Class B Market Share, Sales and Shipments

[Davydd]

The numbers are insignificant in the overall picture. Class Bs still hover around 1% of the whole RV market and 7% of the whole motorhome market. Any increase is not that positive of a sign for existing Class B owners. That just puts more pressure on the few unique sites that Class Bs can use that trailers, Class As and Class Cs cannot get into. However, if less expensive and less boondock capable Class Bs are driving the sales and forcing the owners to sleep with the shore power dependent bigger motorhomes they will probably be driven to bigger motorhomes on their next purchase. You can look at this many ways.

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by Davydd

The numbers are insignificant in the overall picture. Class Bs still hover around 1% of the whole RV market and 7% of the whole motorhome market. Any increase is not that positive of a sign for existing Class B owners. That just puts more pressure on the few unique sites that Class Bs can use that trailers, Class As and Class Cs cannot get into. However, if less expensive and less boondock capable Class Bs are driving the sales and forcing the owners to sleep with the shore power dependent bigger motorhomes they will probably be driven to bigger motorhomes on their next purchase. You can look at this many ways.

I don’t know if I understand your point correctly that less expensive Class B have lower boondocking capability. Lower cost RV vans with LPG appliances are greatly capable for boondocking without shore power nor no LPG trendy electric/diesel powered appliances.

I agree that we can look at decisions between A or C or B or tent camping in many different ways and we all tend to have our own spins.

George.

[BBQ]

.

Some (if not most) of the people who buy the barebone inexpensive RVs because they want to upgrade themselves. All they want is the factory plumbing and propane systems, because those seem to be the most difficult to do for people with limited skills and limited tools. The rest you can add on easily -- the solar, the lithium batteries, etc.,

[ClassB4Me]

I agree 100%. I have seen barebones units get custom paint jobs, different bed options that are not found / offered by man RV manufacturers.

Also, it is easier to get the 2nd home tax deduction by buying these cheaper units. If you buy a stock van and add bathroom, kitchen, and bed I don't think your vehicle is eligible for the 2nd home deduction.

Check out these DYI kits that are on offer
https://youtu.be/GjA48WmUSJs

[markopolo]

February 2017 Class B Sales stats have been posted on RV Business: SSI: Feb. Class ‘B’ Coach Sales See 52.8% Jump | RV Business

Sales were up 52.8% compared to last February.

Class B motorhome sales registrations soared 52.8% in February while the segment showed a 36.3% gain year-to-date.

Here's the Class B market share breakdown:

December 2016
Winnebago Industries Inc. 33.4% market share.
Erwin Hymer Group North America 28.9% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 20.1% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 10.1% market share.

January 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 34.4% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 25.8% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 20.6% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 13.9% market share.

February 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 34.9% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 29.2% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 16.9% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 13.5% market share.

EHGNA retains the top position they acquired in January. Winnebago has posted a nice gain. Thor numbers declined.

This should be an interesting year to follow.

[biofloat]

This is a bit like "weather" vs. "climate". Variations in month to month sales numbers don't tell the (weather) don't tell the store of the long-term trends of the various companies....and buyers (climate).

[wincrasher]

I suspect that Hymer is building inventory with it's dealers for the new products as production I guess has ramped up. It would be interesting to know the volume of this stuff to Camping World.

[rockymtnb]

Originally Posted by biofloat

Variations in month to month sales numbers don't tell the (weather) ...

To be clear the SSI market share percentages shown above are not month to month, but rather cumulative year to date. So the market shares labeled 'February' are actually January plus February, next month's 'March' market shares will be Jan+Feb+Mar, and so forth. Only January represents a single month market share.

That's why late year market shifts, such as Erwin Hymer Group's Q4 2016 top ranking, don't show up in the SSI monthly releases, they're buried within the prior monthly cumulative sums. And it's also why you can see rankings switch in January when the annual accumulation resets to zero and all of a sudden the new positions become apparent.

[mlts22]

I wonder what is going to happen now that Hymer Sonne models are hitting Camping World lots. I know the CW near me in New Braunfels is selling them for $65,499 + TT&L.

[Scottbaldassari]

Originally Posted by mlts22

I wonder what is going to happen now that Hymer Sonne models are hitting Camping World lots. ...

My guess is this will re-solidify hymer/roadtrek in the "number 1" spot, but the effect on the perceived glamor of the new hymer brand name is not so clear. I guess we will know more as time goes by. I can't imagine affiliation with Camping World is going to do it any good (other than sales numbers). But if they build a solid, working rig (however basic it may be), it could very well find a good niche for DIY'ers that want to add their own improvements.

edit: I am referring to the camping world version (the "sunlight" I guess), I don't believe the "sonne" is going to have much of a market.

[gregmchugh]

Originally Posted by mlts22

I wonder what is going to happen now that Hymer Sonne models are hitting Camping World lots. I know the CW near me in New Braunfels is selling them for $65,499 + TT&L.

The low price van being sold through Camping World is not branded as a Hymer, they are using another brand name from Europe. It is branded as a Sunlight and the model is Van One (V1). I notice one Camping World has it priced at $59,000. It is clearly targeted at a different market where the low price is likely a key factor in the purchase. It will, of course, be included in the Erwin Hymer Group North America sales statistics every month.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by gregmchugh

The low price van being sold through Camping World is not branded as a Hymer, they are using another brand name from Europe. It is branded as a Sunlight and the model is Van One (V1). I notice one Camping World has it priced at $59,000. It is clearly targeted at a different market where the low price is likely a key factor in the purchase. It will, of course, be included in the Erwin Hymer Group North America sales statistics every month.

CW web site says:
"New 2017 ERWIN HYMER GROUP SUNLIGHT V1"

[gregmchugh]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

CW web site says:
"New 2017 ERWIN HYMER GROUP SUNLIGHT V1"

The Brand is Sunlight and Erwin Hymer Group is the corporation that produces it...

General Motors Chevrolet Impala

General Motors Buick Regal

Erwin Hymer Group Hymer Aktiv

Erwin Hymer Group Sunlight Van One (V1)

Ford Motor Company Ford Taurus

Ford Motor Company Lincoln Continental

[markopolo]

Here are RVIA Shipment numbers from RV Business website: RVIA: March Shipments Record 17% YOY Increase | RV Business

2017 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for B builders. 5000 units look to be possible if this trend continues. Remember, 2016 was a great year with year end shipments totaling 4,087. 2015 totals were 3,294.

[markopolo]

March 2017 Class B Sales stats have been posted on RV Business: SSI: Class B’s Post 21.2% Sales Increase in March | RV Business

Sales were up 21.2% compared to last March.

Class B motorhome sales registrations jumped 21.2% in March while the segment showed a 34.1% gain for the first quarter.

Here's the Class B market share breakdown:

January 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 34.4% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 25.8% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 20.6% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 13.9% market share.

February 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 34.9% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 29.2% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 16.9% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 13.5% market share.

March 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 32.3% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 30.1% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 17.9% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 13% market share.

EHGNA retains the top position they acquired in January. Winnebago again showed gains to close the gap.

It's looking like a great year for Class B builders

[Marley]

Pleasureway seems to be losing ground a bit to the lower-priced/less-well-built competitors. Although they must still be doing well if the whole market is growing..!

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by Marley

Pleasureway seems to be losing ground a bit to the lower-priced/less-well-built competitors. Although they must still be doing well if the whole market is growing..!

2016 ClassB shipment was over 4,000 units.

13% of that tanslates to more than 10 units a week.

Not bad.

[markopolo]

Class B Shipments are up 34.2% compared to last April and up 35.8% year to date

http://www.rvia.org/UniPop.cfm?v=2&OID=9408&CC=2016

[markopolo]

April 2017 Class B Sales stats have been posted on RV Business: SSI: ‘B’ Sales Extend Gains; Grow 20.7% in April | RV Business

Sales were up 20.7% compared to last April.

Class B motorhome sales registrations jumped 20.7% in April while the segment posted a 31.1% gain through the first four months.

Here's the Class B market share breakdown:

February 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 34.9% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 29.2% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 16.9% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 13.5% market share.

March 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 32.3% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 30.1% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 17.9% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 13% market share.

April 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 35.6% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 31.1% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 16.9% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 10.1% market share.

The 31.1% gain in sales through the first four months of this year is great. If this keeps up, then the year end totals could easily exceed 5,000 units.

[techfan]

Explains why Winnebago class B deliveries are now at 14 weeks from time of order.