Hymer Group, Europe’s largest motorhome and caravan manufacturer, and Industrial Opportunity Partners, LLC (IOP), a capital investment fund based in Evanston, Illinois, have agreed to the acquisition of all shares in Roadtrek Motorhomes, Inc. including its US subsidiary Roadtrek Motorhomes USA, Inc. by Erwin Hymer Group.
With the closure of the transaction on February 24, the new newly formed company became officially known as Erwin Hymer Group North America, Inc., with Jim Hammill, former Roadtrek CEO, named president and CEO. Roadtrek’s production facility in Kitchener, Ontario, is to be extended further to allow for the local production of vehicles from different brands of EHG for sale in North America. HymerCar, Hymer’s class B model, has already been introduced to the public and dealers at various trade shows in the US. HymerCar’s official market launch is scheduled to take place in early summer 2016.
With a turnover of more than 1.4 billion Euros, Bad Waldsee, Germany-based Erwin Hymer Group is Europe’s largest manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans. The group employs a staff of some 4,400 in its associated companies, and sells more than 35,000 vehicles annually under its Bürstner, Carado, Dethleffs, HYMER, Niesmann+Bischoff, Laika, LMC and Sunlight brands. It also owns Europe’s largest motorhome rental company, McRent, chassis specialist Goldschmitt, accessory specialist Movera as well as tent caravan manufacturer 3DOG camping.
“The strategic acquisition of Roadtrek allows Erwin Hymer Group to enter the world’s largest RV market – Canada and the US – as the first European manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans,” said Martin Brandt, Chairman of the Board of Erwin Hymer Group AG & Co. KG. “With the acquisition of Roadtrek, we pursue our sustainable international strategy of growth. It is our goal to further extend our leading position in Europe and to become a global supplier of high-quality motorhomes and caravans. This acquisition is characterized by a spirit of partnership. We happily welcome Roadtrek’s employees to Erwin Hymer Group.”
“We are all very much looking forward to our future plans,” added Jim Hammill. “Becoming part of Erwin Hymer Group allows us to better utilize strategic chances and to generate demonstrable value for our customers and employees, both in the short and the long term.”
Roadtrek is known as Canada’s most successful manufacturer of Class B motorhomes. In 2015 Stat Survey Inc. released retail motorhome market numbers which showed Roadtrek at 35.6% market share overall in North America, placing it as the top-selling Class B in North America for the 25th consecutive year. Founded in the 1970s, the company employs a staff of 300 and operates mainly in Canada and the US. In the course of the firm’s history, its dedicated team of engineers has repeatedly developed innovative technology such as the use of solar energy, lithium batteries as well as heating and air conditioning controls via smart phone or tablet.
According to a company press release, Roadtrek’s management team “possesses excellent knowledge of the Canadian and US markets which makes it the ideal partner for EHG to successfully position its products on the North American market.”
The Erwin Hymer Group is a privately owned corporation that currently has a strong market position in the European RV market with their combined eight major brands totaling 30% of all European sales. “The folks at Erwin Hymer Group have an excellent engineering approach, which mirrors that of Roadtrek,” said Jim Hammill. “Both companies have been market leaders in their respective small motorhome markets for the last 40 years and we have discovered an incredible synergy in our discussions.”
