Erwin Hymer Group is a long-standing leader in the European RV market and one of the largest RV manufacturers in Europe. EHG, including its Hymer brand, is known for innovation, design and product quality.
“We anticipate significant benefits in working together with our German team, learning from each other and ultimately offering unique products to provide years of enjoyable experiences for our customers,” said Bob Martin, President and CEO of THOR Industries. “As we begin to leverage the combined talent of our companies and share best practices across the globe, we are more optimistic than ever about the future.”
“Having worked closely with EHG this past year, I’m very impressed by their teamwork, product innovation and manufacturing processes,” said Troy James, THOR Industries Senior Vice President. “We are very excited to fully incorporate the EHG best practices into the operations of the newly created Hymer USA subsidiary starting on day one.”
Employees in key product development roles and with specific European manufacturing expertise will relocate from Germany to Bristol to allow Hymer USA to replicate its manufacturing process in collaboration with THOR’s American workforce.
“Hymer USA will feature a very different way of manufacturing not currently seen in the North American RV industry, including automated processes that will be implemented throughout design and assembly,” James said. “Products will benefit from the world-leading quality standards set by EHG and our new work environment will feature highly skilled team members collaborating directly with employees from EHG’s European operations while incorporating the speed to market for which THOR is well-regarded.”
Some of this information came from a press release.
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Won’t be long before Thor craps all over Hymer, tarnishing the brand reputation forever.
If Thor likes their production techniques, they must be cheaper, so Thor can make a higher profit, or this is a scam and Thor wants to advertise the fact that they are using European build techniques to lure in Euro-centric buyers……
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act should be changed to the following minimums
> $500, 6 year warranty
> $400, 5 year warranty
> $300, 4 year warranty
> $200, 3 year warranty
> $100, 2 year warranty
$100 or less, 1 year warranty
This would include parts, labor and shipping, with work to be completed in 14 days.
In a vehicle/RV that would apply to any MSRP of each component. I think you would see quality improvements very rapidly.
Warranty would have to funded (escrow funds, not controlled by manufacturer) to cover at least 20% failure rate.
Wait a minute. Thor is going to start looking into building RV’s that involve the use of the word “QUALITY”. Thats a novel idea!!
German engineering & production standards have always been higher than the US standards. Engineering & production rates will always be at opposite ends of the quality scale. To many times an engineer will create something that does what it’s supposed to do. Production will push back with complaints about how long it takes. Sales cry about delivery schedules. Customers want their new toy. It will boil down to who’s in charge, bean counters OR engineers that know how to build something. Ya, the jury is still out.
Last time I checked, it’s our flag on the moon.
Along with four other countries, and the EU.
That’s true, Billy, and that was a half century ago.
It won’t be long until Hymer is dumbed down to American standards. If ya can’t beat em, buy em and lower the playing field.
The thing is….. They AREN’T well regarded for the product they “put out” at the SPEED or QUALITY of the end product. The Bonus Babies will destroy another good name as they always do.
You must remember, Thor was an investor company in the beginning and started with Dutchman as their first RV investment and Airstream was an early investment and Bob Martin was charged with keeping/improving Airstream’s position in the RV world, now he will be guiding the future of Thor in general it looks like, and he has watched the American automobile company’s give up on quality and turn over the automobile industry to the foreign manufacturer’s, just maybe he will improve the RV industry he will control in the future by building better quality products for the RV industry without ONLY focusing on corporate profits, I have noticed so many folks in the United States would love to have the option of buying quality USA made products, but cannot find really good quality products that are made in the USA, seems there is a shortage of available quality products for purchase that are built in the United States of America, could our industry support a quality product or a few good quality products from one major company, I think it could, how much cost would that raise the price to insure a really good product, made here!
I am concerned that if we don’t improve on our standard of living we will become a third world country in the future, a horrible thought for sure.
Interesting of your usage of a comma instead of a period. Kinda makes reading your remarks a little confusing. However, I totally agree with your statements.
They could learn from Canadian RV manufacturers.
A van is still a van no matter what they put in it
ROFLMAO!
Congratulations to Thor Industries(?). Another acquisition made that can be destroyed like all the others under your “umbrella”. And another one bites the dust.
I am cautiously optimistic. If they can pull this off, it will revolutionize the RV industry. We could be looking at the future of RV manufacturing. Wouldn’t that be great? I think so.
I hope it works. If not it is just a matter of time before another country starts shipping in good quality RV’s and gain control of the RV market.
“a new subsidiary focused on producing and marketing RVs using European manufacturing practices, automation and control standards, a first for the North American RV industry.”
Gee, if they are capable of doing THIS (which I seriously doubt) with their new acquisition, why not try this in all their other products? Ain’t gonna happen!
The bean counters will destroy Hymer’s reputation.
THOR will corrupt Hymer just like every other acquisition. The only quest in my mind is will the European side be able to maintain quality.
“employees from EHG’s European operations while incorporating the speed to market for which THOR is well-regarded.”
This is what they need to get away from. Thor’s speed of assembly is the reason they put out poor products.
“Well-regarded” by whom?
It won’t matter, if THOR is building it, the RV will be JUNK rolling out the door!