range.

Citroen says that the brand will introduce a dedicated range of camper vans that will be sold through the Citroën network, in the coming months. More details will be available later on in the year.

Ford has unveiled the eagerly anticipated camper version of its Ford Transit Custom with the next generation Ford Transit Custom Nugget Camper van.

Designed in collaboration with camper converter Westfalia, the Nugget offers a mix of new tech and interior innovations with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant scheduled to join the range and a new zonal interior layout.

The Nugget gets Westfalia's multi-zone interior layout, with sleeping, seating and cooking areas in the camper. It also has several new advanced driving systems, premium materials and even an optional solar roof.

Hans Schep, Ford Pro general manager said: “The leisure market is really really important. The product has gone from strength to strength and production is at around 30,000 units. Since expanding into other markets outside of Germany, it’s been really successful.

[Ford is] reinventing the Nugget for a digital age, an opportunity to electrify it – and its obviously connected.”

The launch of the next-generation Nugget will be a phased process, beginning with the introduction of the Nugget Titanium series featuring a tilt roof and 170PS EcoBlue engine. It will also be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Orders via Ford dealers will start from 25 August 2023 with deliveries expected to commence in spring 2024. Additional models, including the anticipated PHEV variant, are scheduled to be introduced within the next year.

The PHEV powertrain will use the drivetrain from Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, combining a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an 11.8kWh battery and electric motor. Together they will have a combined output of 229hp, including the ability for pure-electric driving.

The all-new Nugget showcases improvements not only in its powertrain but also in its chassis design, featuring independent rear suspension and an all-wheel drive variant will also cater to customers wanting to explore rugged terrains.

The camper's interior get a large 13-inch touchscreen with Ford's SYNC 4 software for navigation, entertainment and communication. There’s also wireless smartphone mirroring with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard.

Safety and convenience systems in the Nugget include Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring, Reverse Brake Assist and a 360-degree camera system.

The dedicated zones for cooking, living, and sleeping including an optimised kitchen layout, heated rotating captain's chairs, expanding roof and even an outdoor shower system.

“Nugget is about helping owners discover new places – and with the extra comfort, connectivity and PHEV option of the new model, they can go further than ever. Customers tell us they use their Nuggets as family cars, to get friends and bikes to the next trail, or as a more exciting kind of retirement plan, so we designed our latest Nugget to do it all,” added Schep.

MAN has unveiled its new MAN TGE based Camper Van at the Dusseldorf camper van show.

The MAN TGE with a camper high roof is available as a factory option and provides a standing height of over two metres to improve comfort and liveability.

The Camper Van gets MAN’s Individual Lion S package, which gives the camper van a distinctive design from the regular van with features like MAN’s lion-themed exterior mirror caps, stainless steel bumper trim, a roof edge spoiler, red colour accents, and ambient cabin lighting.

The MAN TGE Camper Van base vehicle is equipped with an automatic step on the right sliding door, complete with integrated obstacle detection (Autostop). Additionally, the vehicle features a body widening in the rear area, known as "sleeping jaws," which maximizes available space and sleeping comfort, especially with transversely installed beds.

Also available in the MAN TGE Camper Van base vehicle is 4-channel air suspension. This air suspension system offers an auto-levelling function for stationary levelling and manual height adjustment for tasks like emptying water tanks. It has three driving modes (Onroad, Offroad, and Offroad+) where drivers can adapt to various road conditions to improve ride comfort and load distribution.

MAN Individual also introduces an underride guard, a 5 mm thick aluminium sheet with integrated air inlets and water drainage openings. This guard offers enhanced protection for components such as the engine, transmission, fuel tank, AdBlue tank, and differential.

In collaboration with in-house tuner MAN Individual, the TGE's engine power also gets an upgrade to 202hp and recognising the demand for off-roading there’s also an all-wheel drive option.  

Also revealed at the show was the Ford Nugget camper based on the Ford Transit Custom van.

"We have gained a foothold in the caravanning industry and are pleased about the lively demand from motorhome manufacturers and their customers. The very high product quality of the TGE with excellent handling at passenger car level and a comprehensive selection of assistance and safety systems are among the strengths of the MAN TGE," said Thomas Herzog, head of international key account management van at MAN.