Dethleffs

History.

Founded in 1832 as a whip factory — today, with almost two centuries of family history, one of the oldest motorhome manufacturers in Europe.

The history of Dethleffs dates back to 1832, when the family founded a whip factory in the Allgäu region. The decisive step toward becoming a motorhome pioneer came in 1931: Arist Dethleffs constructed Germany's first "Wohnauto" — a trailer equipped with sleeping quarters and a cooking area for his wife Fridel and daughter Ursel. This makes Dethleffs the inventor of the German caravan.

1952 marked the beginning of series production of the "Camper." In 1973, Dethleffs moved into a new 12,000-square-meter facility in Isny im Allgäu — this location remains the brand's home plant to this day. In 1980, Dethleffs and Erwin Hymer jointly founded the Caravan Manufacturing Company (CMC). In 1983, Hymer acquired sole rights and integrated Dethleffs into what would later become the Erwin Hymer Group. Since 2019, the group has been fully owned by the US-based Thor Industries Inc.

1. 1832 Founding of the Dethleffs whip factory in Isny
2. 1931 Arist Dethleffs develops the first German "living car"
3. 1952 Start of series production of the "Camper" caravan
4. 1973 Construction of a new 12,000 m² plant in Isny
5. 1980 Founding of CMC together with Erwin Hymer
6. 1983 Hymer acquires CMC and thereby Dethleffs
7. 2019 Erwin Hymer Group is fully absorbed into Thor Industries Inc. (USA)