Thor Industries
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Thor Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of recreation vehicles and mid-sized commercial buses.
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[edit] History
Thor Industries, Inc. of Jackson Center, OH [1], was founded on August 29, 1980, when Wade F. B. Thompson and Peter B. Orthwein acquired Airstream. The name "Thor" combined the first two letters of each entrepreneur's name. Despite its image, Airstream had not fared well during the economic downturn of the late-1970s. By focusing on improving quality while reducing costs, Airstream returned to profitability in its first year under the new Thor management.
In 1982, Thor purchased the Canadian company, General Coach, which manufactures travel trailers and motorhomes. Also part of this acquisition was Thor America, which manufactures Citation and Chateau travel trailers and 'fifth wheels'.
In 1984, Thor became a public company and in 1986 was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. That same year Forbes magazine ranked Thor sixth out of the "200 best small companies in America.".[1]
In 1991, Thor acquired Dutchmen, a brand of fifth wheel and conventional travel trailers. Four Winds International, manufacturer of class A and C motorhomes, was acquired in 1992. Komfort, a maker of fifth-wheel and conventional travel trailers, and Skamper, a builder of folding camping trailers, became members of the Thor family in 1995.
1996 saw the startup of Thor California and the introduction of the Tahoe and Wanderer brands of trailers and fifth wheels. These products became instant hits with RV-ers and the fastest-growing brands on the market.
With the acquisition of Keystone RV in 2001, Damon RV in 2003, and CrossRoads RV in 2004, Thor Industries is the largest RV manufacturer.[2]
Thor is also the largest mid-size bus manufacturer, having acquired Goshen Coach in 2005.
Like several other firms in the industry, Thor offers employee incentives based on productivity, with reductions in bonuses based on warranty work. Thor encourages employees to be actively involved in community programs and Thor executives serve on the boards of numerous civic organizations.
[edit] Subsidiaries
Commercial Bus
Recreation Vehicles
- Airstream
- Breckenridge
- CrossRoads RV
- Damon RV
- Dutchmen Manufacturing
- Four Winds International
- General Coach Ontario
- General Coach British Columbia
- Keystone RV
- Komfort
- Mandalay Luxury Division
- Thor California
