How a School Bus Road Trip Inspired Noovo Camper Vans

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In this episode of the RVing with Joe & Kait podcast, we chat with Paul Aubert, Co-Founder and Head of Sales at Noovo, about how a school bus road trip through Latin and South America inspired him and his co-founders to build a Class B camper van company.

Paul shares how they converted a 1994 school bus named Natasha into a mobile hostel, traveled more than 29,000 miles through 16 countries, and hosted travelers along the way. He also reflects on a terrifying brake failure in Guatemala, the lessons they learned from living and traveling with guests, and how those experiences shaped Noovo’s focus on comfort, craftsmanship, technology, customer support, and community.

We also dive into how the pandemic forced the team to pivot from operating guided road trips to building camper vans, why Noovo designs its vans to feel more like homes than traditional RVs, and what the company has planned for its upcoming AWD Sprinter model.

When someone tells you it’s impossible, well, try to find a way that it can become possible.
Paul Aubert on Entrepreneurship

Where to listen

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Episode Guest

Paul Aubert is the Co-Founder and Head of Sales at Noovo, originally from France and now based in Las Vegas, NV.

Noovo was born out of a bold idea Paul and his co-founders tested firsthand—converting an old school bus named “Natasha” into a mobile hostel and traveling over 29,000 miles through 16 countries in Latin and South America. Along the way, they hosted more than 100 travelers, gaining invaluable insight into what people truly want from life on the road.

That journey laid the foundation for Noovo’s mission: to create beautifully designed camper vans that offer all the comforts of home, built for everyday adventurers.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Key Highlights

From School Bus to Mobile Hostel: Paul and his co-founders transformed a 1994 school bus named Natasha into a hotel on wheels designed to carry travelers through Central and South America.
A 29,000-Mile Road Trip: The team traveled through 16 countries, crossed the Darién Gap by shipping the bus from Panama to Colombia, and continued south toward Patagonia and up to Buenos Aires.
Hosting Travelers on the Road: Guests joined the journey, giving Paul and his co-founders firsthand insight into what travelers value most, including comfort, storage, simplicity, flexibility, and community.
A Terrifying Brake Failure in Guatemala: While descending a narrow mountain road, Natasha lost its air brakes. The bus was stopped by a large rock near the edge of a cliff, creating one of the most frightening moments of the trip.
How the Pandemic Changed the Business: When COVID-19 ended the team’s travel plans, they began converting and selling smaller school buses from a garage in Las Vegas before transitioning into camper van manufacturing.
Designing a Home on Wheels: Noovo focuses on residential-style interiors, thoughtful layouts, and comfortable living spaces designed for customers who may spend months years inside their vans.
Four Pillars of Noovo: Paul explains how the company is built around craftsmanship, technology, customer support, and community.
Built for Full-Time Van Life: While many RV owners use their vehicles for only a few weeks each year, Noovo customers may spend between 100 and 360 days on the road, creating very different expectations for comfort, reliability, and service.
Why Noovo Builds on the Ram ProMaster: Paul explains that the ProMaster’s width, shorter overall length, lower cost, and available super-high roof make it a practical platform for Noovo’s home-like camper van layouts.
An All-Wheel-Drive Sprinter Is Coming: Noovo is expanding beyond the Ram ProMaster with a new camper van built on the 170″ Sprinter all-wheel-drive platform.
A Different Camper Van Sales Experience: Noovo combines direct-to-consumer sales with a limited dealer network, allowing the team to stay involved from the first conversation through production, delivery, and life on the road.
Community Beyond the Sale: Paul emphasizes that taking delivery is only the beginning of the relationship. Noovo encourages owners to share their travels, attend gatherings, provide honest feedback, and remain part of the company’s growing community.

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How a School Bus Road Trip Inspired Noovo Camper Vans – Episode 32: RVing with Joe & Kait