Class B Market Share, Sales and Shipments

[rockymtnb]

Just as an interesting point of comparison, Volkswagen in 2016 produced 12,887 units of their T6 California camper, the modern version of the classic VW campmobile that's ironically not available in California or any other US location.

That's about three times the annual US sales of all Class B's for 2016, but just a drop in the bucket compared to Volkswagen's overall 2016 production of 10,312,400 vehicles!

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by rockymtnb

Just as an interesting point of comparison, Volkswagen in 2016 produced 12,887 units of their T6 California camper, the modern version of the classic VW campmobile that's ironically not available in California or any other US location.

That's about three times the annual US sales of all Class B's for 2016, but just a drop in the bucket compared to Volkswagen's overall 2016 production of 10,312,400 vehicles!

Wow... that's quite some perspective.

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by Davydd

That is a major change with Winnebago topping 40% and ascending to number 1. Since Winnebago and Roadtrek both market Promasters that can't be blamed on the popularity of the platform.

;Maybe a lot of Travatos going out the door?

[booster]

Originally Posted by rockymtnb

Just as an interesting point of comparison, Volkswagen in 2016 produced 12,887 units of their T6 California camper, the modern version of the classic VW campmobile that's ironically not available in California or any other US location.

That's about three times the annual US sales of all Class B's for 2016, but just a drop in the bucket compared to Volkswagen's overall 2016 production of 10,312,400 vehicles!

Looking at how they are equipped it might be better to compare them to US conversion vans with a high roof, as they are closer to them than to a class B motorhome, I think.

[bobojay]

Originally Posted by cruising7388

;Maybe a lot of Travatos going out the door?

6 vans per day out of the plant, 6 days per week. Either 4 or 5 are Travatos. The other 1 or 2 are split between the Paseo & ERA.

Just toured the plant 3 weeks ago....

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by bobojay

6 vans per day out of the plant, 6 days per week. Either 4 or 5 are Travatos. The other 1 or 2 are split between the Paseo & ERA.

Just toured the plant 3 weeks ago....

+1

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by rockymtnb

Just as an interesting point of comparison, Volkswagen in 2016 produced 12,887 units of their T6 California camper, the modern version of the classic VW campmobile that's ironically not available in California or any other US location.
That's about three times the annual US sales of all Class B's for 2016, but just a drop in the bucket compared to Volkswagen's overall 2016 production of 10,312,400 vehicles!

It would be interesting to see the US market reaction to potential availability of T6 Campers at UK prices. I am sure VW must have done diligent evaluation of bringing T6 to US or not, but my gut feeling tells me VW is missing that market. Talking from experience for young family of 4-5 T6 Camper could be unbeatable, easy to use as a drive around vehicle, easy garage parking, less restriction for parking etc. T6 California is not a full B, but it could easily take away large population from the current B market plus newcomers. While in EU, every time I see T6 I say to myself, hwhy!

[wincrasher]

Hymer put out a lot of product to fill the Camping World supply chain. I think all that inventory building put them ahead for awhile. But I suspect those shoddy units are not selling really well, so no re-orders. Another thing that might be going on is people turning away from Roadtrek/Hymer because of the long wait times on orders during the first quarter while they were building all that inventory.

[angelmroman]

I took the Hymer/Roadtrek Factory Tour last month. According to the Tour Guide, the Sunlight Van Ones were being built at the rate of ONE PER HOUR (!!!) to fill Camping World's initial Order. Two Shifts, 16 Units per day. Explains the truly awful build quality of those Units. As the previous Poster commented, that Production came at a cost, delaying delivery of the other Models. I believe Winnebago will continue to maintain their Market Share lead 😉

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

……………………………. But I suspect those shoddy units are not selling really well, so no re-orders. ……………………..

This cheap and shoddy build strategy will hound them for long time, Hymer either misjudge the NA market or execute poorly their entry to NA. Hymer must have known Jim Hamill’s reckless strategy, so no excuse for Hymer such as - we didn’t know.

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by GeorgeRa

This cheap and shoddy build strategy will hound them for long time, Hymer either misjudge the NA market or execute poorly their entry to NA. Hymer must have known Jim Hamill’s reckless strategy, so no excuse for Hymer such as - we didn’t know.

How has Hymer misjudged the NA market?

What is Jim Hamill's reckless strategy?

[Ron J. Moore]

I read about the shoddiness of the Hymer builds, and can't but help think of a few things: Camping World is their prime sales point; OMG, the attitude of the people at CW should be equal to the shoddy builds - their attitudes sucks. Also, when the junk comes back for repair.....to CW - wonder how long that will take to get accomplished - never! Unless CW changes their way of doing business with having stores staffed by people who are there but for a few weeks/months - and they are on their way once again I haven't been to a CW in years - they always have the SOS! Ron

[booster]

Originally Posted by cruising7388

How has Hymer misjudged the NA market?

What is Jim Hamill's reckless strategy?

Has Hymer misjudged the market, maybe, maybe not, but addressing the all ranges of prices is likely where they need to be with all the competition that is showing up.

What is Hamill's reckless strategy? What part of it isn't. Throw out new models like popcorn popping and see what happens to stick. Don't bother to find out if all the new models are going to work either technically or quality wise. Hire a bunch of interns to design a complex ground up lithium battery system. Totally inflate performance claims and then attack and insult and attack anyone who would dare to ask for data or question the claims, then quietly change the claims later on with no word, apology, or offer to help out customers who believed the claims and bought vans based on them. Personally get involved in making promises to customers on special orders, delivery times, etc and then not follow through.

The list could go on nearly forever.

Hopefully, Hymer is working some new technical and quality help, as in the past it appeared that salesmen types were calling all the shots, including Hamill who is 100% salesmen. Turning around an entire business where basically all the areas need big changes in not an easy task. Running a design to ship type factory is not an easy chore, and it takes very good people at all levels of management to do it right as they have to be able to deal with everyone from sales type, dealers, engineers, quality people, vendors, and most importantly the production worker who often just seem to take the blame for things that they have no control over. I well trained and treated workforce that doesn't need a lot or rules and discipline will always majorly outproduce and make better products than a tightly controlled, poor trained, poorly treated, but out of control workforce that is being pushed to produce, produce, produce.

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by booster

...

What is Hamill's reckless strategy? What part of it isn't.

...

LOL


Did you mention Coach Connect?

There are fumming customers who paid good money for their RV, but are still holding the bag. And RT simply move on and don't give a damn.

A couple of brand new RT TS (yes, brand new 2015 models) have just found unsuspecting buyers. They should have sent those RV to the crushers.

[wincrasher]

What's interesting is the huge jump in share for WGO after months of bouncing around within 1-2%. For them to now have 40% share is nothing short of amazing. I hadn't heard that there is any big additions to their production output - they still only have 3 lines in there single production shop. So I doubt they have magically been shipping more units than they have the rest of the year. Others must have dropped output.

[eric1514]

I saw a Simplicity at a CW last week. It is every bit the POS that was portrayed in that video that's floating around. I was thankful the salesman was busy elsewhere. No one needs that kind of embarrassment.

[GeorgeRa]

Originally Posted by booster

.....................
What is Hamill's reckless strategy? What part of it isn't. ........................

Great summary,

George.

[markopolo]

Shipment data posted on RV Business: RVIA: July Shipment Totals are Best in 40 Years | RV Business

Class B unit shipment numbers are still fantastic! 836 more units shipped year to date compared to last years numbers.

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by markopolo

Shipment data posted on RV Business: RVIA: July Shipment Totals are Best in 40 Years | RV Business

Class B unit shipment numbers are still fantastic! 836 more units shipped year to date compared to last years numbers.

+1






Reality check -- the numbers are still nothing compared to the other classes.

[markopolo]

July 2017 Class B Sales stats have been posted on RV Business: SSI: Class B Sales Continue Climb, up 32% YTD | RV Business

Here's the Class B market share breakdown:

May 2017
Erwin Hymer Group North America 33.1% market share.
Winnebago Industries Inc. 32.1% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 17.7% market share.
Pleasure-Way Industries 10.1% market share.

June 2017
Winnebago Industries Inc. 40.2% market share.
Erwin Hymer Group North America 26.8% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 14.2% market share.

July 2017
Winnebago Industries Inc. 34.5% market share.
Erwin Hymer Group North America 31.3% market share.
Thor Industries Inc. 16.5% market share.