In addressing members at the RVIA Annual Meeting, RVIA President Richard Coon provided a new projection for RV shipments in 2008.

Coon said that the industry is now expecting a 13.8 percent drop in wholesale shipments this year to 304,700 units. “Falling home prices along with diminished household wealth and declining consumer confidence are contributing to the expected decrease,” Coon said. “However, our industry is still strong. We’re having a tough stretch right now, just as our industry has had before. And, like in other times, the market will recover.”

He also reviewed the endorsement of the Motorcycle Industry Council’s Partners Standard Protocol (PSP) program. “This is a great achievement and will help improve consumer satisfaction in the long run,” he said. He also applauded the report on Excellence Task Forces. “This was needed to help people improve and to achieve the potential that the market demographics provide," Coon said.

In looking ahead to the coming year, RVIA will lead a trade mission to China in May and participate in the first Recreational Vehicle World Conference in Germany this September. “The RV industry, like a lot of businesses, is going global," he said. “As far as our efforts in China, I’m urging our members to get on the offensive. There is a lot of opportunity there for us.”

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