Class B Shipment Stats

[markopolo]

I read through the topics re: Class B Shipments on RV net and the Roadtrek Yahoo Group a short time ago.

The March stats are now out and the downward trend from the 2007 stats continues. The stats for Class B Shipments don't look that bad compared to 2006 though.

The data is compiled by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

2006



2007



2008

Link:
http://www.rvia.org/Content/NavigationM ... efault.htm



There's a PDF for the March 2008 stats here:

http://www.rvia.org/Content/NavigationMenu/MarketDataTrends........PDF Link



As noted previously, shipments for Class B's compare somewhat favorably to 2006 but are remarkably down when comparing them to 2007.

Mike Barry from the Roadtrek Yahoo Group posted the contents of an email from Ben Spengen, the Service, Warranty & Parts Manager, for Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc. which basically pointed out that "Roadtrek Sales are Alive and Well".

That's good to know. I hope things stabilize and improve for all Class B Manufacturers. It's easy to forget that many hard working people's jobs depend on those "shipments". I hate to hear of layoffs etc.

Has anyone heard anything from other manufacturers?

What are you thoughts re: this downturn?

[Bobbi]

Marko,
I can say the same for Pleasure-Way, they are "Alive 'n Kickin' ". You can't always believe the Stats that you read. Like reading the newspaper, believe 1/2 of what you read!

[markopolo]

RVIA has the June 2008 stats out.

http://www.rvia.org/Content/NavigationM ... efault.htm

Two snapshots:

[Davydd]

Statistically there are so few B van manufacturers with fixed capacity it seems. There numbers are not going to vary all that much is my guess and with apparent rounding off to a 10th bouncing between .2 and .3 I wonder if the variance might be closer. If B van capacity were greater you would think and hope the cost could come down considerably. Right now there just isn't enough production to improve and automate the processes to drive the costs down.

[markopolo]

Here's the stats from RVIA as of August.





Class B shipments haven't gotten any worse. That's good in these turbulent times. A's & C's have declined a bit more.

[markopolo]

Interesting info on Roadtrek's site:

http://www.roadtrek.com/are_we_number_one.aspx

U.S. Class B Market Retail Market Share

Roadtreks have been the #1 selling class B’s in North America since 1990. Now according to Statistical Surveys Inc., the RV industry’s de facto source of state RV registration data, Roadtreks have outsold all other class B brands put together since 2006:

I would imagine that Pleasure-Way has good sales figures also.

You have to wonder what effect the new models (links: Four Winds International Ventura and Winnebago ERA ) will have on the stats.

[markopolo]

With dismay I read that Roadtrek has laid off 180 employees.

Rodger's post is here:

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fusea ... 023638.cfm

and the news article is here:

http://news.therecord.com/article/432388

This is very sad news. I sincerely hope that the situation improves and the employees get their jobs back soon.

[markopolo]

An update:

RVIA stats show zero B's shipped in Feb. I'd guess that, because of rounding, the real number is not zero but instead less than 50.