Auto Trail Company Profile

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In 2002, to achieve the highest standards, the company invested in a brand new, state of the art factory at Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, purpose-planned to allow a skilled workforce to produce the best motorhomes in the UK. The company prides itself on the safety and construction methods employed within the manufacturing of its range of modern luxury motorhomes, all models conform with Quality Standards ISO 9002 and with all latest European norms governing motorhome construction and use.
Here, methods and materials are subject to intense scrutiny to attain the reliable, high quality expected of an Auto-Trail. The bodywork for each vehicle is uniquely individually precision-built on a rigid bogie to achieve accurate alignment of every component. Walls and floors are heat and vacuum bonded in one of the most modern facilities in Europe, and remember Auto-Trail bodywork provides standards of insulation that far exceed those in use by most other manufacturers. High levels of insulation are just one of the trademarks synonymous with Auto-Trail, levels which not only add extra strength, but importantly provide even more warmth in winter and naturally, cooler and more comfortable in summer.
   
Similar high standards and state-of-the-art production methods apply to furniture construction that uses solid ply panels for strength and durability. Hardwood doorframes use mortise joints, and drawers and bed sections are engineered to glide smoothly on domestic steel runners.

Being part of the famous European Trigano Group of companies, whose manufacturing facilities in France, Italy, Spain and the UK together produce many thousands of motorhomes each and every year, this joint knowledge and expertise helps us to apply equally stringent standards in sourcing every single purchased component, from timber to taps, from electronics to soft furnishings.
 

When the late Bill Boasman built his first motorhome in 1982, he can scarcely have realised that, two decades later, the company he had founded would be premier constructor of luxury motorhomes in the UK. In those early days the product was sold direct to the public, but even then the qualities built in to every Auto-Trail model brought growth to the company, and within five years, new, larger premises at Immingham were acquired.

Soon a network of dealers were established for the Auto-Trail products, and the reputation of the marque for quality and comfort increased hand in hand with growth in sales. It was during the 1980s, too, that the marque became distinguished by model names taken from tribes of North American Indians, symbolizing the way that Auto-Trail motorhomes bestow freedom to roam with their owners - though in luxury conditions that the Native Americans could never have imagined. Names like Arapaho, Mohican, Scout and Cheyenne have since become legendary in the world of motor caravanning.

In the early days, methods of manufacture were far simpler than the sophisticated operations of today, bodies could be fitted to many light commercial chassis. Volkswagen, Bedford, Ford and Peugeot were just some of the makes used, but it was Mercedes-Benz that the Auto-Trail name was to become especially associated, in recent years both the popular Fiat Ducato and the world famous Mercedes-Benz Euro Sprinter are the specialist base vehicles chosen to satisfy today's motorhome owner.
Throughout the 1990's sales continued to increase, new models where introduced, new designs and methods where employed, it was clear to see that Auto-Trail where quickly becoming one of the most popular ranges of leisure vehicles in the UK.

In 1998 Auto-Trail formed a partnership with Italy's Largest manufacturer of motorhomes, Caravan International. CI, as it is now better known, is part of the famous Europe wide Trigano Group. With a number of manufacturing plants in France, Italy and the UK, Trigano are of the largest manufacturers of motorhomes, holiday homes, touring caravans and camping trailers in Europe, as well as making many thousands of tents and well known Trio awnings.
With the additional resources that the Trigano Group backing can provide, Auto-Trail has gone from strength to strength. Its reputation for quality in build and materials has been matched with innovative designs tailored to the needs of the twentyfirst century motorhome owner and a range of models to suit almost every personal requirement has been developed.

Throughout the 2002 season, demand for Auto-Trail products reached new heights, as customers recognized the merits of the finest company product range to date. During the year the company relocated to a brand new, purpose-built production plant on the prestigious Europarc development, situated just outside Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire. Here some 110 people are currently employed in facility specially designed for leisure vehicle production, with state of the art machinery to implement production processes never seen before within this sector of the industry. GRP mouldings, furniture production and bonding processes are all at the cutting edge of technology, and the new factory will take the 2003 Auto-Trail range to fresh heights of quality and reliability as the brand celebrates its 21st anniversary.

With scope for substantial further increase in production over the next few years and design team widely regarded as the most talented in the industry, Auto-Trail is committed to further strengthening its position as unquestioned market leader in the manufacture of luxury motorhomes within the UK.
 
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Useful links
www.nenecourtcaravans.co.uk Main dealers for Sterling Europa and Eccles Caravans, new and used sales.
www.towability.co.uk Catering trailer manufacturing and sales.
www.hiretrailers.co.uk Trailer sales and Hire.
www.best-buys.co.uk The Great Outdoors Leisure Store