RV makers roll toward a V-shaped recovery amid COVID

By Timothy Aeppel

Sept 21 (Reuters) – At least one American industry is rolling toward a V-shaped recovery.

Wholesale shipments of recreational vehicles – which have surged in popularity as Americans sought to travel without the need to touch hotel or restaurant doorknobs – are projected to set a record next year, according to an analysis seen by Reuters prepared for the RV Industry Association. The report is being released today.

The new analysis estimates shipments could hit 507,200 units. Such an achievement would represent a nearly 20% rise over the report’s new estimate for 2020 and exceed the previous peak of 504,600 units shipped in 2017.

The trade group’s president, Craig Kirby, said in a release that people see RVs “as a way…