With the Sequence concept, it explores that possibility, designing a van that has obvious appeal for the type of RV-adjacent outdoor enthusiasts the RVIA hopes to get into dealerships.
Thor Motor Coach currently has a sprawling lineup of Class A and C motorhomes but not a single Class B camper van. "If we embrace new ways to build, market and service our products, if we support our customers at every turn, if we innovate, excite and attract new consumers to our diverse outdoor lifestyles, the future of the RV industry remains bright," RVIA president Frank Hugelmeyer said in his opening RVX address last Tuesday. Bringing that number of new buyers into the fold would quadruple total ownership. In totally reworking the annual National RV Trade Show, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) created RVX in hopes of reaching an estimated 30 million Americans who currently enjoy an RV-compatible lifestyle without the RV. Millennials have become a driving market force and have shown a preference for smaller campers, while retiring baby boomers are moving away from large family campers and downsizing to smaller options.Īt the same time, the RV industry is trying to reach a new generation of buyers that enjoy outdoor recreation and other compatible leisure activities but aren't yet using an RV to access them. Now it's showing a little bit of city-friendly European camper van sensibility with the Sequence concept, a loaded Ram ProMaster adventure van with solar power, mobile connectivity, sporty Thule accessories and even a slide-out dog bowl.Ĭlass A motorhomes and large travel trailers continue to rule American campgrounds, but smaller camping vehicles have started to carve out more of a niche in the market. Best known for huge, highway-hogging motorhomes and travel trailers, Thor Industries became the world's largest RV manufacturer when it purchased Germany's Erwin Hymer Group earlier this year.