Hobby set to largely disappear from UK market as Aura emerges instead

The Hobby name looks set to largely disappear from the UK market over the next year as the German manufacturer teams up with a relatively new brand being developed by the former UK agent for Knaus.

Starting from this October’s Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC, all new motorhomes, campervans and caravans made at the Hobby factory in Fockbek in northern Germany and sold in the UK will bear the Aura brand, except for Hobby Beachy caravans (see our review of the 2025 Beachy 450 to get an idea of what they are like).

While many will display existing Hobby layouts, there will also be some specific UK layouts, and all will have upholstery, furniture finishes and spec that is exclusive to the UK.

Aura was previously a campervan-only brand set up two years ago by Mike Lake, former UK agent for Knaus, among others. All existing Aura production will move to Germany, and the new Aura brand will include low-profile motorhomes as well.

Clemens Schmidt, head of international sales at Hobby, said the move has come about as Hobby has sought to move away from what he called the “special” market in the UK. He said the company felt it would be easier to do this by adopting a completely new brand name, and to set up a new dealer network that includes new dealers who previously may not have wanted to be associated with the Hobby name.

This network, he said, is in the process of being built.

Some left over vehicles bearing the Hobby name will still be on display at the NEC (don’t miss our October NEC Show ticket offer if you’re attending) and for sale, but no new Hobby material will be imported, except for Beachy models.

Another brand to share its new season plans is Swift. The manufacturer has announced it is dropping the Basecamp line-up for 2027 while it is adding back two family-focused tourers.

Image: Hobby

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PeterBaber

Peter Baber is Reviews Editor of Practical Caravan. His first caravan reviews date back to the early 1990s during his first stint working for the magazine, before he embarked on a 20-year career in business journalism which saw him edit a wide variety of magazines, and launch a few too, including one that won an award. Although he enjoyed that, he always knew he wanted to come back to the world of caravans and camping, having first got interested in it during two summers working as a campsite holiday rep in Switzerland in the 1980s. Peter reports on all the new models that make it to dealer forecourts each season, giving his judgement online and in magazine reviews. When he is not working, he likes to improve his skills at throwing pots (he is part of a pottery studio near where he lives and has just started selling his wares), indulges in a bit of baking, and likes playing tennis.