RV Shipments Will Rebound From Pandemic Shutdown

RV shipments are expected to rebound through the summer from the shutdown in RV manufacturing from late March through early May due to the COVID-19 pandemic response. According to Dr. Richard Curtin in the Summer 2020 issue of RV RoadSigns, RV wholesale shipments will range from 340,900 units to 302,300 units this year with the most likely final total being 321,600 units.

Towable RV shipments are anticipated to range 308,800 to 273,300 units with a most likely total of 290,800 units for the year. Motorhome shipments are projected to span 32,600 to 29,000 units with a most likely total of 30,800 units.

Curtin believes that RV shipments will be both constrained by the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and benefit from the reputation that RVs provide a secure travel environment for families to enjoy outdoor recreation. Low interest rates will also benefit RV dealers and consumers.

He also reports that the pandemic has significantly transformed people’s travel and recreational preferences. While the shift in preferences will generally benefit RV purchases, it will not favor some standard uses, such as at jamborees, at sports and racing events, and the like. It will bolster a broader interest in RVs across a wide range of other recreational and travel activities.

RV Industry Association members can view the 2020 summer edition of RV RoadSigns, by clicking here. The quarterly forecasting publication is produced by Dr. Richard Curtin, the Director of the Surveys of Consumers at the University of Michigan. Dr. Curtin is solely responsible for the forecasts and opinions expressed in the publication.