Month: October 2024

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Dealer members of North America’s largest RV dealer network returned to the mountains Monday as the Route 66 RV Network launched into its annual rally at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.

Route 66 dealers are independently owned but enjoy certain benefits as part of the network.

The first day, as always, kicked off with a bit of fun and games with a golf tournament at the resort’s difficult course followed by a reception dinner. About 165 dealers and vendor partners attended the reception.

Network Co-Founder Rob Merrill said Tuesday and Wednesday will be all business, as he said he intends to encourage members to overcome challenges and do their best to make the most out of their strengths.

Tuesday will offer several opportunities to drive that message home with an opening session for dealers and partners.

Included will be a keynote speech from Melissa Stockwell. An Army first lieutenant, Stockwell was the first U.S. woman to lose a limb during combat in Iraq.

The afternoon session will be an open expo featuring displays from Route 66 partner vendors.

The rally concludes Wednesday morning with a Partner Wrap-up Meeting underscoring the network’s benefits as well as taking a look at the year ahead.

The post Route 66 RV Network Annual Rally Kicks Off in Colorado first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO) today announced that Don Clark, president of Grand Design RV, has been promoted to Group President, Towable RVs, and will now lead the Winnebago brand’s towable RV division in addition to the Grand Design RV brand, leveraging the company’s significant overall towables expertise and skills in Northern Indiana, effective Nov. 1.

“Don is a hall-of-famer with an unmatched track record of success and understanding of the RV industry, especially the towable RV market,” said Winnebago Industries President and CEO Michael Happe. “Don’s insights, operational acumen, and extensive knowledge of what it takes to win in this space make him the ideal and logical choice to lead the team during their next evolution. With the recent appointment of Chris West as the president of Winnebago Motorhome and Specialty Vehicles, I am confident we have in place the strong leadership needed to propel our flagship brand forward.”

Grand Design and the Winnebago brand’s towables division will remain separate, independent business units and continue to compete in the market. Niles Whitehouse, Winnebago’s vice president of sales and service, will continue to serve as interim GM of the Winnebago towables business, reporting to Clark, while the leadership team identifies and onboards a new leader to join the team in Indiana.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play a part in the continued growth of such a storied brand,” said Clark. “We believe collaboration enhances what we can achieve and elevates what our customers can expect from us. We have a chance to build something really special, creating premium outdoor products defined by their high quality, best-in-class reliability and innovative designs that delight our customers and enhance their time outdoors.”

West and Clark are responsible for working together to ensure one Winnebago RV brand is consistently communicated in the market, enhancing the brand’s influence, impact, and market share through new products and technology innovations.

“For Winnebago Industries to realize our ambition to be the trusted leader in premium outdoor recreation, each area of our business must be operating to its fullest potential,” said Happe. “The Winnebago brand is one of the most respected and iconic brands in the industry and we need to make sure we are capturing that value in the market.”

About Winnebago Industries

Winnebago Industries, Inc. is a leading North American manufacturer of outdoor recreation products under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Chris-Craft, Newmar and Barletta brands, which are used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds high-quality motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel products, outboard and sterndrive powerboats, pontoons, and commercial community outreach vehicles. Committed to advancing sustainable innovation and leveraging vertical integration in key component areas, Winnebago Industries has multiple facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Florida. The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol WGO. For access to Winnebago Industries’ investor relations material or to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases, visit http://investor.wgo.net.

The post Don Clark to Lead Winnebago Brand’s Towable RV Division first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ELKHART, Ind. – Forest River Inc., a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles and a trusted name in the RV industry, today announced it will be closing its California-based manufacturing facilities in Hemet, Calif., and Rialto, Calif. This decision will impact approximately 400 employees, and mark Forest River’s exit from the state in a manufacturing capacity.

The decision to close the California manufacturing operations stems from the rising cost of doing business in the state. These increasing costs have made it challenging to maintain a competitive advantage from these facilities.

While manufacturing will conclude by the end of 2024, Forest River remains committed to serving both its California RV dealers and RV owners. To provide continued support, one of two facilities in Hemet will be converted into a dedicated Forest River Service Center. The new service center will not be limited to California-produced products and will further enhance Forest River’s ability to better service all Forest River owners and RV products.

“Forest River has a strong commitment to the California retail market, and although our manufacturing presence is ending, our dedication to our dealers and customers is unwavering,” said Doug Gaeddert, president of the RV Division. “The opening of this new service center ensures that our California RV owners and dealers will have local access to our best-in-class service network.”

Various Forest River brands currently manufactured in the affected California facilities will be relocated to existing facilities in Indiana, where Forest River was founded and is currently headquartered, operating more than 100 manufacturing plants. The state of Indiana serves as the unofficial “RV capital of the world” and has developed a long-term strategic partnership with the industry.

The closures are tentatively scheduled to conclude by the end of the year. The transition to the service center is expected to be completed in this same time frame. Forest River is working closely with the impacted employees to provide support during this transition.

The post Forest River Closes California Manufacturing Operations  first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the latest list of RV recalls compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Per strict NHTSA protocols, manufacturers will next notify its dealer partners of the recall notice. Each notice will include details of the affected vehicles as well as the appropriate remedy.

Winnebago Industries Inc. is recalling seven 2025 View and Navion motorhomes. A screw may contact and damage the seat belt retractor. Dealers will inspect driver and passenger retractors and either adjust the placement or replace the screw as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 29. Owners may call Winnebago Customer Service at 1-641-585-3535. Winnebago’s number for this recall is 190.

The post NHTSA Releases its Most Recent Installment of RV Recalls first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

MANSFIELD, Texas – Factory Showcase Homes (FSH), a leader in affordable housing solutions, has announced the availability of over 20 customizable Park Model Tiny Home RVs and 13 distinct smaller Singlewide manufactured homes. These offerings come with a range of options, upgrades, and color choices, allowing customers to find or create a home that meets their specific needs and preferences.

Expanding Access to Affordable, Customized Housing

Factory Showcase Homes continues to innovate in the housing market with its extensive range of customizable Park Model Tiny Home RVs, which start at $59,900. Each model offers various customization options, enabling homeowners to personalize every aspect of their living space. In addition to the tiny homes, FSH also offers 13 different singlewide manufactured homes, designed with features such as textured walls, full-size appliances, spacious front decks, custom windows, and cabinetry, all aimed at enhancing comfort and aesthetics.

Interactive Showroom Experience in Mansfield, Texas

To assist customers in visualizing their ideal living spaces, Factory Showcase Homes has a showroom located in Mansfield, TX. The showroom features a dedicated decor room, allowing potential homeowners to explore and select finishes and features for their new homes. This interactive experience supports a personalized approach to home selection, ensuring that customers can create a living space that aligns with their unique style.

Comprehensive Home Integration Services

Factory Showcase Homes is committed to providing a seamless home-buying experience. The company offers comprehensive services that include partnerships with lenders and RV parks to facilitate smooth transitions for new homeowners. For those looking to place a new home on their property, FSH provides expert guidance throughout the entire process, from selection to installation.

Additionally, FSH offers land and home packages in Tarrant County, Wise County, and Parker County. These packages include new Doublewides on ready-to-move-in land, with properties approved by FHA, VA, and USDA. Prices for these packages range from $200,000 to $275,000, providing accessible and affordable quality living options.

New Development: The Reserve on McKinney in Denton, Texas

Factory Showcase Homes also announced its latest development, The Reserve on McKinney, a premier 500-space manufactured home community in Denton, TX. This community features homes from Cottage Homes with amenities such as wide streets, three-car driveways, storage sheds, brick skirting, landscaping, and attached porches.

Residents at The Reserve on McKinney will have access to a variety of amenities, including a fitness center, community center, swimming pool, playground, and courts for basketball and pickleball. Cottage Homes offers move-in-ready Singlewide and Doublewide homes, priced between $117,000 and $200,000. Customization options are available to accommodate specific needs, ensuring a perfect home for every resident.

The post Factory Showcase Homes Expanding Park Model Offerings first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

NOVI, Mich. — The Shyft Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHYF), a North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for ecommerce-driven parcel delivery, as well as the broader commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets, will announce its third quarter 2024 financial results prior to the market opening on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. A conference call and webcast will begin at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.

Teleconference and webcast access:
A listen-only presentation, supporting materials, and replay of the presentation will be available at: www.theshyftgroup.com/investor-relations/webcasts

The conference call can be accessed by telephone with the phone numbers provided Dial-In Number: 1-844-868-8845 (Domestic) or 1-412-317-6591 (International)

About The Shyft Group

The Shyft Group is the North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets. Our customers include first-to-last mile delivery companies across vocations, federal, state, and local government entities; the trades; and utility and infrastructure segments.

The Shyft Group is organized into two core business units: Shyft Fleet Vehicles and Services and Shyft Specialty Vehicles. Today, its family of brands include Utilimaster, Blue Arc EV Solutions, Royal Truck Body, DuraMag and Magnum, Strobes-R-Us, Spartan RV Chassis, Red Diamond Aftermarket Solutions, Builtmore Contract Manufacturing, and Independent Truck Upfitters. The Shyft Group and its go-to-market brands are well known in their respective industries for quality, durability, and first-to-market innovation.

The company employs approximately 3,000 employees and contractors across campuses, and operates facilities in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Saltillo, Mexico. The company reported sales of $872 million in 2023.

Learn more at TheShyftGroup.com. 

The post The Shyft Group to Release Q3 Financial Results Oct. 24 first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

Josh the RV Nerd Winters of Bish’s RV provides a walk-through tour of the 2025 Wildwood 42VERANDA destination trailer by Forest River.

The RVBusiness Featured Video is sponsored by CURT, a Lippert towing brand.

The post OEM Showcase: Wildwood 42VERANDA Destination Trailer first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

SANDY, Ore. – Rixen’s Enterprises Inc., a family-owned business serving the RV and marine markets, has announced in a press release the opening of a new service center.

The company was started in 1985 in the Pacific Northwest outside the Portland metro area. Rixen is an Eberspaecher distributor and produces its own heating systems.

In the late nineties its products were factory installed in many Class A coaches. Today the main market is Class B vans. The company sells to many builders and offers online retail sales. “Our reputation is built on the best customer service,” the release stated.

Rixens recently opened a new 3,000-plus-square-foot service center. The facility has four service bays with one full-length bay big enough to accommodate a Class A motorcoach. Work performed includes heating system services, installations and Rixen’s popular mail-in service. The center uses independent wheel lifts capable of lifting 16,500 pounds each, when services require dropping a fuel tank for proper fuel system installation.

“We will offer reduced rates on service parts and labor through Nov. 30. We are an authorized Eberspacher MSD for sales and service. The service center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 503.668.6090 to schedule an appointment,” according to the release.

The post Oregon’s Rixen’s Enterprises Opens New Service Center first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: DFLI) (“Dragonfly Energy” or the “Company”), an industry leader in energy storage and maker of Battle Born Batteries®, unveiled at the American Trucking Associations annual Management Conference & Exhibition its Dragonfly IntelLigence technology for the heavy duty trucking industry. This patent-pending smart battery technology gives fleets and truck drivers real-time system monitoring and app-based connectivity, providing full visibility over their battery system. Building upon the proven reliability of Battle Born Batteries, Dragonfly IntelLigence represents the next generation of the Company’s energy storage solutions, designed to optimize performance and efficiency in demanding commercial applications.

Dragonfly IntelLigence communication technology empowers drivers with real-time insights into their entire battery system, providing visibility at both the individual battery level and the system as a whole. By combining a wireless mesh network with Bluetooth connectivity, drivers can use the Battle Born mobile app to monitor battery life, set custom alerts, and access historical usage data. This comprehensive connectivity, unique to Dragonfly Energy’s system, provides a significant advantage over competitor Bluetooth solutions, and will provide drivers with peace of mind and enhanced control over their power source. Additionally, through the Dragonfly IntelLigence Hub, OEMs can transmit battery data via external communication protocols, such as RV-C (Recreation Vehicle-CAN), allowing for seamless integration with in-cab displays and fleet management systems.

This new, advanced smart lithium solution provides a powerful addition to the Company’s award-winning Battle Born® All-Electric Auxiliary Power Unit (“APU”), delivering enhanced capabilities beyond what was previously available. The advanced monitoring capability of Dragonfly IntelLigence, gives drivers the visibility to now have complete confidence in the company’s lithium powered system’s ability to maintain power during rest periods, eliminating the need for idling or auto start/stop.

“The integration of our patented Dragonfly IntelLigence technology marks a significant advancement for our APU solution,” said Wade Seaburg, chief revenue officer of Dragonfly Energy. “This upgrade gives drivers comprehensive visibility over their battery system so they can rest easy knowing the battery won’t drain nor the truck restart while they are trying to sleep. By prioritizing driver experience and efficiency, we’re helping fleets reduce costs and improve sustainability.”

The Battle Born All-Electric APU, equipped with Dragonfly IntelLigence as an optional upgrade, is available now to fleets and OEMs, with public availability to owner/operators expected by the end of the calendar year 2024.

For more information about Dragonfly Energy, visit DragonflyEnergy.com.To learn more about Dragonfly IntelLigence click here.

About Dragonfly Energy

Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: DFLI) is a comprehensive lithium battery technology company, specializing in cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, and full system integration. Through its renowned Battle Born Batteries® brand, Dragonfly Energy has established itself as a frontrunner in the lithium battery industry, with hundreds of thousands of reliable battery packs deployed in the field through top-tier OEMs and a diverse retail customer base. At the forefront of domestic lithium battery cell production, Dragonfly Energy’s patented dry electrode manufacturing process can deliver chemistry-agnostic power solutions for a broad spectrum of applications, including energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. The Company’s overarching mission is the future deployment of its proprietary, nonflammable, all-solid-state battery cells.

To learn more about Dragonfly Energy and its commitment to clean energy advancements, visit www.dragonflyenergy.com/investors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and statements regarding the Company’s intent, belief, or expectations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Dragonfly IntelLigence, the Company’s future results of operations and financial position, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC available at www.sec.gov. If any of these risks materialize or any of the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company presently does not know or that it currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

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The post Dragonfly has Smart Battery Tech for Truck Lithium Systems first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ELKHART, Ind. – The city of Elkhart is part of a growing region in northern Indiana, and local leaders and companies are investing, according to a report by Inside INdiana Business.

Mayor Rod Roberson says companies not only look for places where there’s an employment base, but also where there’s a strong quality of life for people in the area.

“It’s almost like an experiential sort of relationship. You want people to experience your city,” Roberson said in an interview with Inside INdiana Business reporter Mary-Rachel Redman. “Elkhart is the anchor for Elkhart County. We realize that we are strong economically, but we want to make sure that our city appeals to people in a way that also represents that.”

The RVBusiness Featured Video is sponsored by CURT, a Lippert towing brand.

The post Video: Mayor Rod Roberson on Elkhart’s Rosy Outlook first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.