Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A BRIEF HISTORY OF JAYCO
COURTESY OF RVNEWS
Jayco, Inc., started in 1968 by Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager on their home farm. Lloyd was determined to build a better recreational vehicle and create a company that would reflect his ideals and morals and where everyone would be treated as part of a family.
By the end of their first year, Jayco had 15 employees and had sold 132 folding camping trailers. Today, the Jayco “family” is made up of nearly 1700 people and is one of the largest manufacturers of RVs in the United States.
Jayco is still owned by the Bontrager family, many of whom are involved in daily operations.
Jayco Today
Jayco’s company headquarters and principle manufacturing plants are located in Middlebury, Indiana, in the heart of Amish country. Jayco also has a manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho, and an affiliate located in Australia, Jayco Caravan Manufacturing.
Jayco has become the largest privately-held manufacturer of RVs in the United States and the third-largest manufacturer overall. During the 2006 model year, Jayco’s market share continued to increase. Over the last four years, Jayco has more than doubled its market share in the travel trailer category.
Jayco’s North America operations produced more than 37,000 units during the 2006 model year. Jayco’s Jay Flight is America’s best-selling travel trailer, and the Jay Feather is number one in lightweight trailers.
In Australia, Jayco Caravan continues to be the largest RV manufacturer, with approximately 40 percent of the continent’s market share, and with production facilities located throughout Australia and New Zealand. Jayco Caravan produced approximately 8,000 units last model year.
Jayco's Community
Jayco takes pride in the values on which the Bontrager family originally based the company and which still hold firm today. These “old-fashioned” or traditional values of family, hard work, and the golden rule of “Do unto others” have yielded a standard of innovation and sense of pride in the finished product that has made Jayco stand out. In turn, Jayco has earned the respect of competitors and customers alike.
The Jayco family has always been involved in local philanthropic activities. Employees donate their time, talents, and treasures to charitable programs and causes, as well as to churches and local community groups. Jayco also sponsors local events to which many employees volunteer their time.
The RV Industry
Indiana led the RV industry in production in 2005 by manufacturing 66.8% of all RVs, up from 63.8% in 2004, according to the 2005 Industry Profile by the RVIA. RVIA also reported that in 2005, a total retail value of shipments was $14.4 billion.
Demographic patterns in RV ownership are expected to follow current population trends, with the largest age group of current RV owners (35 to 55 years) seeing the greatest gains, according to the RVIA Industry Profile. Also, the South and West regions of the country, which currently have the highest RV ownership rates, are predicted to see the greatest gains in population as Americans continue to migrate to these regions. Due to these demographic patterns, the number of RV owners will continue to grow, even if the ownership rates stay the same.
Jayco, Inc., started in 1968 by Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager on their home farm. Lloyd was determined to build a better recreational vehicle and create a company that would reflect his ideals and morals and where everyone would be treated as part of a family.
By the end of their first year, Jayco had 15 employees and had sold 132 folding camping trailers. Today, the Jayco “family” is made up of nearly 1700 people and is one of the largest manufacturers of RVs in the United States.
Jayco is still owned by the Bontrager family, many of whom are involved in daily operations.
Jayco Today
Jayco’s company headquarters and principle manufacturing plants are located in Middlebury, Indiana, in the heart of Amish country. Jayco also has a manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho, and an affiliate located in Australia, Jayco Caravan Manufacturing.
Jayco has become the largest privately-held manufacturer of RVs in the United States and the third-largest manufacturer overall. During the 2006 model year, Jayco’s market share continued to increase. Over the last four years, Jayco has more than doubled its market share in the travel trailer category.
Jayco’s North America operations produced more than 37,000 units during the 2006 model year. Jayco’s Jay Flight is America’s best-selling travel trailer, and the Jay Feather is number one in lightweight trailers.
In Australia, Jayco Caravan continues to be the largest RV manufacturer, with approximately 40 percent of the continent’s market share, and with production facilities located throughout Australia and New Zealand. Jayco Caravan produced approximately 8,000 units last model year.
Jayco's Community
Jayco takes pride in the values on which the Bontrager family originally based the company and which still hold firm today. These “old-fashioned” or traditional values of family, hard work, and the golden rule of “Do unto others” have yielded a standard of innovation and sense of pride in the finished product that has made Jayco stand out. In turn, Jayco has earned the respect of competitors and customers alike.
The Jayco family has always been involved in local philanthropic activities. Employees donate their time, talents, and treasures to charitable programs and causes, as well as to churches and local community groups. Jayco also sponsors local events to which many employees volunteer their time.
The RV Industry
Indiana led the RV industry in production in 2005 by manufacturing 66.8% of all RVs, up from 63.8% in 2004, according to the 2005 Industry Profile by the RVIA. RVIA also reported that in 2005, a total retail value of shipments was $14.4 billion.
Demographic patterns in RV ownership are expected to follow current population trends, with the largest age group of current RV owners (35 to 55 years) seeing the greatest gains, according to the RVIA Industry Profile. Also, the South and West regions of the country, which currently have the highest RV ownership rates, are predicted to see the greatest gains in population as Americans continue to migrate to these regions. Due to these demographic patterns, the number of RV owners will continue to grow, even if the ownership rates stay the same.
