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Hymer

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For people named Hymer or Hymers, see Hymer (surname).

Hymer AG
IndustryRecreational vehicles
Founded1923
FounderErwin Hymer & Erich Bachem
Headquarters
Bad Waldsee
,
Germany
Area served
Europe, Japan, and New Zealand
ProductsMotorhomes, Caravans
Revenue€2,780 million (2011/2012)[1]
€859 million (2011/2012)[1]
Number of employees
2,600 (2010/2011)
WebsiteHymer (English)
Hymermobil B SL
Mercedes-based Hymermobil built around 1980
Eriba Triton

Hymer AG is a motorhome and caravan manufacturer, located in Bad Waldsee, Germany. One of the largest manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans in Europe, the listed company Hymer AG owns several brands, including; Bürstner, Carado, Sunlight, Etrusco, Elddis, Hymer, Laika, LMC, Niesmann + Bischoff, Dethleffs, Eriba, as well as camping equipment wholesale Movera.[2] In February 2017 it acquired The Explorer Group based in Consett, UK adding the Elddis, Buccaneer, Compass and Xplore brands to its portfolio. In 2018, Thor Industries acquired Hymer.[3][4][5]

History

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Alfons Hymer, the father of Erwin Hymer, had operated a repair shop in Bad Waldsee since 1923.[6] In 1956, Erich Bachem made the first caravan to a customer order, and in 1957 designer Erwin Hymer created the prototype "Eriba" range, the original Trolls. [6]As a result, that same year the two formed the new distribution company Hymer AG, and in 1958 the company began production of the Eriba-Troll range, which is still in production today. The first Hymer motorhome was produced in 1961, the Caravano.[6] During the mid-1960s, Dornier Flugzeugwerke and Hymer developed the Dornier Delta II, a development of the earlier Zündapp Janus. The vehicle could carry up to six passengers and offered two sleeping places for camping, but was never developed beyond the prototype stage. However, from 1971, serial production of motorcaravans started under the Hymer brand.[6] In 1980, the Hymer and Eriba companies formally merged, before also merging with Dethleffs and TEC to form CMC. Since 1990, the company became publicly traded.[6] In 1995, the company became the first caravan manufacturer to become ISO 9001 certified. [7] In 1996, Hymer took over Niesmann + Bischoff GmbH, and in 1998 added Burstner. In the same year the camping accessories wholesaler Movera was founded. In 2000, Hymer AG acquired the Italian motorhome manufacturer Laika. The 100,000th leisure vehicle left the factory in October 2004.[6] In 2005/6 Hymer and Dethleffs established of Capron Ltd., which distributes vehicles under the Carado and Sunlight brands.[7][8]

On 29 October 2011, the €17 million Erwin Hymer Museum opened in Bad Waldsee.[9][10][11]

In 2016, Hymer acquired esteemed North American Class B RV manufacturer Roadtrek, and created the subsidiary Erwin Hymer NA (North America) to manage the acquisition.[12]

In 2018, Thor Industries acquired Erwin Hymer (Europe) without Erwin Hymer NA and Roadtrek because of financial irregularities uncovered at Erwin Hymer NA (during due diligence investigations as required by the sale).[12][13] Erwin Hymer NA subsequently fired the CEO, and COO, halted work at four factories in Ontario, laid off approximately 850 workers, and went into Canadian receivership.[14]

The Explorer Group

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The Explorer Group, a subsidiary of Hymer,[15] is the United Kingdom's second largest manufacturer of caravans, based in Consett.[16] The Explorer Group produces Elddis, Buccaneer, Compass and Xplore brands.[17][18]

Capron GmbH

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Capron Sunlight

Capron GmbH is a manufacturer of motorhomes in Neustadt in Saxony. Capron GmbH builds Erwin Hymer Group for the Sunlight motorhomes and Sunlight and Carado motorhomes. Capron GmbH was founded in July 2005 as a joint venture between Hymer AG and Dethleffs GmbH & Co. KG. The new plant opened November 2006 on a 450 meter long production line with an initial 60 employees and as grown due to popularity. In September 2012, the company had over 260 employees and can up to 5,000 vehicles per year. In April 2014 the 25,000th vehicle left the Capron assembly line in Neustadt. In October 2017, the company had over 600 employees and manufactured its 50,000th vehicle. In August 2022, the 100,000th motorhome left the motorhome factory.[19][20]

Roadtrek

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In 2019, Rapido Group acquired Roadtrek from Erwin Hymer Group North America. Rapido Group's Roadtrek is in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The Roadtrek motorhome company was founded in 1980 by Jac Hanemaayer. Roadtrek Inc.'s headquarters is in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Rapido has specialized in building Class B Vans and also rebuilding Westfalia vans. [21][22][23]

Sales

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In financial year 2010/2011, Hymer Group turned over €792 million, with a workforce of 2,600 creating 14,243 motorhomes and 6,317 caravans. The Hymer Group operates from factories in:[24]

Brands

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Hymer AG

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In Bad Waldsee, Germany:

  • Bürstner (caravans, motorhomes, campervans)
  • Crosscamp (campervans)
  • Dethleffs (caravans, motorhomes)
  • Eriba (caravans)
  • Etrusco (motorhomes, campervans)
  • Hymer (motorhomes, campervans)
  • Laika (motorhomes, campervans)
  • LMC (Lord Münsterland Caravan) (caravans, motorhomes)
  • Niesmann + Bischoff (motorhomes)
  • Movera (accessories)

Capron GmbH

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In Neustadt in Sachsen, Germany:

  • Carado (motorhomes, campervans)
  • Sunlight (motorhomes, campervans)

The Explorer Group

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In Consett, County Durham, England Was (Elddis):

  • Buccaneer (caravans)
  • Compass(caravans, motorhomes, campervans)
  • Elddis (caravans, motorhomes, campervans)
  • Xplore (caravans)

Locations

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Germany: Bad Waldsee, Kehl, Isny im Allgäu, Leutkirch im Allgäu, Sassenberg, Polch, Neustadt in Sachsen
France: Wissembourg
Italy: Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
UK: Consett
(Canada: Kitchener, Ontario, Roadtrek from 2016 to 2019)

[edit]
  • Hymer Center in Bad Waldsee
    Hymer Center in Bad Waldsee
  • Hymer Group production near Bad Waldsee
    Hymer Group production near Bad Waldsee
  • Administration building near Bad Waldsee
    Administration building near Bad Waldsee
  • Hymer Exsis
    Hymer Exsis
  • Hymer Motorhome
    Hymer Motorhome
  • Hymer Mobile Home B 524 SL
    Hymer Mobile Home B 524 SL
  • Hymer RV by Aura River
    Hymer RV by Aura River
  • Bedford Blitz Hymer
    Bedford Blitz Hymer
  • 1964 Eriba Pan
    1964 Eriba Pan
  • Erwin Hymer Museum
    Erwin Hymer Museum
  • Erwin Hymer Museum
    Erwin Hymer Museum
  • Musée Erwin Hymer Museum
    Musée Erwin Hymer Museum
  • Dethleff's caravan from 1931, Germany's first caravan (replica from 1974) at Erwin Hymer Museum
    Dethleff's caravan from 1931, Germany's first caravan (replica from 1974) at Erwin Hymer Museum

References

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  • Monika Schramm: Auf Traumstraßen zu Sehnsuchtsorten, in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, 6. November 2011, Seite V 8
  1. ^ a b Geschäftsbericht 2011/12 Archived 2014-01-07 at the Wayback Machine (PDF; 2,1 MB)
  2. ^ "Erwin Hymer Group brands". Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. ^ "20 brands & products for mobile recreational experiences| ERWIN HYMER GROUP". www.erwinhymergroup.com.
  4. ^ "HYMER – Travel experience inclusive". www.hymer.com.
  5. ^ Group, The ZaneRay (5 December 2023). "Erwin Hymer Group". THOR Industries. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Milestones | ERWIN HYMER GROUP". www.erwinhymergroup.com.
  7. ^ a b "Experience 60 years of camping history | ERWIN HYMER GROUP". www.erwinhymergroup.com.
  8. ^ "Capron GmbH - Europe's largest motor home manufacturer is expanding | Kampmann - Kampmann". www.kampmanngroup.com.
  9. ^ Schwäbische Zeitung: Hymer-Museum: SZ-Leser in geheimer Mission vom 21. Oktober 2011, eingesehen am 29. Oktober 2011
  10. ^ Schwäbische Zeitung: Erwin-Hymer-Stiftung erhält Deutschen Camping-Preis vom 16. Februar 2012
  11. ^ Frankfurter Allgemeine: Auf Traumstraßen zu Sehnsuchtsorten vom 7. November 2011, eingesehen am 10. Dezember 2011
  12. ^ a b Wendlend, Mike (21 January 2019). "What we know about the Roadtrek/Hymer Scandal". rvlifestyle.com. Mike Wendlend. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Thor Industries (THO) Confirms Agreement to Buy Erwin Hymer Group for EUR2.1B".
  14. ^ James, Jackson (7 July 2019). "The rise and fall of Erwin Hymer Group North America". rvlifestyle.com. Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Hymer Buys Caravan Makers, The Explorer Group". Out & About Live. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Driving force". www.bqlive.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  17. ^ "Erwin Hymer Group acquires The Explorer Group Ltd". 11 February 2017.
  18. ^ "Erwin Hymer takes over Explorer". CaravanTimes. 10 February 2017.
  19. ^ "ERWIN HYMER GROUP on LinkedIn: CAPRON celebrates its 100,000th motorhome produced". www.linkedin.com.
  20. ^ "Capron GmbH, carado.com" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Our brands - Roadtrek - Groupe Rapido - Véhicule de loisirs". www.corporate-rapido.com.
  22. ^ "Roadtrek | Campervan & Class B RV Manufacturer". Roadtrek.
  23. ^ "How Rapido Plotted the Rebirth of Roadtrek - RV PRO". 6 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Erwin Hymer Group achieves record results and presents sustainability strategy for long-term corporate success". www.erwinhymergroup.com.
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