Indie Campers is the go-to marketplace for road trips in Europe, North America, and most recently, Oceania. Founded in 2013 by two good friends, Indie Campers has set its mission on democratizing road trips by enhancing travel experiences and lowering prices for millions of travelers worldwide.

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In an exclusive interview with CBS, Hugo Oliveira, the CEO and Founder of Indie Campers, embarked on a mini-road trip through Indie Campers' history and vision on board one of their iconic campervan models, the  Atlas campervan, setting the perfect backdrop for a conversation that delved into the roots of this international enterprise.

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A Full circle journey: from the Australian inspiration to Oceania Expansion

Today, Indie Campers boasts a presence in over 70 locations across three continents and an impressive fleet of more than 7,000 vehicles. But it was on the roads of Australia that Hugo Oliveira discovered the enchanting charm of van travel. Captivated by this nomadic way of traveling and the independence it provides, he was inspired to make it accessible to people worldwide. Returning to Portugal, Hugo's vision took root with just three vans, the humble beginnings of what would soon become an international phenomenon.  Interestingly, Indie Campers started its operations in Oceania this year, a full decade after Hugo and a friend initially established the company.

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But for Hugo, it was never just about the numbers. It was about the service they provided and the experiences they curated. As he passionately expressed during the CBS interview, "We have the power to change how people have fun, and that's a blessing."

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A Vision Beyond Short-Term Success

While many businesses chase short-term successes, Hugo Oliveira has a different perspective. He is focused on building a company and a product that stands the test of time: making road trips both affordable and convenient.

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Geographical expansion has played a significant role in Indie Campers' growth and its ambition. In 2021, the company went transcontinental with its expansion into North America. Fast forward to 2023, Indie Campers is venturing into Oceania. However, this expansion comes with its fair share of challenges, including the need to understand new customer bases and the huge scaling of operations.

In order to make road trips accessible, the company has expanded not only its geographical presence but also diversified its business model. Originally focused on short-term RV rentals, Indie Campers now offers long-term campervan subscriptions, operates a marketplace for campervan owners to rent out their vehicles, and even includes an RV sales unit for avid campers looking to purchase their own mobile homes. This diversification aims to better serve the diverse needs of their customer base.

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The rising demand for Campervans and RVs: A shift in travel dreams

The campervanCampervan and RV market are facing a growing demand. According to the RV Industry Association), the growth of experience traveling and the social media hype around #vanlife might be the reasons for this. The truth is that in a world where luxury hotels and resorts were typically seen as the ultimate dream vacations, the growing popularity of campervan rentals has shown that people's travel dreams can be quite different. As more and more travelers search for unique experiences, it's clear that there's a wide range of vacation preferences. Indie Campers aims to empower travelers, giving them the freedom to travel on their own terms.

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60% of Indie Campers travelers are traveling in a campervan for the first time, which shows not only the experiential side of this industry but also the opportunity campervan rentals have to create this curiosity to the broader public, making campervan travel less and less niche. 

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Conclusion: 

Indie Campers is more than just a business—it's a movement. A movement driven by a passion for travel, a commitment to innovation, and a belief in the power of diversity - Indie is  changing the way to go!

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To find out more about Indie Campers, click here: https://www.indiecampers.com/

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