Brock Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 Announced earlier today was Thor Industries - US RV manufacturer - has agreed to buy Hymer for 2.1 billion euros including 300 million euros of debt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HymerVan Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 Big boys get eaten by even bigger boys ! And in this ever increasingly global world Britain wants to go it alone ---apparently ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJB Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 HymerVan - 2018-09-18 6:21 PM Big boys get eaten by even bigger boys ! And in this ever increasingly global world Britain wants to go it alone ---apparently ! So true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 More details here https://www.reuters.com/article/us-erwin-hymer-m-a-thor/thor-industries-to-buy-german-caravan-maker-hymer-idUSKCN1LY1NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowie Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 Looking to break the Chinese market? Snowie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted September 18, 2018 Share Posted September 18, 2018 My experience of new vans is non existent, but my perception is that none of the takeovers that I have heard about have improved vehicle quality, duability, customer care, after sales care or anything else. When experienced motorhome converters get taken over it appears to me that experienced designers and fitters are superceded by accountants who think the bottom line profit and resultant cost cutting are everything. Lets face it, current design, build quality and after sales standards are generally abysmal especially given the cost of a new van. Let's hope that Hymer fare better than Autotrail, Autocruise and AutoSleepers and probably many others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul- Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 I think something was lost in translation. Elddis have reputation at manufacturing cracking caravans so hymer bought it, now it seems that Thor also want a firm that makes cracking caravans. What they both missed was that when it was said that they manufacture cracking caravans, it was because they make caravans that crack *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeco Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 It is interesting that the offering by Thor to the US market is what I would call typical US style motorhomes with big engines, big bodies, and old fashioned 'heavy look' kitchen cabinets. It seems this is what the US market wants. If you then consider the Hymer style as almost the direct opposite to that I do not understand where the two companies can benefit design wise from the buyout. I also read that Thor management has no plans to change anything at Hymer, I will believe that when I see it!In this country a number of local MH builders seem in my mind to try & design motorhomes with a blend of both Euro & American design styles. That is one of the major reasons I did not buy a locally produced motorhome, they seemed to be neither one thing or the other. Having said that Thor I understand employ some 18,000 people so they must be doing something right. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocsid Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Geeco - 2018-09-21 4:53 AM It is interesting that the offering by Thor to the US market is what I would call typical US style motorhomes with big engines, big bodies, and old fashioned 'heavy look' kitchen cabinets. It seems this is what the US market wants. If you then consider the Hymer style as almost the direct opposite to that I do not understand where the two companies can benefit design wise from the buyout. Well, to a large extent it happened with the automotive market, many of the buyers over there moved from their gross vehicles to smaller, lower engine capacity German & Japanese vehicles, and even more aspired to own one. So, with even there, with by our standard cheap fuel the costs are creeping up and adopting something more fuel frigal is not totally impossible. Hymer had already concluded there was a NA market for their products maybe the indiginous maker also came to that conclusion? I recall way back the VW Type2 camper vans sold incredibly well, so not all buyers want the huge offerings. All that said I am not happy TI has taken over, Hymer were up till now making decisions and products that we liked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallii Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 In the dim and distant past, when I used to work, I worked for two US companies. In both cases they did not understand the UK or EU markets, they supplied equipment with imperial nuts bolts and fittings and on one memorable occasion even used US colour coding on the wiring. Quality was always second to costs and profit. I doubt that they (the US co.) will invest all that money and be able to resist making changes. Top and middle management should start looking for another job, they will want their own people in charge. H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I think Snowie’s comment is pertinent. There’s a growing (and by our standards, enormous) middle class in China that might well put some of their new found wealth into motorhome/caravan leisure activities. Germany has a good trading relationship with China so Hymer would present a useful route in given that they already have a Chinese joint partner. Of course, if the Chinese administration now consider Hymer to be an American company then it might all turn sour. We’ll see. And re Hallii’s comments on US companies taking over European companies, likewise I’ve worked for US companies and Hallii’s comments are spot on. I recall the time a US executive was shipped over to run an increasingly sucessful French subsidiary, whatamistaketomake! He was an ok guy but didn’t have a clue about the employment cultural and legal differences – it did not end well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 On the following link there’s a long Thor Industries press release (dated 18 September) relating to the acquisition. https://ir.thorindustries.com/press-release-and-events-calendar/press-releases/press-release-details/2018/Thor-Industries-and-Erwin-Hymer-Group-to-Create-the-Largest-Global-Recreational-Vehicle-Manufacturer/default.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
747 Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Potentially a good move regarding emissions. We can ditch the dirty diesels and fit American V8 Petrol engines. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Derek Uzzell - 2018-09-21 6:52 PMOn the following link there’s a long Thor Industries press release (dated 18 September) relating to the acquisition.https://ir.thorindustries.com/press-release-and-events-calendar/press-releases/press-release-details/2018/Thor-Industries-and-Erwin-Hymer-Group-to-Create-the-Largest-Global-Recreational-Vehicle-Manufacturer/default.aspx I think it's worth quoting this section from the Press Release:Martin Brandt, the CEO of the Erwin Hymer Group, said: "We're looking forward to opening the next chapter of our company's history with Thor Industries, and are convinced that we will mutually benefit from each other. With Thor Industries, the Erwin Hymer Group will be able to speed up the development of its relatively new activities in the attractive North American market.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 I interpret this as a plan to build and sell European-style motorhomesinto the US market, i.e. to provide Americans with the option of much more compact, yet comfortable and stylish, RVs.Remember the impact the VW Beetle had when it was launched into the US car market? Hymer would not have the capacity to do the same sort of thing alone but under the wing of Thor it could be a different story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 In surprising news Erwin Hymer North America goes into receivership in USA with 900 job losses. https://www.thestar.com/business/2019/02/15/rv-maker-erwin-hymer-closes-doors.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 RV Daily Report has published news of a scandal that could shake apart one of the biggest RV Industry deals ever. According to the website’s confidential sources, Ontario-based Erwin Hymer North has fired CEO Jim Hammill, Chief Financial Officer Mark Weigel and Chief Operating Officer Howard Stratton for “financial impropriety,” saying that at least one of the executives was escorted from the company property. Allegations in the report include 1,700 fabricated invoices worth over $100 million with phony VIN numbers attached. The revenue from those fabricated sales was then funneled into bank accounts of high-level officials at Erwin Hymer and their family members who were on payroll without actually working for the company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 When the Hymer group were recently sold to Thor industries, they didn't buy the north american group because of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpstart Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 When in the states 2 years ago I visited an RV center just through curiosity. They tended to be big rigs but somewhat dated in style. Several Americans I spoke to wished they could buy European/ British Motorhome over there as they thought they looked fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 True, but what is stunning is that for all those in North America that bought a motorhome or campervan from Hymer, their warranties (6 yrs) will not be honoured. The RV community are completely stunned by total silence from the Hymer Group and Thor. Finance houses are refusing to finance outstanding stock. Nothing reported in European press on this issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Yes it was reported two days ago in the Netherlands. But to avoid confusion it relates to Canada plants Kitchener and Cambridge. But a heavy blow for the people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Despite Canadian plant, affects all Hymer customers in North America, including USA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.hubrechtsgm Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 yes Curdie. But dollars are now pumped in. The report is very interesting and detailed what has happened their. KampeerZaken.nl. The biggest RV portal in NL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curdle Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 You can give us a a summary? Can read Afrikaans, but not Dutch, despite similarity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 curdle - 2019-02-21 5:49 AM In surprising news Erwin Hymer North America goes into receivership in USA with 900 job losses. https://www.thestar.com/business/2019/02/15/rv-maker-erwin-hymer-closes-doors.html Must be Brexits fault ;-) ........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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