Auto-Sleepers

A rich heritage
Founded in 1961, today Auto-Sleeper Motorhomes (Auto-Sleepers) is one of the best-known and loved brands in the UK

Thanks to accruing nearly six decades of experience, Auto-Sleepers is now often the first port of call for customers looking for the best in British-built motorhomes. By manufacturing its coach-built motorhomes on Peugeot and Mercedes chassis, the company is able to build upon the already established reputations of these premier marques, and offer its customers the reassurance of a solid base for their own ‘Motorhome of Excellence’.

Auto-Sleepers’ Mercedes-based motorhomes are built on the Mercedes Sprinter Chassis Cab, which comes standard with a whole raft of industry-leading safety features such as Adaptive ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), Acceleration Skid Control (ASR) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD). Auto-Sleepers Mercedes-based models are now available with the option of a fully automatic gearbox to provide a luxury driving experience with safety at the heart of its design.

The Peugeot range is twofold – customers can choose between Peugeot Van Conversions, or Peugeot Coachbuilt. Auto-Sleepers has worked closely with Peugeot for a number of years, and now 16 of the models in its range are Peugeot powered, from the compact Symbol through to the stylish Nuevo, Broadways and the award-winning Corinium range. The Peugeot range includes essential features like advanced ABS braking, cruise control and driver and passenger airbags that come as standard. All Peugeot models are available as both low profile and highline coachbuilt models with a choice of short, medium and long wheel base chassis, so there is something to suit everyone.

The range of different models and options available from the company is very impressive, and what’s more, Auto-Sleepers prides itself on a policy of continually introducing new additions to its range, with the latest, the Symbol Plus, being announced as recently as September. The Symbol Plus, which brings all the features of the Symbol (the longest-running of all Auto-Sleepers’ best-selling van-conversions) and joins them with further improvements. In fact, the Symbol Plus was created thanks to customer feedback, which indicated the combination of a Symbol model, with the longer and differently configured Stanway model, would create the best of both worlds! The result is a Symbol at the front and a Stanway at the rear, all still in the modest footprint of a long-wheelbase (just sub-six-metre) Peugeot Boxer van.

The new model is due to be officially launched at the 2018 Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC, Birmingham, and the company’s appearance at this show represents the culmination of a year’s worth of exhibition exposure, with Auto-Sleepers’ products regularly making an appearance at events around the UK and Europe. In September, it was present at The Caravan Salon at Düsseldorf’s Exhibition Centre for the fifth year running. The Caravan Salon is widely regarded as the world’s leading international motorhome and caravan show, and Auto-Sleepers used this platform to display a selection of its motorhomes, including the Warwick XL, Warwick Duo and the ever so popular Kingham. This latter model gained attention as it raises the bar to new heights for luxury, with a fixed double bed that can slide back, a sophisticated kitchen and swivelling cab seats at the front.

When considering the vehicles that Auto-Sleepers creates today, the amazing leaps in innovation and quality that it has achieved over the years become obvious – it has come a very long way since the Trevelyan family built their own motorhome based on a Morris J2 van in 1961. And while the motorhomes themselves have changed beyond recognition, the dedication to design refinements and sheer passion for quality endures at the core of the business. Remaining based at Willersey in the Cotswolds, Auto-Sleepers products still include hand-craftsmanship, and time, care and effort underpins the creation of each motorhome, which is made evident through the high-quality furniture, fittings, and fitments of the end-product. Every cubic centimetre of interior space has is used to its best advantage, so that every Auto-Sleeper owner can rest assured their motorhome is a true home-from-home. Previous customers return time and again for the latest model, while a new generation of clients are discovering the benefits of these
British-made marvels. Exports abroad are well established and on the rise, with Thailand now seeing the arrival of Auto-Sleepers, and the Chinese market on the agenda.

Customers both old and new are received with the same level of exemplary service – Auto-Sleepers prides itself on welcoming them to the ‘family’. The company’s dedicated Service Centre offers support for repair, servicing, maintenance or modification for Auto-Sleepers’ products, as well as caravan servicing to other models. This heritage of service is backed up by the company’s long list of awards and accreditations, which includes two ‘Owner Satisfaction Awards’ in 2017, and three Caravan and Motorhome Club Design Awards in 2018 among many others.

The last time that Auto-Sleepers was in the pages of MTE in 2017, Dave Williams, Sales Director at the company noted that ‘listening to our customers serves us well’. He also highlighted Auto-Sleepers desire to ‘keep raising the bar’ – Sleeperswith a new concept camper underway and plans for growth on the agenda, 2019 is looking set to be a very exciting year of development for this British manufacturing success story.

Auto-Sleepers
Products: Manufacturer of motorhomes