September 18, 2018 — Thor Industries, Inc., and the shareholders of Erwin Hymer Group SE announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Thor to acquire Erwin Hymer Group, a privately held international company. The combination company creates the world’s largest RV manufacturer, with the leading position in both North America and Europe.Headquartered in Bad Waldsee, Germany, Erwin Hymer Group (EHG) is one of the major manufacturers of RVs in a growing European market, with a strong reputation for investing in product innovation. EHG sells through a worldwide network of more than 1,200 retail dealerships with more than 7,300 employees. EHG’s product portfolio spans all major RV categories and price points, from lightweight travel trailers to high-end motorhomes. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, the Erwin Hymer Group expects to generate revenues of approximately $2.9 billion at the current exchange rate.
“This transaction provides Thor a unique opportunity to grow with the European RV market leader,” said Bob Martin, Thor President and CEO. “In addition, we see numerous areas for near-term and long-term synergies between the Erwin Hymer Group and our existing subsidiaries.”
Among the most recognizable Hymer-owned RV lines in North America is Roadtrek, which the Erwin Hymer Group acquired in 2016.
SOURCE: News release and RVtravel.com
I have RVing since Dec.1977 and just sold my latest 2010 junk built Truck Camper by Travel Lite and now they are in the travel trailer building business..Beware!!! as they don’t know who you are after the 12 months expires. If what Thor did to Airstream to cheapen everything about the Old standby solid built Airstream is surely a clue of what they will do now..We are the only solution..STOP buying the new junk and fix and repair older RV’s and have less problems. We are currently looking for an older trailer and no payments on new junk quality..It looks the “Big Fish ” are swallowing the little fish..and spitting out junk..
Hopefully this acquisition will improve Thor, and not the other way around.
Very discouraging to hear about so many Americans buying RVs at Hershey using 20-year loans. We seem to be in yet another era in which people aren’t saving money, but spending like drunken sailors on credit. We’ve seen this show before. Scary.
“Thor” ??
This is good news! Now we can get some of tha European technology in US produced RV’s. I love my 2017 Thor Challenger! It’s been a great home for the last year with very few issues!
If only Thor would learn about engineering and quality from their German acquisition! I am currently driving a 1986 German-made Volkswagen camper bought new by my mother. My sister’s rambunctious family camped with it for many more years and used it as family transportation and as a “church bus” for young kids on outings for decades. It’s been in continuous use since 1986 and now I’m about to start full-timing in it to be sure I want this lifestyle. Its camping equipment is in pristine condition, and nothing on it has ever needed repair except the normal maintenance needed on the vehicle portion.
More likely that Thor will reduce the German products to junk. As we have seen worldwide, the buying public has been ‘trained’ to accept mediocracy, a system in which mediocrity is rewarded.
The ‘reward’ is that we, as buyers, continue to purchase substandard products without expectation of any longevity. We don’t purchase $3 spoons that last … we buy $1 spoons that get replaced 12 times. Now the corporate interests have found that if they buy out everyone and control the market, we are a nation that will pay top dollar for junk when that’s all that is available.
RVIA has the position to demand change in the industry, but as long as manufacturers pay their ‘dues’ to them, RVIA will do nothing … !! RVIA in fact, when you study it, supports poor quality products by continuing to insist that they have no ability to influence the manufacturers.
If RVIA can’t do it …. WE CAN … but only by refusing to buy overpriced JUNK … !!
Glad we got our Roadtrek before Hymer and Thor got involved. 4 years, 4 to 5,000 miles a year for trips plus daily driver. No problems, not a squeak or rattle. Will keep forever. (I keep my cars for at least 20 years or more if they serve me well.)
Just maybe the Europeans won’t put up with the cheap stuff that is being done over here and Thor will have to start building REAL RVs. Europe seems to have a lot of caravans that look pretty nice and well built. They buy for quality not bling. We are just gullible over here and we don’t demand quality. Our fault. Hope Europe teaches Thor a lesson.
I do not disagree with anyone cause everyone has there own thoughts. I have a 20-year-old Thor Citation and it is 100 %new condition and has never had a single problem.
We’re very glad to hear you’re so happy with your 20-year-old Thor Citation, Rocky. If you read the articles in our newsletters and the comments from readers in the newsletters and on our Facebook Group, RV Horror Stories , you’ll quickly see that most of the complaints about poor quality and lousy workmanship are with the newer RVs, not the older ones. So you’re one of the lucky ones, and we hope your RV continues to give you many years of problem-free enjoyment. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
The problem isn’t with models that Thor put out prior to 2010, but the products that Thor currently produces are sub-standard in many many cases, and their customer service sucks…….
Yes a 20 year old Thor product, not a 20 day old Thor product. BIG difference!
So much for the relatively good reputations of Hymer and Roadtrek. More products (like all of those from Thor) to avoid when looking for a new RV.
Totally agree with Gwen. Another good name down the toilet. Followed earlier this year with Winnebago buying Chris Craft. A race to the bottom of quality as we once knew it.
Now Thor can concentrate on degrading the euro market to the US standard.
All that RVIA can do is stand by and offer 10 million dollars to train more useless techs for an industry that has no concern about quality or customer satisfaction.
Gwen is right … “down the crapper” … !!
If it isn’t BAD enough that THOR companies build CRAP RV’s in the USA, Now they are going start building CRAP over in Europe too!
There goes another respected manufacturer down the crapper. As if what Thore has done to Airstream wasn’t bad enough.