Auto-Sleepers has grown from a motorhoming-family business, started over 60 years ago, into an international business with a huge range of top-quality vehicles on offer.
Six decades of hands-on experience is reflected in the quality and design of the company’s vehicles, which maximise every bit of space in their motorhomes to offer a comfortable, practical and aspirational touring experience, right across the range.
The Auto-Sleeper portfolio is quite something, boasting eight Peugeot Campervans with prices from £71,950; seven Peugeot Coachbuilts starting at £75,600; two Peugeot AL-KO Coachbuilts from £85,205, and five Mercedes Coachbuilts with prices from £92,995.
Luxury comes as standard with Auto-Sleeper products, so, whether you want the compact versatility of the two-berth Symbol Peugeot Campervan or the outright indulgence of the Mercedes Burford Duo four-berth, you’ll find a vehicle here that’s perfect for your needs.
Auto-Sleepers cleverly combines all those years of learning from its customers with the very latest in touring technology.
Take its state-of-the-art Harmony Utility Management System, which features Auto-Sleepers’ LOCATE. This ingenious system lets you assess and control all the onboard facilities (battery, lights, water and heating) via the vehicle’s LCD touchscreen or remotely from your own digital device (new-vehicle owners receive a SIM card with three years of pre-paid data).
In addition, LOCATE is a Thatcham Cat 6-approved tracking system, which allows you to instantly find your vehicle should the worst happen.
Head over to the Auto-Sleepers website to find out more.
To find out more about the brand, we sat down with Geoff Scott, CEO of Auto-Sleepers Group, to find out more…
What do you do at Auto-Sleepers?
I’m the CEO of Auto-Sleepers Group. I oversee Auto-Sleepers and Marquis, with my fellow Director Mike Crouch. In my portfolio, I primarily look after the motorhome factory.
How did you get into the industry?
In 2001, I took a phone call: ‘Was I interested in joining an automotive business in the Cotswolds?’. What’s not to like about that? I decided to join the business in 2002. I was originally Group Finance Director.
What makes Auto-Sleepers the Best of British?
Auto-Sleepers is all about the product and attention to detail. It’s about the quality of the components and materials. It’s not one thing, but you bring all these ingredients together and you get a first-class motorhome.
When we’re designing a product, our first thought isn’t price, it’s what the product looks like and how it performs. Personally, I like creating things that bring great joy to customers.
What does the rest of 2023 hold in store for Auto-Sleepers?
Business is still challenging and the supply of things like chassis is sporadic at best. Notwithstanding that, we have to invest for the future, so we are launching the M-Star Mercedes Sprinter van, which we exhibited for the first time at the NEC in February.
We also hope to make headway with redeveloping the factory over the next 12 months. They’re pretty exciting times, but I would like some economic stability!
What are the key considerations when choosing a motorhome?
It’s all about layout… and does the layout work for the individual. The second thing is how they intend to use it: lots of weekend breaks or long jaunts on the Continent?
What are the biggest changes you can see happening within the industry over the next decade?
The evolution of electric and hybrid power within our sector. My personal view is that we’ll have to go hybrid in the interim.
We have to wait for the OEM chassis manufacturers, but, interestingly, over the next 18 months we’re going to start looking at some Ford electric vehicles, just to get an idea about what’s possible regarding weight, payload and range.
What makes the British touring scene so special?
It’s the diversity of our countryside… the fact that you can travel just 40 miles in any direction and get completely different scenery… and weather!
There’s also the joy and camaraderie of sharing motorhoming experiences with like-minded people.
What’s your top tip for anyone thinking of taking their first tour in Britain?
My favourite destination is North Devon. My kids are grown up now, but I have such amazing memories of simplistic family holidays there. A real joy.
Where might you go on your next tour, and in which motorhome?
I prefer an end-lounge layout, so I’d take the amazing Warwick Duo to North Wales.
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people!
I used to work with Damon Hill and Ross Brawn in Formula One. It was great fun and we all shared a common purpose. It’s important in work to have a sense of fun, and, in this industry, I believe we should be proud of what we help our customers to do.
Head to our Best of British: Manufacturers section to find out about the other leading names in the industry.
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