The sudden closure of Zone RV has seen employees without a job and dozens of customers without a van.
When major Queensland caravan builder Zone RV, through parent company Zone Manufacturing, announced on 1 December 2025 that it had entered Voluntary Administration and sent staff home without pay, it sent a shiver through the Australian caravan industry. The recent closure of smaller builders such as Highline and Tango over the last year affected many who lost deposits, but that such a prestigious business as Zone could falter seemed ominous.
Workers locked out
After arriving for a typical day's work, some 250 staff were called to a meeting where company director and founder Dave Biggar announced the Voluntary Administration and handed proceedings to Kate Conneely of restructuring advisory firm Cor Cordis, who has been appointed Administrator.
Before lunch, most staff had been sacked, and it's been reported that many met at the local to commiserate. Only a skeleton crew has been kept on to help Cor Cordis undertake its review.
A company enters Voluntary Administration when the directors accept that the business is in financial trouble and is unlikely to meet its obligations.
According to a Cor Cordis statement, "Zone RV is a recognised leader in the design and manufacture of premium offroad caravans, headquartered in Coolum, Queensland. The appointment was initiated by the director of Zone RV.
The Administrators are conducting an urgent review of Zone RV's financial and operational position. Their primary objective is to preserve value for all stakeholders, including approximately 250 employees, customers and suppliers, and to determine the strategic options available for the business moving forward."
Zone RV started making composite caravans in 2015, building on the founder's experience in composite technology across the marine and construction sectors. Offshoot businesses, Core Marine and ONE Composites, are not affected by the Administration at this stage.
With innovative design, timber-free construction and an emphasis on off-grid and offroad lifestyles, Zone quickly gathered a loyal following. Within two years, they had taken out Caravan World's Best Aussie Van in 2017, and the lineup included a variety of mid- to high-range couples' and family vans.
By 2020, Zone had outgrown their existing factories and moved into a $8m purpose-built complex in Coolum Eco Industrial Park on the Sunshine Coast, becoming the region's largest employer.
Recent years have marked the end of the more affordable Base model and a shift towards more exclusive offerings, including the carbon-fibre-bodied Summit, some of which were priced close to $300k with a full list of options. In 2024, the remote travel-oriented Expedition was introduced, featuring moulds made using a $1.2m 3D printer funded by a Queensland Government grant.
Some staff have been quoted as suggesting, "There have been signs that things weren't going well, with supply chain problems and a lack of direction." High turnover among senior staff is said to have been unsettling, and it was noteworthy that long-time CEO Adrien Toft stepped down to become more of a travelling ambassador for the brand.
There were hints of trouble, including that financial difficulties led to the end of the relationship several months ago with Hanger O in Gympie, where vans were handed over during a two-day education program for new owners.
As recently as mid-November, ASIC indicated that an investigation into Zone Manufacturing's finances was in progress, following a complaint from a member of the public that the business was trading while insolvent. Within weeks, the Administrator was appointed.
Aspects of the sudden closure have again exposed the caravan industry to criticism. Dozens of buyers, perhaps as many as 50, are out of pocket, with even reports of customers about to pick up their new vans on the day the gates were shut.
Zone operated under an unusual payment scheme, with a 5% deposit, 40% at the start of the build, a further 35% near completion and a final 20% before handover. While many customers might baulk at such an arrangement, Zone's strong reputation, impressive infrastructure and high-quality builds clearly attracted many buyers. However, it might serve as a lesson for buyers that paying large deposits on a new van may not be the wisest choice.
What's ahead
The NSW Zone sales agent, Off-Grid Outfitters, suggested there might be a way for customers who have made full payments to have their van released. However, they advise caution as the final decision on assets is entirely up to Cor Cordis.
The fallout from the collapse of Zone will reverberate for many months, and we acknowledge the grief of losing their dream and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that buyers have invested.
Industry insiders point out that data from Creditor Watch suggests that business closures in the caravan industry are slightly below the national average. Even so, increasingly significant rising labour and manufacturing costs and market pressures are key challenges facing builders. Many businesses cite the economic downturn and the post-COVID drop in sales as primary concerns, while others point to the increase in Chinese-imported vans.
The Administrators have scheduled a virtual creditors' meeting for 10 December 2025 and advised anyone affected to contact them at zone@corcordis.com.au by 5pm on 9 December with details of any debts owed by Zone. However, this initial meeting will only establish an inspection committee, ratify Cor Cordis as the Administrator and approve the Administrator's fee structure (which may be considerable). A subsequent meeting in January 2026 will decide on the company's future direction.
While the official detailed reasons for the sudden closure at Zone are still being investigated, let's hope for a positive outcome. In the ten years since it started, Zone has grown into a leading Australian brand known for innovation and quality. We hope they can re-establish themselves as a viable builder because we need quality Australian manufacturers for our country to thrive.
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