Stylish, sleek European designed RV’s and campervans are much sought after by Americans, especially if they have been used when touring in Europe. Obtaining them was a different matter. Now the wait looks to have come to an end, following Hymer’s decision to begin manufacturing in the States.
It is a decision that was not entirely unexpected. Last year, Thor Industries purchased Europe’s Erwin Hymer Group, creating the largest RV manufacturer in the world. Erwin Hymer is renowned for its innovation, design and product quality.
Thor Industries have formed a new subsidiary, Hymer USA, to manufacture and sell European RV’s in America this year. Based in Bristol, Indiana, the first European style RV’s are expected to roll off the production line at the end of 2020.
Bob Martin, President & CEO of Thor industries says, “The Hymer brand and product offerings have already received a very positive feedback from our North American dealer network. Delivering to the North American market the innovation, design and quality for which the Hymer brand is known will benefit consumers and dealers.”
Although the site in Bristol, Indiana is very much a specialist in RV manufacture, building European style vans means more than just setting up a factory to build the vans as Theresa Hübschle from Hymer Erwin explains.
“Our European locations and products differ from the North American ones in four respects: A high degree of automation, particularly high quality standards in development and production and a much more pronounced lean management approach. In addition, lightweight construction is a much more important topic in Europe, and therefore much more firmly established as a design principle.”
Bob Martin, President & CEO of Thor industries, and Erwin Hymer’s CEO Martin Brandt. [Photo/Erwin Hymer Group]
Troy James, Thor Industries Senior Vice President, has been spending a lot of time in Europe over the past year engaging with working methods, production techniques and the management team at Erwin Hymer and has been very impressed by his experience.
He comments, “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. Having worked closely with EHG this past year, I’m very impressed by their teamwork, product innovation and manufacturing processes. Products will benefit from the world-leading quality standards set by Erwin Hymer Group and our new work environment will feature highly skilled team members collaborating directly with employees from Erwin Hymer Group’s European operations while incorporating the speed to market for which Thor is well-regarded. 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.”
By introducing these changes, Thor and Hymer USA believe they can make a significant impact on the American market since it provides a combination of the best of both worlds: Erwin Hymer’s quality standards and Thor’s highly skilled workforce and speed to market. A management team from Germany headed by Jochen Hein and Hans-Georg Rauh will oversee the necessary changes. Rauh, in particular, is a specialist in the field of product development, lean management and lean production within the automotive supply industry; while Hein has been managing the company’s massive Bad Waldsee location for several years and is able to ensure that the production site will operate in accordance with European standards.
“In Bristol, our European vehicles will be produced utilizing our standards and production methods. To this end, we will work with the new organization and its leadership in Bristol to assist with training courses in areas such as lean management,” says Erwin Hymer’s CEO Martin Brandt.
Work starts this month on the introduction of the new facility and training methods, and progress will be closely monitored to ensure it continues to match European stands over the next two years. The success of this venture will provide long term benefits to the American RV sector as Bob Martin points out. “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.”
No announcement has been made as to exactly which European models will be introduced into North America, and the company is not being drawn on the subject. However, some indications as to future plans can be drawn from comments made by Martin Brandt at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in 2019. At the time, he said, “We see growing potential for product category in North America. Last year the camper community there grew by 1.4 million households – 56% of which are millennials. These new participants are often returning to the roots of campervanning and prefer a lifestyle that involves less effort while offering more adventure and experiential quality.”
Within Europe, Erwin Hymer is particularly strong in terms of their camper van offering, with numerous variations available such as the Crosscamp and Dethleffs Globevan as well as the Hymer Free series. It is constantly innovating and exploring new ideas ensuring that its range is always at the forefront of development. At Dusseldorf last year, it exhibited a concept camper vehicle which was compared in style to a lunar rover, while offering the benefits of a two-story town house. The interior of the van included features like a rear tailgate deck, an inflatable pop-up and a transforming wet/dry bathroom. All sleeping accommodations were placed upstairs, leaving the main level as a spacious living area. Even the exterior design was adjusted to create a larger cabin with seamless contours, covered in Climacool automotive paint.
Likewise, the company’s range of RV’s is extensive, from small nineteen foot vehicles to over 24 feet long. They’re designed to provide every possible comfort, with maximum storage space. Brands are some of the best known in the business including Bucanneer, Burstner, Carado, Crosscamp, Compass, Dethleffs, Elddis, Eriba, Etrusco, Hymer, Laika, Niesmann&Bischoff, Roadtrek, Sunlight and Explore.
Quite simply, Erwin Hymer is at the top of European RV and camper van production – and has been for over 60 years. Now it looks to repeat this experience in North America.