The rightsizing of the industry continued in March 2023, as there were 34,900 retail registrations recorded that month, a 28.7% year-over-year decline compared to the 49,013 units tallied in the same month last year, according to Statistical Surveys Inc., the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company that tracks retail and consumer data for the RV industry.
It was much the same story in the year-to-date comparison, with 82,201 retail registrations recorded in the first two months in 2023 representing a 25.7% decline compared to the 110,737 units during the same period in 2022.
It’s certainly worth noting that retail sales paced ahead of wholesale shipments for March, suggesting dealers are selling through excess inventory. The RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) March 2023 survey of manufacturers determined that total RV shipments ended the month with 31,869 wholesale shipments for the month as well as 78,600 units shipped year-to-date.
United States
• Travel Trailers – 22,104 retail registrations in March 2023 (vs. 29,790 in March 2022; a 25.8% decrease). Market share leaders: THOR Industries (42.1%), Forest River (36.8%), Grand Design RV Co. (7.6%).
• Fifth-Wheels – 5,563 (8,005; -30.5%). Market share leaders: THOR (43.1%), Forest River (28.5%), Grand Design (16.9%).
• Camping Trailers – 589 (765; -23.0%). Market share leaders: Forest River (58.7%), Aliner (16.1%), Purple Line LLC (5.8%).
• Park Models – 219 (208; +5.3%). Market share leaders: Skyline Champion (39.7%), Cavco (16.0%), Woodland Park (10.5%).
• Class A – 1,101 (1,225; -10.1%). Market share leaders: THOR (45.6%), Forest River (26.2%), REV Recreation Group (11.7%).
• Class C – 1,780 (2,240; -20.5%). Market share leaders: THOR (50.2%), Forest River (25.1%), Winnebago Motorized (10.7%).
• Class B – 1,154 (1,503; -23.2%). Market share leaders: THOR (40.5%), Winnebago (28.6%), Forest River (7.0%).
Canada
• Travel Trailers – 1,822 retail registrations in March 2023 (vs. 4,043 in March 2022; a 54.9% decrease). Market share leaders: THOR Industries (45.8%), Forest River (31.9%), Grand Design RV Co. (8.2%).
• Fifth-Wheels – 236 (603; -60.9%). Market share leaders: THOR (41.1%), Grand Design (28.0%), Forest River (24.6%).
• Camping Trailers – 48 (87; -44.8%). Market share leaders: Forest River (81.3%), Aliner (8.3%) and Mfr. Unknown (8.3%).
• Park Models – 4 (2; +100%). Market share leaders: Forest River (50%), Skyline Champion (25%) and Woodland Park (25%).
• Class A – 21 (47; -55.3%). Market share leaders: THOR (52.4%), Forest River (28.6%), Winnebago (9.5%) and REV Recreation Group (9.5%).
• Class C – 97 (233; -58.4%). Market share leaders: THOR (76.3%), Forest River (16.5%), Winnebago (5.2%).
• Class B – 54 (76; -28.9%). Market share leaders: Forest River (37.0%), THOR (25.9%), Winnebago (20.4%).
