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ews from the world
North America
Words Craig Ritchie
September RV shipments set three all-time records A new survey completed by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) has revealed that September 2021 wholesale RV shipments in the US set three all-time records
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otal RV shipments for September 2021 were determined to be 55,014 units, representing a 32.2% yearover-year increase over the 41,600 units shipped during September 2020. It also set a new record for the highest number of shipments for any previous September, surpassing the previous mark of 43,598 set in 2017 by over 26%. Indeed, the more than 55,000 RVs shipped in September 2021 set a record for the highest ever single-month shipment, representing a 1% increase over the previous record set in March of this year. Increases were seen in both towable and motorised categories. Towable RVs accounted for 50,696 of all units shipped, for a 33.4% year-over-year gain over September 2020 numbers. Motorhome shipments grew by 19.6% year-over-year, to 4,318 units, while Park Model units ended the month 3.2% below September 2020 levels with 301 wholesale shipments. The September surge also drove quarterly shipping volumes to record levels. The 152,370 RVs shipped in the third quarter or 2021 exceeds the previous quarterly record of 151,760 units set in the second quarter of this year to set a new all-time high. It also comes in at a level 23% above third-quarter shipments in calendar year 2020. RVIA president and CEO Craig Kirby said the record-setting performance speaks to the combined efforts of the US RV industry to overcome the ongoing supply chain and logistics headwinds that have plaugues all manufacturing sectors. “With research showing more and more people are camping than ever before, RV manufacturers and suppliers continue to meet the sustained demand from consumers looking to get outdoors and experience the many physical and mental benefits of living an active outdoor lifestyle,” he said. In a separate report, RVIA has indicated that wholesale shipments are projected to reach an all-time high in 2021 and coninue trending upward into 2022. The latest forecast for year-end 2021 RV shipments ranges between 567,000 and 587,400 units with a most likely year-end total of 577,200 units, a 34% gain over 2020’s year-end total of 430,412 units. It would be a 14.4% increase over the current comparable record high of 504,600 set in 2017. Industry growth is expected through 2022 with shipments ranging between 586,300 and 614,100 units with a most likely total
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of 600,200 units, a four percent rise over 2021. “Faced with many of the same kinds of supply chain and labor issues plaguing most industries over the past year, the RV industry has overcome these challenges and produced a record number of RVs month after
month,” said Jeff Rutherford, president and CEO of Airxcel and RVIA chairman. “This forecast shows that while RV manufacturers and suppliers will continue to face these challenges, they will also continue to produce a record number of RVs to meet the record demand from RV consumers.”
