James B. Kelleher wrote an insightful piece last week for Reuters about how, among other things, some motorhome manufactures are shifting gears from primarily producing fuel-hungry class A buses and back to more van conversion class Bs.
“Rising gasoline prices, falling home values and tightening consumer credit are driving U.S. recreational vehicle sales off the road as the business enters the normally busy spring and summer selling season,” writes Kelleher.
“The industry is scrambling to adjust by laying off workers, selling real-estate assets to raise money and bringing back cheaper, more fuel-efficient vehicles whose popularity peaked during the last oil crisis in the 1970s.”
Read more in “Downturn drives motorhome makers into a ditch.”
Photo: Courtesy of RVIA.