When the RV industry flocked to Tampa for the Florida RV SuperShow, Thor’s President and CEO Bob Martin was among them. Although he was largely at the show for the release of Thor Industry’s Vision Vehicle, an all-electric motorhome concept, and the eStream, an all-electric Airstream travel trailer concept, Martin used the show to gauge the RV industry.
“I still feel it is going to be a really good year, if the Florida show is any indication,” Martin said. “Tampa is usually one of your biggest barometers of the industry.”
Florida RV Trade Association Executive Director Dave Kelly announced record opening day attendance, and anticipated attendance rates to remain high through the weekend if the weather held. Martin said the crowds largely are drawn because of the campgrounds, warm weather and promise of new products or vehicles to explore and purchase.
“People have their RVs and they are not afraid to travel,” Martin said. “They are not flying, they are driving their motorhome down and staying for weeks or months.”
The CEO said 2021 became a “game of catch-up,” trying to ensure Thor’s employees remained healthy, plants stayed open and parts shortages and other Covid shutdowns were managed.
“This year, we are hoping to at least level out some parts supply so things are more consistent,” he said. “But we are probably still dealing with Covid. So, we are putting our protocols in place and doing what we can — when we can run production, we will.”
Martin said September’s Airxcel acquisition did not change situations surrounding parts shortages, as Airxcel was already a good supplier to Thor’s companies.
“Part of Airxcel’s business model is they sell to Thor, but they sell to many other companies as well and are committed to supplying them as well as us,” Martin said. “So, for us, we see opportunities in the future to expand a little more with Airxcel and help them grow areas they need to grow, and really help us, but also help the entire industry supply going into the future.”
Martin said travel trailers continue to be a major piece of the RV market, bolstering dealers’ inventories across the U.S. Motorhomes are still falling behind travel trailer sales, Martin said, partially because of continued chassis shortages.
