Erwin Hymer Group says none of its brands will be going to any major show in Europe for the rest of 2020, because of the impact of the Covid-19.

Although it said this decision had been made  “across the entire Erwin Hymer Group” Erwin Hymer UK was insisting this week that it had not yet decided not to take its brands to the NEC.

The UK branch of the company, whose brands include Elddis and Compass, and Xplore and Buccaneer in caravans, said it was still waiting for guidance from the NEC show’s organiser, NCC Events.

Hymer in Germany made the announcement shortly after the organisers of Caravan Salon, the world’s largest motorcaravanning show, said this year’s show will be going ahead in Düsseldorf, just a week later than planned.

Hymer president Christian Bauer said, “The health of our employees, customers and trading partners is our top priority. The requirements that will continue to be imposed by the coronavirus pandemic in the coming months will make a relaxed atmosphere and in-depth conversations between people impossible.”

Along with Hymer and the UK brands, Hymer’s other brands include Dethleffs, Sunlight, Niessman + Bischoff, Bürstner, Etrusco and Carado in Germany, and Laika in Italy.

Christian Bauer said that instead the company has already been investing in increased use of contactless consultations and digital platforms. “We’re confident that we’ll be able to continue offering our customers a product experience that is as emotional as it is informative,” he said.

In contrast, Knaus Tabbert has welcomed the decision to carry on with this year’s Caravan Salon, which will run from 5 to 13 September. The company, whose brands include Knaus itself and Weinsberg, said it was confident the show would be “exciting, interesting and successful despite the current circumstances”.