Rental of recreational vehicles (RVs) or “motorhomes” is gaining popularity, especially for festive seasons when many travel to their hometowns or go on family vacations.
Mohd Fathuddin Fakri Ramli, 26, who runs an RV rental firm, said demand had increased significantly in recent years, in line with changing travel trends preferring transportation and accommodation in one.
For the Raya period, customers had started booking even before Ramadan, he told Bernama.
His company RV Life MY, which started with just one unit in 2022, now owns 126 motorhomes – 40 in Malaysia, 80 in Japan and six in Indonesia.
Mohd Fathuddin said the first year of business was quite challenging as many people were still unfamiliar with motorhomes.
“Some questioned whether they were suitable for use in Malaysia, or safe for long-distance travel.
“But after we shared content online, more Malaysians began to understand the concept and started trying them,” he said.
Apart from holidays and balik kampung trips, he said customers also used motorhomes to transport elderly parents for medical treatment, as they offered more space and comfort than conventional vehicles.
He said motorhome rental prices in Malaysia started at around RM500 per day, depending on type and facilities available in the vehicle, while premium units could go for up to RM2,000 per day.
Premium features include larger interior that can accommodate up to seven people, WiFi connectivity and bathrooms with water heaters.
RV Life MY services are concentrated in Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Terengganu, but seeing the growing market potential, Mohd Fathuddin plans to add more units in peninsular Malaysia and expand operations to Sabah and Sarawak.
