Consumer demand continued its record-setting pace with 54,829 retail registrations recorded across all North America in March 2021, according to Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI), the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based source of industry data. The figure represents the best March on record – the previous high was 45,568 in March 2018 – and is a 52.5% year-over-year increase over the 35,954 total in March 2020.
In addition, March 2021 is the 10th consecutive month to set a new retail sales record for that respective month.
The year-to-date data is just impressive. Through March this year, there have been 124,182 retail registrations, good for a 42.8% YOY increase of 2020s 86,962 tally.
It’s worth noting that the RV industry essentially shut down for the latter half of March last year due to the pandemic. Manufacturing operations were suspended across North America and most dealerships dealt with some sort of limitation to retail activities. The same factors will also affect the data – both retail registrations and wholesale shipments – for both April and May.
United States
In the travel trailers segment, there were 34,911 retail registrations in March 2021, a 52.3% YoY increase over the 22,929 units in the same period last year. Forest River Inc. led the category with a 41.4% market share, followed by THOR Industries Inc. (39.6%) and Grand Design RV Co. (7.9%).
Fifth-wheels also saw a huge jump – 47.6% – going from 6,370 in March 2020 to 9,401 this year. THOR (43.9%) was the market share leader, along with Forest River (30.2%) and Grand Design (18.6%).
Camping trailers saw a 60.6% increase with 827 retail registrations in March of this year compared to 515 in March a year ago. Forest River (67.4%) topped the segment, trailed by Aliner (17.2%) and Purple Line LLC (5.6%).
With 225 retail registrations, Park Model RVs in March jumped 25% in March 2021. Market share leaders were Skyline Champion (36%), Cavco Industries (17.3%) and Kropf Manufacturing (15.1%).
Class A sales saw a 24.4% jump, with 1,489 retail registrations recorded in March this year compared to last year’s 1,197 total. THOR (49.1%) topped the segment, followed by REV Recreation Group (16.3%) and Newmar Corp. (15.2).
With 2,527 retail registrations, Class C enjoyed a 26.9% YoY increase. THOR (58.7%), Forest River (22.3%) and Winnebago Industries (8.1%) led the category.
The Class B segment went from 401 registrations in March last year to 877 in the same period this year – good for a 118.7% jump. Market share leaders were Winnebago (46.9%), THOR (23.8%) and Forest River (8.8%).
Canada
There was a 102.3% year-over-year increase in travel trailer retail registrations in March, going from 1,767 units to 3,574 this year. THOR topped the segment with a 45.1% market share, followed by Forest River (39.4%) and Grand Design (8.4%).
Similarly, the fifth-wheel category boasted a 97.2% jump, with 562 registrations in March 2021 vs. 285 in March 2020. Market share leaders were THOR (49.5%), Grand Design (23.8%) and Forest River(23.8%).
Camping trailers (71 retail registrations) saw a 54.3% increase, with Forest River (88.7%) and Aliner (9.9% leading the segment.
THOR (52.4%), Newmar (16.7%) and both Forest River and Winnebago (11.9%) topped the Class A segment – which saw a 50% YoY increase and 42 retail registrations in March 2021.
Class C registrations went from 81 in March last year to 108 in March this year – a 33.3% increase. The category was led by THOR (63%) and Forest River (28.7%).
With 49 retail registrations recorded in March 2021, Class B sales jumped 88.5% from the 26 recorded in March 2020. Both Roadtrek Inc. and THOR led the segment with a 24.5% market share each. They were followed by Winnebago (22.4% and Pleasure Way Industries Inc. (20.4).
