KirbyThe following was written by Craig Kirby, RVIA president and CEO, for Trade Only Today.
As we head further into the first quarter of 2022, the recreational vehicle industry stands poised to continue its scorching-hot pace of growth. Early-year RV consumer shows and industry events have reported record-breaking crowds, and the outlook appears favorable well into the future.
And it is not just RVing that is experiencing this bump. It is also camping, hiking and boating. Consumer excitement about outdoor recreation is at an all-time high. Of course, Covid-19 continues to present problems, as do labor shortages and the ever-changing supply chain. But the truth is, the pandemic has fundamentally changed people, leading many to re-evaluate what is important to them.
Many have found that getting back to nature and having authentic experiences through spending time outdoors has become a priority in their lives. The pandemic afforded the RV industry with a massive opportunity to highlight the benefits of RVing and how it allows people the freedom and control to travel the country. The RV industry continues to see never-before-seen levels of interest, and the industry continues to improvise and innovate Looking back on the past two years and how much the RV industry accomplished, it truly is remarkable. In 2021, the industry shipped more than 600,000 units — a record that eclipsed the 504,000 units shipped in 2017. And while it is easy to focus on the most recent success, the truth is that the RV industry has been experiencing steady growth for the better part of 40 years.
As we look to the future, RV shipment estimates continue to be strong, with projections for 2022 to be at or above last year’s record-breaking numbers. Perhaps nowhere is this growth more evident than in the rollout of electrified RV products at the Florida RV SuperShow, held in January in Tampa, Fla. It was so exciting to see the industry usher in a whole new vision for the future of RVing. This future will include all outdoor-industry businesses pulling together to support the much-needed infrastructure that future growth and greater electrification will require to meet the ongoing supply challenges and demand for RV products.
Click here to read all of Kirby’s remarks in Trade Only Today.
