Thor Industries Inc.,
a large recreational-vehicle maker, finished its latest fiscal year in July with a record-high backlog of orders as the coronavirus pandemic led first-time buyers to shop for RVs.
Elkhart, Ind.-based Thor reported a backlog valued at $5.74 billion, compared with roughly $2 billion a year earlier. That included $2.76 billion of orders for towable RVs in North America. Thor also said dealer inventories finished July at historically low levels.
Thor Chief Executive Bob Martin said he has seen the pandemic draw a new cohort of younger enthusiasts to the world of RVs, as people search for ways to travel while keeping their distance from others.
The company echoed an industry outlook for further growth to come, citing a forecast from the RV Industry Association for a…
