Caravan maker Australian Off Road enters administration after 26 years

Australian caravan and camper manufacturer Australian Off Road (AOR) has entered administration after 26 years in business.

In a statement, AOR said a multitude of factors, including Chinese imports, competitors copying its products and lower manufacturing costs in other parts of Australia, had made it increasingly difficult to compete on price.

The Queensland manufacturer grew out of founder Steve Budden’s Maleny carport into a Sunshine Coast operation that employed about 100 people at its peak.

The company built about 250 caravans last year and has a customer base of about 4000 in Australia and overseas.

Founded in 2000, AOR built its name producing premium off-road campers and caravans in Australia, eventually moving into a purpose-built factory and showroom in Caloundra.

The manufacturer said Chinese imports had made it harder to keep prices competitive while maintaining local jobs, production and quality standards.

AOR also pointed to manufacturers operating in lower-cost parts of Australia, particularly southern states, where it said cheaper wages and property rents gave competitors a cost advantage.

The company celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, the same year it won Gold in the Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s RVMAP People’s Choice Manufacturer of the Year award.

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“AOR was never simply a business to us. It was a passion for building products that could withstand the toughest conditions Australia could throw at them and provide exceptional backup service and warranty at the same time,” Budden said.

“What started in a carport in Maleny grew into a business that employed hundreds of people and their families over its lifetime, supported Australian suppliers and trades, and gave thousands of families the opportunity to explore Australia in luxury, comfort and security.”

Nine.com.au has reached out to AOR for comment.