North America

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

Total 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 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.”

RVDA honours 21 RV builders with DSI Awards

The Virginia, US-based Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) recently named 21 RV manufacturers as recipients of its 27th annual Quality Circle Awards. The annual award program recognizes RV builders who achieve superlative performance in overall dealer satisfaction as measured through dealership surveys. For its 2021 program, the RVDA collected sales, warranty and service data from 520 separate dealerships in the US and Canada, representing 2,672 brand ratings, an average of more than five per dealer. 2020 Quality Circle Award recipients include: Airstream, Alliance RV, CrossRoads RV, Cruiser RV, East to West, Forest River, Grand Design RV, Gulf Stream Coach, Heartland RV, Highland Ridge RV, Intech RV, Keystone RV, KZ RV, Lance Camper, Leisure Travel Vans/Triple E, Newmar, Pleasure-Way, Renegade RV, Tiffin, Venture RV and Winnebago. “The DSI results highlight top-rated manufacturers in several important areas of dealer and customer support,” said RVDA chairman Chris Andro. “Thanks to all the dealers who responded to the survey and congratulations to the manufacturers earned Quality Circle Awards this year.” The official award presentations will be made on November 11 at the annual RVDA International Convention and Expo, held in Las Vegas.

Toronto RV Show and Sale cancelled for 2022 due to lack of dealer inventory

While a number of RV shows across North America are returning to strong crowds this year reflecting high consumer demand for RVs, one major event has recently cancelled for 2022 – not because Covid-19, but due to a lack of available inventory among exhibiting dealerships. The Ontario RV Dealers Association (ORVDA), organizers of the popular Toronto RV Show and Sale, has confirmed that the group’s flagship consumer event – scheduled to have been held at the Congress Centre near the Toronto airport in January – has been postponed until 2023. “The ORVDA has taken the difficult, responsible decision to cancel the January 2022 Toronto RV Show and Sale,” confirmed the group in a communication to industry stakeholders. “Access to inventory remains a challenge and many dealers have reported their inventory is pre-sold well into December, a situation they anticipate will extend into Spring 2022.” “Interest in RVing remains strong, and ORVDA is optimistic that our shows will return in fall 2022 to serve expanded audiences who have discovered the exhilaration of the RV lifestyle.” At press time, Toronto’s other major spring RV show -- the Spring Camping and RV Show, scheduled to be held at The International Centre in early March – remains on track to proceed on schedule as an in-person event.

The Toronto RV Show and Sale, scheduled to be held at the Toronto Congress Centre in January, has been cancelled due to a lack of inventory among exhibiting dealers

New Glen Raven plant, distribution centre on track for 2023 opening

Sunbrella fabric manufacturer Glen Raven Custom Fabrics says it is on track to open its new 315,000 square-foot yarn spinning plant in Norlina, North Carolina this spring. The massive facility – currently under construction alongside the company’s existing 190,000 square-foot yarn plant – represents the second phase of a multi-year, $250 million facility expansion that will more than double production capacity and create more than 200 new jobs. Glen Raven’s Norlina facility produces yarns that are used in a number of Sunbrella performance fabrics for shade and upholstery applications. In addition to the production plant, a new distribution centre also under construction, with a targeted completion date of spring 2023. “We’ve been able to move swiftly to continue executing on our capacity expansion plans,” said Glen Raven president and COO, Dave Swers. “The new distribution center will complement and add capacity to Glen Raven’s current network through new equipment and processes that will improve our overall efficiency. We are also adding additional finishing capacity, and making investments to both expand and improve our inspection and sampling capabilities.”