SSI: Canadian Coach Sales Fall 19.5% in March

Year-over-year Canadian motorhome sales declined 19.5% in March while registrations were down 13.1% for the first quarter, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based firm noted, “The data for Canada is experiencing a delay. Once the data is complete for the month we will put it into the correct months.”

Thor Industries Inc. was the Canadian motorhome sales leader for the three months, capturing a 22% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. (16.7%), Forest River’s Coachmen RV division (15.5%) and Winnebago Industries Inc. (13.5%).

Class A registrations retreated 24.7% in March from the year prior and fell 17.5% year-to-date. Fleetwood RV Inc. was No. 1 in the category for the three months with a 19.9% market share, ahead of Thor (19.2%) and Forest River (13%).

In the Class C segment, March sales declined 12.9% while registrations dropped 6.3% year-to-date. Forest River held the top spot for the first quarter with a 25% market share followed by Coachmen RV (21%). Jayco Inc. and Winnebago both posted a 19% share.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: Towable Sales Flat in March, Decrease 1%

Year-over-year retail towable sales were flat in March, down 1.1%, while registrations for the first quarter showed an 8.1% gain. According to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc., results showed:

• Sales for the high-volume travel trailer sector edged up 0.6% in March and rose 9.2% for the two months.

• Fifth-wheel registrations slid 3.6% for the month but increased 7.8% year-to-date.

• Folding camping trailer sales fell 12.7% in March and 3.6% year-to-date.

• Recreational park trailer sales were up 3.4% but showed an 8.6% decline year-to-date.

Thor Industries Inc. was the towable sales leader through March with a 36.5% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. at 21.8% and Jayco Inc. with a 10.1% share.

By segment, Thor was No. 1 in travel trailer sales with a 32.7% share for the first quarter, ahead of Forest River (22.7%) and Jayco (12%). Thor held a commanding lead in fifth-wheel sales, capturing a 51.4% market share, while Forest River posted a 17.5% share and Palomino RV held a 6.8% share.

Forest River was the folding camping trailer sales leader for the three months with a 43.1% market share while Jayco (17.3%) held the No. 2 position followed by Columbia Northwest Inc./Aliner (14%) and Forest River’s Coachmen RV division (10.8%). In the park model segment, Thor was No. 1, posting a 20.9% market share, with Skyline Corp. No. 2 at 12.6% followed by Chariot Eagle Inc. with a 7.6% share.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

Baird: Rentals Boost March Motorhome Sales

Editor’s Note: The investment firm of Robert W. Baird & Co. issued a client newsletter after this week’s release by Statistical Surveys Inc. of the summary of retail sales of motorhomes in the month of March. Excerpts from the Baird newsletter follow.

U.S. Motorhome retail +25%. According to data from Statistical Surveys, motorhome (Class A & C) retail increased 25% in March. Class A sales improved 11% while Class C retail jumped 43%. We believe timing of rental units may be creating monthly volatility. Thor motorhome retail grew 31% through two months of the company’s fiscal Q3 (+69% in March, +1.5% in February). Thor reported Q3 preliminary sales May 2. Winnebago motorhome retail improved 1% in its first month of fiscal Q3.

Motorhome retail registrations in the U.S. increased 25% in March. Class A registrations improved 11% while Class C reported registrations rebounded to +43% growth in March after declining 1% in February. We note that the timing of rental fleet sales may be skewing March Class C data higher (after skewing it lower in February). Year-to-date Class C retail improved 27% while Class A demand improved 21%. Industry comparisons become easier in April and May before picking up in the summer.

Solid QTD results for Thor. Thor motorhome retail increased 69% in March after a stagnant February (+1.5%) – we believe the timing of rental fleet units may have contributed to the monthly volatility. Through the first two months of Thor’s fiscal Q3, the company’s U.S. motorhome demand improved 31% – a result that may dampen fears of an excessive inventory build after the weak February retail report and Thor’s solid preliminary sales report. We model Thor North American retail growth of 20% in fiscal Q3.

Winnebago. Winnebago U.S. motorhome retail increased just 1% in March. We model Winnebago North American retail growth at 20% for the May quarter. We remain comfortable with our forecast, noting the early stage of the quarter, frequent upward data revisions, and expectation for additional retail reports prior to Winnebago’s quarterly report.

SSI: Class B Sales Post 10.7% Gain for March

Year-over-year Class B motorhome sales rose 10.7% in March while gaining 12.3% for the first quarter, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Through March, Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc. was No. 1 in Class B sales, owning a 35.4% market share, followed by Thor Industries Inc. with a 21.9% share. Winnebago Industries Inc. (19.7%) ranked third, and Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd. was No. 4 (16.7%).

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: March Motorhome Sales Post 25.5% Rise

Year-over-year motorhome registrations jumped 25.5% in March while sales for the first quarter increased 23.5%, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI).

Thor Industries Inc. held the No. 1 spot in year-to-date motorhome registrations with a 25.9% market share followed by Winnebago Industries Inc. (17.4%), Forest River Inc.’s Coachmen RV division (13%) and Forest River (11.5%).

In the Class A category, March sales climbed 10.8% compared with 2012 and were up 20.6% for the three months. Thor led the sector through March, posting a 21.4% market share, while Winnebago held a 21% share and Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. was No. 3 with an 18.6% share.

Class C sales soared 43.4% for the month and 27.1% year-to-date. Thor led the category for the three months with a 31.2% market share, followed by Coachmen RV (21.6%), Forest River (16.8%) and Winnebago (13.1%).

March rental registrations, primarily Class C sales, were up 96% in March.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: Feb. Canadian Towable Sales Down 5.2%

Year-over-year Canadian retail sales of towable RVs fell 5.2% in February and 9.5% for the two months, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Results by segment showed:

• Sales in the travel trailer sector retreated 4.7% in February and 9.3% for the two months.

• Fifth-wheel sales edged down 3% for the month and declined 6.9% year-to-date.

• Folding camping trailer registrations declined 21.9% in February and 23.5% for the two months.

• Recreational park trailers segment dropped 9.1% for the month and 21.1% year-to-date.

Thor Industries Inc. was the overall Canadian towables sales leader through February with a 39.7% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. (16.2%) and Jayco Inc. (11.7%).

Thor was also the leader in travel trailer sales year-to-date with a 37.8% market share while Forest River was No. 2 with a 15.1% share, followed by Jayco with a 13.3% share.

Thor held a commanding lead in the Canadian fifth-wheel sector through February, capturing a 50.6% market share, with Forest River at No. 2 posting a 17.6% share followed by Palomino RV at 7.8%. Thor was also No. 1 in park model sales with a 60% share followed by General Coach (13.3%).

Jayco led Canadian folding camping trailer sales for the two months with a 36.9% market share while Forest River posted a 30.8% share and Forest River’s Coachmen RV division held a 15.4% share.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: Canadian Coach Sales Grow 23% in Feb.

Year-over-year Canadian motorhome sales soared 22.9% in February while registrations fell 6.2% for the two months, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Thor Industries Inc. was the Canadian motorhome sales leader for February, capturing a 21.3% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. (16.4%), Forest River’s Coachmen RV division (14.8%) and Fleetwood RV Inc. (13.1%).

February Class A registrations grew 39% from the year prior and were down 11.4% year-to-date. Thor was No. 1 in the category for the two months with a 21.8% market share, ahead of Fleetwood (19.2%) while Coachmen, Forest River and Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. all held an 11.5% share.

In the Class C segment, February sales matched the prior year’s total and were up 4.8% year-to-date. Forest River held the top spot for the two months with a 25% market share followed by Coachmen and Thor, both posting a 20.5% share.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

Chilly Weather Stalls Boat Sales During March

The recreational boating industry’s growth engines sputtered in March amid inclement early spring weather as overall sales dropped for the second month in a row after a year of recovery and consistent gains.

Soundings Trade Only reported that sales of aluminum pontoon boats rose just 1.3%, or 18, to 1,386 from the same month last year in early reporting states and sales of 11- to 40-foot outboard fiberglass boats were virtually flat, dropping by 15, or 0.5%, to 2,767, according to Statistical Surveys Inc.

Both categories were sales leaders in 2012 as the industry began to turn its fortunes around after the recession ended.

Sales in the industry’s main powerboat segments, which consist of five fiberglass and two aluminum categories, fell 5.9% to 7,257 and industrywide sales dropped 10.7% to 10,564 in 27 states that represent about 63 percen%

A year earlier, with all 50 states reporting, main-segments sales rose 16% while industrywide sales climbed 14%

The industry is at the midpoint of the spring selling season, which runs through May. March sales represent 11.4 to 12.6 percent of the year’s retail activity.

Statistical Surveys National Marine Sales Manager Ryan Kloppe said chilly, wet weather limited sales in March.

“I don’t think the recovery is in jeopardy,” he said. “In March last year it was 82 degrees in the Midwest and sunny. This year it was 42 degrees and it was raining and snowing.”

Kloppe said builders and dealers told him they’ve seen good attendance at boat shows, but that poor weather, particularly in the Midwest, has discouraged people from buying.

“They expect slight growth as soon as the weather warms and people start purchasing boats,” he said.

SSI: Towable Sales Slow in February, Rise 3%

Year-over-year retail towable sales edged up 3.1% in February while registrations for the two months showed a 12.8% gain. According to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc., results showed:

• Sales for the high-volume travel trailer sector were up 4.1% in February and rose 13.6% for the two months.

• Fifth-wheel registrations grew 2.8% for the month and 13.8% year-to-date.

• Folding camping trailer sales dipped 0.8% in February but gained 2.5% year-to-date.

• Recreational park trailer sales declined 36.7% for the month and 27.8% year-to-date.

Thor Industries Inc. was the towable sales leader through February with a 36.3% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. at 21.2% and Jayco Inc. with an 9.5% share.

By segment, Thor was No. 1 in travel trailer sales with a 31.7% share for the two months, ahead of Forest River (22.3%) and Jayco (11.3%). Thor held a commanding lead in fifth-wheel sales, capturing a 51.6% market share, while Forest River posted a 16.8% share and Palomino RV held a 6.9% share.

Forest River was the folding camping trailer sales leader for the two months with a 42.6% market share while Jayco (16.1%) held the No. 2 position followed by Columbia Northwest Inc./Aliner (15.2%) and Forest River’s Coachmen RV division (10.5%). In the park model segment, Thor was No. 1, posting a 19.3% market share, with Skyline Corp. second at 16.1% followed by Chariot Eagle Inc. with a 10.6% share.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: Class B Sales Drop 4.1% During February

Year-over-year Class B motorhome sales edged down 4.1% in February while gaining 5.1% for the first two months, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Through February, Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc. was No. 1 in Class B sales, owning a 34.4% market share, followed by Thor Industries Inc. with a 23.7% share.

Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd. (18.6%) ranked third, edging out Winnebago Industries Inc. (16.7%).

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

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