US Recreational Vehicles Market

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Aug 29, 2013, 04:44 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

US Recreational Vehicles Market
http://www.reportlinker.com/p01609548/US-Recreational-Vehicles-Market.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Light_Truck_and_Van

US demand to rise 4.8% annually through 2017

The recreational vehicle (RV) industry sharply contracted in the 2007-2012 period, affected by the 2007-2009 economic recession and its resulting rise in unemployment, decline in housing values, and deterioration of general financial markets. In addition to reducing consumer spending and the ability of individuals to secure credit for the vehicles, these factors also meant that many RV dealers and manufacturers had difficulty funding operations. As a result, the RV industry experienced a sharp drop in demand over that period as well as a number of bankruptcies and closures among industry suppliers and dealers. Following this collapse, the US industry has begun to improve. Through 2017, demand is expected to expand 4.8 percent per annum to $10.7 billion, a marked improvement but still less than prerecession levels. Going forward, a rebounding economy will support greater consumer confidence and improved discretionary spending. That, coupled with a healthier financing environment, will spur sales of luxury goods including RVs. Advances will be further aided by demographic trends, including continued growth in the 55-to-64 year-old cohort, the traditional purchasers of RVs, as well as increasing interest among younger customers.

Campers & camping trailers, motor homes to fuel RV gains

RVs include self-propelled motor homes and conversion vehicles, and towable units such as travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, folding campers and truck campers, which are either towed by or mounted on other vehicles. Demand will rise the fastest in the camper and camping trailer, and motor home segments, as sales of both will rebound from the double-digit annual declines of the 2007- 2012 period. However, neither segment is expected to quite reach pre-recession levels in the next decade. Technological advances that improve fuel economy and ease of handling, coupled with the inclusion of a growing array of entertainment and comfort options, will also propel sales. The improvement in demand for travel trailers will be less dramatic since sales were better supported over the recession as these types are more affordable than self-propelled versions. Trailers are also available in a variety of sizes and styles amenable to those seeking more basic accommodations and those wanting all the features of their homes on the road. Sales of conversion vehicles, on the other hand, are projected to continue a long term downward trend as many of the entertainment features that were formerly most popular in conversion vehicles are now common in new conventional vans and sport utility vehicles.

South & West to continue leading sales of RVs

The South and West regions of the US will continue to lead sales of RVs, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all US demand. These regions are popular vacation destinations and are home to large populations of retirees, both of which benefit sales of these vehicles. A mild climate in large parts of these regions further aids interest in RVs, which are widely associated with outdoor recreation. Production will remain concentrated in one state, however, as Indiana continues to be the source of a dominant share of all RVs.

Study coverage

Recreational Vehicles, an upcoming Freedonia industry study priced at $4900, offers details on these and other findings.

It presents historical demand data (2002, 2007 and 2012) plus forecasts for 2017 and 2022 by engine type, exterior construction material, product and region of the US. The study also examines market environment factors, evaluates company market share and profiles 28 US industry players such as Forest River RV, Jayco and Lance Camper Manufacturing.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ix

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT 4

General 4
Macroeconomic Outlook 4
Demographic Trends 8
Consumer Trends 11
Personal Income & Expenditure Patterns 12
Recreational & Leisure Expenditures 15
Consumer Financing 16
Recreational Vehicle Consumer Profile 19
Recreational Vehicle Retail Environment 22
Pricing Patterns 24
Historical Market Trends 27
Recreational Vehicle Stock 31
World Recreational Vehicle Market 33
Canada 34
Western Europe 34
Asia/Pacific 36
Rest of World 37
US Foreign Trade 38
Exports 39
Imports 42
Trade by Product 44

III. MATERIALS 47

General 47
Engine Type 48
Gasoline 52
Diesel 53
Exterior Construction Materials 54
Wood 55
Aluminum 55
Fiberglass 56
Composites 58
Steel 58
Other 59
Chassis 60
Technology 61

IV. PRODUCTS 64

Supply & Demand 64
Demand by Product 66
Travel Trailers 69
Demand by Type 71
Conventional Travel Trailers 72
Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailers 75
Producers & Market Share 78
Motor Homes 81
Demand by Type 83
Class A Motor Homes 85
Class B Motor Homes 91
Class C Motor Homes 93
Producers & Market Share 96
Conversion Vehicles 99
Demand by Value & Unit 101
Conversion Costs 103
Producers 104
Campers & Camping Trailers 105
Demand by Type 106
Folding Camping Trailers 108
Truck Campers 111
Producers & Market Share 115
Accessories 117
Navigation & Electronic 119
Other Separately Sold Components 122

V. REGIONS 123

General 123
Regional Demographic & Economic Trends 124
Regional Population Outlook 124
Regional Economic Outlook 127
Demand by Region 130
Northeast 133
New England 135
Middle Atlantic 136
Midwest 138
East North Central 142
West North Central 144
South 146
South Atlantic 148
East South Central 151
West South Central 152
West 154
Mountain 156
Pacific 159

VI. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 162

General 162
Industry Composition 163
Market Share 165
Competitive Strategies 171
Product Development 174
Manufacturing 177
Technology Trends 178
Regional Concentration 179
Marketing 180
Brand Awareness & Loyalty Marketing 181
Lifestyle Marketing 183
Channels of Distribution 184
Mergers & Acquisitions 186
Cooperative Agreements 188
Company Profiles 190
Airstream, see Thor Industries
Aliner, see Columbia Northwest
Allied Specialty Vehicles Incorporated 191
Amadas Coach Corporation 200
American Coach, see Allied Specialty Vehicles
Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated 202
Breckenridge, see Thor Industries
Coachmen RV, see Berkshire Hathaway
Columbia Northwest Incorporated 212
Crossroads RV, see Thor Industries
Drew Industries Incorporated 214
Dutchmen Manufacturing, see Thor Industries
Dynamax, see Berkshire Hathaway
Entegra Coach, see Jayco
EverGreen Recreational Vehicles LLC 218
Explorer Van Company 220
Fairmont Homes Incorporated 222
Featherlite Coaches, see Amadas Coach
Featherlite Incorporated, see Universal Trailer
Fleetwood RV, see Allied Specialty Vehicles
Forest River, see Berkshire Hathaway
Foretravel Incorporated 224
Garmin Limited 226
Gulf Stream Coach, see Fairmont Homes
Haulmark Incorporated, see Universal Trailer
Haulmark Motorcoach, see Universal Trailer
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, see Thor Industries
Jayco Incorporated 228
Keystone RV, see Thor Industries
Kinro Manufacturing, see Drew Industries
Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation 234
Lippert Components, see Drew Industries
Navistar International Corporation 236
Newmar Corporation 238
NuWa Industries Incorporated 241
Palomino RV, see Berkshire Hathaway
Pleasure-Way Industries Limited 242
Rear View Safety Incorporated 244
Rexhall Industries Incorporated 246
Roadtrek Motorhomes Incorporated 247
Shasta RV, see Berkshire Hathaway
Sherrod Vans Incorporated 249
Skyline Corporation 251
Starcraft RV, see Jayco
Tadibrothers LLC 253
Thor Industries Incorporated 254
Tiffin Motorhomes Incorporated 265
Timeless Travel Trailers LLC 267
Universal Trailer Corporation 268
Van Specialties Incorporated 271
Wells Cargo, see Universal Trailer
Winnebago Industries Incorporated 272
Other Companies in the Recreational Vehicle Industry 277

LIST OF TABLES

SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Summary Table 3

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT

1 Macroeconomic Indicators 7
2 Population & Households 11
3 Personal Consumption Expenditures 14
4 Recreation & Leisure Expenditures 16
5 Consumer Financing Environment, 2002-2012 19
6 Recreational Vehicle Retail Sales 24
7 Recreational Vehicle Pricing 27
8 Recreational Vehicle Market, 2002-2012 30
9 Recreational Vehicles in Use 33
10 Recreational Vehicles Foreign Trade 39

SECTION III -- MATERIALS

1 Self-Propelled Recreational Vehicle Demand by Engine Type 52

SECTION IV -- PRODUCTS

1 Recreational Vehicle Supply & Demand 66
2 Recreational Vehicle Demand by Product 68
3 Travel Trailer Supply & Demand 70
4 Travel Trailer Demand by Type 72
5 Conventional Travel Trailer Demand 74
6 Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer Demand 77
7 Motor Home Supply & Demand 83
8 Motor Home Demand by Type 85
9 Class A Motor Home Demand 89
10 Class B Motor Home Demand 93
11 Class C Motor Home Demand 95
12 Conversion Vehicle Supply & Demand 101
13 Conversion Vehicle Demand by Value & Unit 102
14 Camper & Camping Trailer Supply & Demand 106
15 Camper & Camping Trailer Demand by Type 108
16 Folding Camper Trailer Demand 110
17 Truck Camper Demand 114
18 Recreational Vehicle Accessory Supply & Demand 118

SECTION V -- REGIONS

1 Population by Region 127
2 Gross Domestic Product by Region 130
3 Recreational Vehicle Demand by Region 132
4 Northeast Recreational Vehicle Demand 134
5 New England Recreational Vehicle Demand 136
6 Middle Atlantic Recreational Vehicle Demand 138
7 Midwest Recreational Vehicle Demand 141
8 East North Central Recreational Vehicle Demand 143
9 West North Central Recreational Vehicle Demand 145
10 South Recreational Vehicle Demand 148
11 South Atlantic Recreational Vehicle Demand 150
12 East South Central Recreational Vehicle Demand 152
13 West South Central Recreational Vehicle Demand 154
14 West Recreational Vehicle Demand 156
15 Mountain Recreational Vehicle Demand 159
16 Pacific Recreational Vehicle Demand 161

SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

1 US Recreational Vehicle Sales by Company, 2012 165
2 Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures 188

LIST OF CHARTS

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT

1 Recreational Vehicle Market, 2002-2012 31
2 Recreational Vehicle Exports by Destination, 2012 42
3 Recreational Vehicle Imports by Source, 2012 43
4 Recreational Vehicle Exports by Product, 2012 45
5 Recreational Vehicle Imports by Product, 2012 46

SECTION IV -- PRODUCTS

1 Recreational Vehicle Demand by Product, 2012 68
2 Travel Trailer Market Share, 2012 79
3 Motor Home Market Share, 2012 97
4 Camper & Camping Trailer Market Share, 2012 116

SECTION V -- REGIONS

1 Recreational Vehicle Demand by Region, 2012 132

SECTION VI -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

1 Recreational Vehicle Market Share, 2012 167