Elkhart RV Sector Posts a Third Year of Growth, Tariffs Push Back

Wholesale RV shipments reached approximately 342,000 units in 2025, a third straight year of recovery from the 2023 low of around 313,000 units. Indiana now produces roughly 86% of all RVs manufactured in North America, making Elkhart County and the surrounding region the center of that recovery. The new problem: tariffs on both sides. Gulfstream Coach has stated publicly that Elkhart ships approximately $1.7 billion in RVs into Canada each year, a major export outlet that is now inside the tariff environment. The same 50% steel and aluminum tariffs hitting manufacturers are also raising the cost of frames, chassis, and heavy metal components. In May 2025, Thor Industries brands, including Heartland RV, Cruiser RV, and DRV, filed WARN notices covering just under 450 workers across Elkhart, Middlebury, and Howe; including a related closure in Sturgis, Michigan, the total for Thor-connected layoffs crossed 550 workers. Early 2026 shipment and registration data show year-over-year declines in the low double-digit percentage range. The recovery is real, it's also sensitive.