Airstream to be relaunched by Jayco Australia

[RobertRyan]

This is the 3rd " relaunch " of Airsteam in Australia

Airstream, Jayco Australia Targeting Aussie Market

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January 5, 2018 by RVBusiness  Leave a Comment

Airstream Inc. today (Jan. 4) announced that it has partnered with Jayco Australia to relaunch the Airstream brand in the country, according to a news release.

Jayco Australia, an RV manufacturer with around 50% market share in the Australian RV industry, will launch the Airstream Basecamp early next year and two International model travel trailers later in 2018 at five of its dealers across the country.

“In many ways, Jayco Australia is the Australian RV market,” said Bob Wheeler, CEO of Airstream. “Their customer-centric approach and commitment to quality aligns with the Airstream brand, and we couldn’t be happier about partnering with such a trusted leader. Jayco’s national network of dealers, combined with their industry-leading in-country support, will serve Airstream customers well for many years to come.”

“Jayco is pleased to announce this partnership with Airstream USA,” said Gerry Ryan, owner of Jayco Australia. “The iconic nature of Airstream caravans, combined with the great reputation the company has had for more than 85 years, should serve our dealers well while offering a unique product to Australians across our great country. We look forward to many years of success with this partnership.”

To kick off their partnership, Airstream and Jayco will launch the re-engineered Airstream Basecamp at the Victorian Caravan Camping & Touring Supershow in Melbourne this February. Additional Airstream models will be available in 2018 as they are developed to meet the unique needs for the Australian market. 

For more information on Airstream, 

[RobertRyan]

rbpru wrote:
Timing the market is everything maybe the Aussies are ready for AirStream. You never know until you try.

I would say not. Gerry Ryan likes them though been several attempts to sell rhem.
There greatest asset being display vehicles because of their retro aluminium looks

[rbpru]

Timing the market is everything maybe the Aussies are ready for AirStream. You never know until you try.

[eubank]

Wade Thompson was indeed a naturalized New Zealander. He died died in 2009 at age 69.
Lynn

RobertRyan wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:

eubank wrote:
... Thor Industries was formed in 1980 by Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein for the expressed purpose of purchasing Airstream from Beatrice Foods. ...

I never knew this, and I've been a "Thor Guy" for quite a while now.

Wonder how "Thompson" got first billing and "Orthwein" second. Imagine if it would have gone the other way:

Orth!
Interesting twist to this Thompson originally came from.New Zealand

:B

Thomson is a Naturalized US Citizen from.New Zealand.

[RobertRyan]

Just want to add the original Australian Winnebago now known as AVIDA is doing well adding several new models

[RobertRyan]

eubank wrote:
Why not! Airstream Europe is evidently doing pretty well. Enough of them there and without enough interest to open a new unit of the WBCCI Airstream club in Europe (not owned or operated by Airstream, Inc.). Really fun to see pictures and videos of rallies in various places in Europe!

🙂
Lynn

No I think tbis a Gerry Ryan love rather than a rational decision as Airsteam.has had 3 launches in Australia. Gerry brought some pop Up Traulers from Jayco US cheaply to sell to young couples. They were just too tacky to sell. His Jpod is another iffy adventure.
His Caravans and Motorhomes have made great strides in quality. He also has a rental rv division that has been established.

[RobertRyan]

RobertRyan wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:

eubank wrote:
... Thor Industries was formed in 1980 by Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein for the expressed purpose of purchasing Airstream from Beatrice Foods. ...

I never knew this, and I've been a "Thor Guy" for quite a while now.

Wonder how "Thompson" got first billing and "Orthwein" second. Imagine if it would have gone the other way:

Orth!
Interesting twist to this Thompson originally came from.New Zealand

:B

Thomson is a Naturalized US Citizen from.New Zealand.

[RobertRyan]

NRALIFR wrote:
Nope.

From Wikipedia:
“In Australia, Jayco is manufactured by Jayco Australia which is another privately founded and owned independent manufacturer, which is not affiliated with the USA Jayco Inc.”

I know, it seems odd that they have the same name and company logo. Maybe they pay a licensing fee for that.

Airstream (Thor), US company is partnering with Jayco Australia, Australian company.

:):)

No he worked traveling around the US in various RV Companies. He was frends of the original family owners of Jayco. He went to the US a he was getting nowhere with the management of the local Sunwagon to change their manufacturing ptocess.
Another "downunder " comnnection.Thompson is a Naturalized US citizen originally from.New Zealand

[eubank]

That would be long after Thompson and Orthwein bought Airstream, but for a similar reason: Airstream, back then, wasn't doing that great under the ownership of Beatrice Foods, or so I understand.

(To tell the truth, I never did understand why a food company would have bought Airstream anyway, but I am glad that they did. In case you don't know, Wally Byam, the founding fellow, died of brain cancer in 1962.)

Lynn

rbpru wrote:
I believe the acquisitions were made quite a while after 2004. But if they had not been made, most of those companies in Thor's profile would be belly up.

Some people can not get used to big. For them there are still an few smaller folks around. Just do not complain about the price.

[RobertRyan]

DutchmenSport wrote:

eubank wrote:
... Thor Industries was formed in 1980 by Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein for the expressed purpose of purchasing Airstream from Beatrice Foods. ...

I never knew this, and I've been a "Thor Guy" for quite a while now.

Wonder how "Thompson" got first billing and "Orthwein" second. Imagine if it would have gone the other way:

Orth!
Interesting twist to this Thompson originally came from.New Zealand

:B

[rbpru]

I believe the acquisitions were made quite a while after 2004. But if they had not been made, most of those companies in Thor's profile would be belly up.

Some people can not get used to big. For them there are still an few smaller folks around. Just do not complain about the price.

[hvac]

What I do know is when Thor touches it, things go downhill. Our 2004 28 Safari had huge corrosion issues. Peeling clear coat. Floors going soft in less than 3 years. Leaks. Its a pattern repeated over over with aqusitions. Livin lite. Same thing.

[eubank]

You can see some of it at the "Thor Industries" article on Wikipedia. There are other sites that are devoted specifically to Airstream history, but those generally go well beyond the involvement of Thor.
🙂
Lynn

DutchmenSport wrote:

eubank wrote:
... Thor Industries was formed in 1980 by Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein for the expressed purpose of purchasing Airstream from Beatrice Foods. ...

I never knew this, and I've been a "Thor Guy" for quite a while now.

Wonder how "Thompson" got first billing and "Orthwein" second. Imagine if it would have gone the other way:

Orth!

:B

[DutchmenSport]

eubank wrote:
... Thor Industries was formed in 1980 by Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein for the expressed purpose of purchasing Airstream from Beatrice Foods. ...

I never knew this, and I've been a "Thor Guy" for quite a while now.

Wonder how "Thompson" got first billing and "Orthwein" second. Imagine if it would have gone the other way:

Orth!

:B

[eubank]

Yes, even the Thor story is often twisted. Thor Industries was formed in 1980 by Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein for the expressed purpose of purchasing Airstream from Beatrice Foods. It was only later that Thor began collecting other RV manufacturers -- and producing some themselves. Airstream pretty much can do what it wants; Thor is somewhat hands-off in that regard.
Lynn

SoundGuy wrote:

newman fulltimer wrote:
Both companies are owned by thor industries

Don't ya just love uninformed, 100% inaccurate information posted on internet forums like this? :S

BTW, the world really is flat. :W