News

Shipments of Recreational Vehicles (RVs) in the United States in 2020 have seen huge increases over the summer months of 2020, with the growth trend forecasts indicating that more than 500,000 units could be shipped in 2021.

Figures from the country’s RV Industry Association show that 2020 shipments across all types of RV units were up 10.8 per cent in June, 53.5 per cent in July, and 17.3 per cent in August, compared to those months in 2019 – a welcome tonic after the industry was forced to shut down for two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Total shipments for the year are now expected to surpass 400,000 wholesale units, which would equal or better those seen in 2019, according to the Fall 2020 RV Roadsigns data prepared by ITR Economics for the RV Industry Association.

“The RV industry has experienced strong consumer growth over the past 10 years, but the recent soar in consumer interest in RVing driven by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a marked increase in RV shipments to meet the incredibly strong order activity at the retail level,” said RV Industry Association President Craig Kirby. “This new forecast confirms what we have been seeing across the country as people turn to RVs as a way to have the freedom to travel and experience an active outdoor lifestyle while also controlling their environment.”

Early estimates indicate that 2021 could see a continuation of this surge in interest in the RV industry, with a figure between 494,400 to 519,900 units shipped predicted. This could represent anything up to a 20 per cent increase on 2020’s figures.