Thor Industries
Encyclopedia
Thor Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of recreational vehicle
s and mid-sized commercial bus
es.
. The name "Thor" combined the first two letters of each entrepreneur's name. Despite its image, Airstream had not fared well during the economic downturn of the late-1970s. By focusing on improving quality while reducing costs, Airstream returned to profitability in its first year under the new Thor management.
In 1982, Thor purchased the Canadian
company, General Coach, which manufactures travel trailers and motorhome
s. Also part of this acquisition was Thor America, which manufactures Citation and Chateau travel trailers and fifth wheels.
In 1984, Thor became a public company and in 1986 was listed on the New York Stock Exchange
. That same year, Forbes
magazine ranked Thor sixth out of the "200 best small companies in America.".
In 1991, Thor acquired Dutchmen, a brand of fifth wheel and conventional travel trailers. Four Winds International, manufacturer of class A and C motorhomes, was acquired in 1992. Komfort, a maker of fifth-wheel and conventional travel trailers, and Skamper, a builder of folding camping trailers, became members of the Thor family in 1995.
1996 saw the start up of Thor California and the introduction of the Tahoe and Wanderer brands of trailers and fifth wheels. These products became instant hits with RV-ers and the fastest-growing brands on the market.
With the acquisition of Keystone RV in 2001, Damon RV in 2003, and CrossRoads RV in 2004, Thor Industries is the largest RV manufacturer.
In September of 2010, Thor Industries' subsidiaries Damon Motor Coach and Four Winds International merged. Combined, Damon and Four Winds became the #1 retail selling motorhome in North America
.
Thor announced its acquisition of Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC ("Heartland")
, a privately-held RV manufacturer based in Elkhart, Indiana
, for $100 million in cash and 4,300,000 shares of Thor Industries, Inc. common stock, subject to adjustment on Sept 17th, 2010. The acquisition, Thor’s first major purchase since 2005 and just two weeks after its 30th anniversary, was rumored for several days.
Thor is also the largest mid-size bus manufacturer, having acquired ElDorado Motor Corp.
, National Coach, Champion Bus
, Heartland and Goshen Coach
throughout the past two decades.
Like several other firms in the industry, Thor offers employee incentives based on productivity, with reductions in bonuses based on warranty work. Thor encourages employees to be actively involved in community programs and Thor executives serve on the boards of numerous civic organizations.
Recreation Vehicles
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
s and mid-sized commercial bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es.
History
Thor Industries, Inc.http://hoovers.com/free/search/simple/xmillion/index.xhtml?query_string=Thor+Industries%2C+Inc.&which=company&page=1&search_x=22&search_y=11, was founded on August 29, 1980, when Wade F. B. Thompson and Peter B. Orthwein acquired AirstreamAirstream
Airstream is a brand of luxury recreational vehicle manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio, USA. It is currently a division of Thor Industries. The company, which now employs fewer than 400, is the oldest in the industry. Airstream trailers are easily recognized for their distinctive rounded...
. The name "Thor" combined the first two letters of each entrepreneur's name. Despite its image, Airstream had not fared well during the economic downturn of the late-1970s. By focusing on improving quality while reducing costs, Airstream returned to profitability in its first year under the new Thor management.
In 1982, Thor purchased the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
company, General Coach, which manufactures travel trailers and motorhome
Motorhome
A motorhome is a type of self-propelled recreational vehicle or RV which offers living accommodation combined with a vehicle engine. The term motorhome is most commonly used in the UK, US, and Canada.-Features:...
s. Also part of this acquisition was Thor America, which manufactures Citation and Chateau travel trailers and fifth wheels.
In 1984, Thor became a public company and in 1986 was listed on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. That same year, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine ranked Thor sixth out of the "200 best small companies in America.".
In 1991, Thor acquired Dutchmen, a brand of fifth wheel and conventional travel trailers. Four Winds International, manufacturer of class A and C motorhomes, was acquired in 1992. Komfort, a maker of fifth-wheel and conventional travel trailers, and Skamper, a builder of folding camping trailers, became members of the Thor family in 1995.
1996 saw the start up of Thor California and the introduction of the Tahoe and Wanderer brands of trailers and fifth wheels. These products became instant hits with RV-ers and the fastest-growing brands on the market.
With the acquisition of Keystone RV in 2001, Damon RV in 2003, and CrossRoads RV in 2004, Thor Industries is the largest RV manufacturer.
In September of 2010, Thor Industries' subsidiaries Damon Motor Coach and Four Winds International merged. Combined, Damon and Four Winds became the #1 retail selling motorhome in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Thor announced its acquisition of Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC ("Heartland")
Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC
Heartland RVs is a manufacturer of recreational vehicles located in Elkhart, Indiana.On March 17, 2010 it produced its 12,000th RV off the Bighorn assembly line.-Company history:...
, a privately-held RV manufacturer based in Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
, for $100 million in cash and 4,300,000 shares of Thor Industries, Inc. common stock, subject to adjustment on Sept 17th, 2010. The acquisition, Thor’s first major purchase since 2005 and just two weeks after its 30th anniversary, was rumored for several days.
Thor is also the largest mid-size bus manufacturer, having acquired ElDorado Motor Corp.
ElDorado National
ElDorado National is a bus manufacturer owned by Thor Industries. Heavy-duty buses are built in Riverside, California, and cutaway buses and mobility vans are built in Salina, Kansas.-Products:* Aerotech and similar lines of cutaway buses...
, National Coach, Champion Bus
Champion Bus Incorporated
Champion Bus Incorporated is the brand name of buses made by Thor Industries of Imlay City, Michigan, United States.Buses made under the Champion name include:* Challenger - mid-size bus using a Ford E-series , GM GMT or C4500 truck chassis...
, Heartland and Goshen Coach
Goshen Coaches
Goshen Coach is a small bus builder located in Elkhart, Indiana. The company was founded in 1992 and is owned by Thor Industries of Jackson Center, OH....
throughout the past two decades.
Like several other firms in the industry, Thor offers employee incentives based on productivity, with reductions in bonuses based on warranty work. Thor encourages employees to be actively involved in community programs and Thor executives serve on the boards of numerous civic organizations.
Subsidiaries
Commercial Bus- ElDorado NationalElDorado NationalElDorado National is a bus manufacturer owned by Thor Industries. Heavy-duty buses are built in Riverside, California, and cutaway buses and mobility vans are built in Salina, Kansas.-Products:* Aerotech and similar lines of cutaway buses...
- Champion Bus IncorporatedChampion Bus IncorporatedChampion Bus Incorporated is the brand name of buses made by Thor Industries of Imlay City, Michigan, United States.Buses made under the Champion name include:* Challenger - mid-size bus using a Ford E-series , GM GMT or C4500 truck chassis...
- Goshen CoachesGoshen CoachesGoshen Coach is a small bus builder located in Elkhart, Indiana. The company was founded in 1992 and is owned by Thor Industries of Jackson Center, OH....
- SJC Industries
Recreation Vehicles
- AirstreamAirstreamAirstream is a brand of luxury recreational vehicle manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio, USA. It is currently a division of Thor Industries. The company, which now employs fewer than 400, is the oldest in the industry. Airstream trailers are easily recognized for their distinctive rounded...
- Breckenridge
- CrossRoads RV
- Dutchmen RV
- Redwood RV
- Keystone RV
- Thor Motor Coach (combined Four Winds International and Damon Motorcoach)
- Heartland RVHeartland Recreational Vehicles, LLCHeartland RVs is a manufacturer of recreational vehicles located in Elkhart, Indiana.On March 17, 2010 it produced its 12,000th RV off the Bighorn assembly line.-Company history:...