Trigano Group Brands Compared: UK Buyer's Guide

Understanding the Trigano Group Empire

If you've been shopping for a motorhome in the UK, you've almost certainly looked at a Trigano vehicle—even if you didn't realise it. The Trigano Group, headquartered in France, is one of Europe's largest leisure vehicle manufacturers, quietly dominating the market through an extensive portfolio of brands that cater to every budget and taste.

Founded in 1935, Trigano has grown from a modest camping equipment manufacturer into a conglomerate that now controls over a dozen motorhome and caravan brands. Their strategy is simple but effective: acquire established brands across Europe, maintain their individual identities, but share platforms, components, and manufacturing efficiencies behind the scenes.

For UK buyers, this creates both opportunities and challenges. You might pay significantly different prices for what are essentially similar vehicles, but you'll also benefit from economies of scale that keep parts available and dealer networks robust. Understanding which Trigano brand suits your needs—and your budget—can save you thousands of pounds.

Trigano Brands Available in the UK Market

The Trigano stable includes brands you'll see on every dealer forecourt and some you might not have heard of. Here's the family tree:

UK-Built Brands

Auto-Trail, established in 1982 and acquired by Trigano in 2013, remains the jewel in the crown for British buyers. Built in Grimsby, Auto-Trail offers mid-to-upper market motorhomes with a strong reputation for build quality and after-sales support. They're particularly popular with UK buyers who appreciate domestically-built vehicles designed for British roads and weather.

Tribute, launched in 2015, is Trigano's budget-conscious UK brand. Built on Peugeot Boxer bases at the same Grimsby facility as Auto-Trail, Tribute vehicles offer entry-level pricing with decent specifications. They're ideal for first-time buyers or those who prioritise value over premium finishes.

Italian Brands

Roller Team, founded in 2001, represents excellent value in the Italian contingent. These motorhomes offer stylish Mediterranean design at competitive prices, making them particularly popular with younger buyers and families. Build quality sits between budget and premium, with clever layouts that maximise space.

CI (Caravans International), dating back to 1973, occupies the mid-market segment. CI motorhomes feature distinctive Italian styling and are known for innovative layouts, though build quality can be variable depending on the model year.

McLouis, established in 1999, targets the compact motorhome market with well-specified vehicles that punch above their weight in terms of features and finish.

Other Italian brands under the Trigano umbrella include Rimor (1978), Mobilvetta (1983), Elnagh (1946), PLA (2010), Giottiline (2004), and Etrusco (2016). Availability varies in the UK, with some only imported through specialist dealers.

French Sophistication

Chausson, established in 1980, brings French design flair to the Trigano portfolio. These motorhomes are aimed at discerning buyers who appreciate elegant interiors and refined living spaces. Pricing sits in the mid-to-upper bracket, reflecting their premium positioning.

Spanish and German Additions

Benimar, Spain's contribution since 1974, offers robust construction with Mediterranean styling at competitive prices. Carado, the German brand launched in 2006, appeals to buyers seeking Teutonic build quality without the premium price tag of traditional German manufacturers.

The Trigano Group also includes Laika, a premium Italian brand known for innovation and luxury finishes, though less commonly seen in UK dealerships.

Platform Sharing and Badge Engineering

Here's where it gets interesting—and potentially money-saving. Many Trigano brands share fundamental components, chassis preparations, and even body shells. An entry-level Auto-Trail and a Tribute might share the same Peugeot Boxer base vehicle, similar furniture construction methods, and identical appliances.

The differences often come down to trim levels, upholstery choices, exterior graphics, and the extent of standard equipment. A Roller Team and a CI from the same model year might share remarkably similar DNA, with the price difference reflecting brand positioning rather than fundamental quality variations.

This platform sharing isn't necessarily negative. It means parts availability is excellent across the range, and proven designs get refined across multiple brands. However, savvy buyers can exploit this knowledge by comparing specifications carefully. Sometimes a mid-spec Tribute offers better value than an entry-level Auto-Trail, despite the brand hierarchy suggesting otherwise.

The Trigano Advantage

Buying any Trigano Group brand offers several concrete benefits that shouldn't be overlooked:

• Parts availability: With so many brands sharing components, sourcing replacement parts is generally straightforward. Your local Auto-Trail dealer can often source parts for other Trigano brands.
• Dealer network: Trigano's UK presence means service centres are relatively accessible, particularly for Auto-Trail and Tribute owners.
• Economies of scale: Volume purchasing of appliances, chassis, and materials helps keep costs competitive across the range.
• Proven designs: Successful layouts and features are rolled out across brands, meaning innovations are widely available.

The downside? Some critics argue this homogenisation means less genuine choice and that badge engineering can create artificial price differentiation.

Which Trigano Brand for Which Buyer?

First-time buyers on a budget: Tribute offers the gentlest entry point to motorhoming with UK build quality and reasonable specifications. Roller Team provides a stylish alternative if you prefer Italian design.

British buyers wanting UK-built: Auto-Trail remains the obvious choice, with excellent dealer support and vehicles designed specifically for UK conditions and touring habits.

Value-conscious tourers: Roller Team, Benimar, and mid-range CI models deliver impressive specifications for money, though you'll compromise slightly on build refinement compared to premium brands.

Compact motorhome seekers: McLouis specialises in making the most of limited space, whilst Carado offers German sensibilities in manageable packages.

Premium buyers: Upper-spec Auto-Trail models and Chausson offer genuine luxury and refinement without reaching truly premium brand pricing (think Hymer or Niesmann+Bischoff).

Full-timers and extended tourers: Focus on upper-spec Auto-Trail or Laika models where build quality and durability justify the investment.

Used Market Values and Depreciation

Depreciation varies significantly across Trigano brands, and understanding this is crucial for both buyers and sellers.

Auto-Trail holds its value remarkably well in the UK market. Strong brand recognition, UK build quality, and solid dealer support mean three-to-five-year-old Auto-Trails command premium prices compared to competitors. Expect slower depreciation but higher initial purchase costs.

Tribute depreciates more quickly, reflecting its budget positioning. However, this creates opportunities for used buyers seeking UK-built quality at bargain prices. A three-year-old Tribute can represent exceptional value.

Italian brands (Roller Team, CI, McLouis) show variable depreciation. Roller Team has built a solid reputation and holds value reasonably well. CI can depreciate more steeply, particularly older models with build quality concerns. This makes them interesting used purchases if you're prepared to inspect carefully.

Chausson maintains value better than most continental brands but not quite at Auto-Trail levels. The French reputation for style and innovation helps here.

Generally, Trigano Group vehicles benefit from parts availability and dealer familiarity, which supports used values compared to more obscure brands. However, specific model reputation matters enormously—research individual ranges thoroughly before purchasing.

Making Your Trigano Choice

The key to choosing the right Trigano brand is honest self-assessment. A Tribute will get you motorhoming just as effectively as an Auto-Trail, but with fewer refinements and potentially faster depreciation. Conversely, paying premium for an Auto-Trail badge makes sense if you value UK-specific design and stronger residuals.

Compare specifications across brands carefully. The same Thetford toilet, Dometic fridge, and Truma heating appears across the range—you're often paying for furniture finish, upholstery quality, and badge prestige rather than fundamental capability differences.

Consider your purchasing timeline too. If you're buying new and plan to keep your motorhome for a decade, brand depreciation matters less. If you upgrade every three years, Auto-Trail's stronger residuals might offset its higher initial cost.

Whatever you choose, you're buying into Europe's largest leisure vehicle group, with all the support infrastructure that implies. That's a genuine advantage over smaller, independent manufacturers, even if the romance of boutique brands has its appeal.

The Trigano Group's strategy of multiple brands at multiple price points means there's almost certainly a vehicle in their stable that fits your requirements and budget. The trick is seeing through the marketing to understand what you're really getting—and what you're really paying for.