Subsidiary | |
Industry | Recreational vehicle products |
Founded | January 26, 1996 |
Founder | Peter Liegl |
Headquarters | Elkhart, Indiana, United States |
Number of locations
|
86 plants |
Key people
|
Peter Liegl (CEO) |
Revenue | US$5 billion |
Number of employees
|
11,000 |
Parent | Berkshire Hathaway (since 2005) |
Divisions |
List of Divisions
|
Website | www |
Forest River Inc., is a US manufacturer of recreational vehicles, cargo trailers, utility trailers, pontoon boats, and buses.
Forest River was founded in 1996 by Peter Liegl to be a “company dedicated to helping people experience the joy of the outdoors by building better recreational vehicles and assuring that every family who desires quality recreation would find a product that serves their needs, interest, budget and lifestyle.” Forest River’s commitment goes beyond the manufacturing process of building quality and value driven products as they invest in creating those exceptional moments of laughter and joy. Customer satisfaction is their number one priority.
Forest River, Inc., (Forest River) was founded in 1996 by Peter Liegl and the company just recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
After Purchasing Certain assets of Cobra Industries in January 1996 (RVBusiness Vol 56, no. 9 pg 38) where CEO Peter Liegt served from 1985 to 1993. The company started by manufacturing tentcampers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and park models under the following model lines: Salem, Sierra, Sandpiper, Wildwood, Rockwood, Flagstaff, Summit and Quailridge. Later that same year they began producing cargo utility trailers as Cargo Mate.
Forest River has grown through a strategic balance of growth and acquisitions.
In 1997, Forest River established a second cargo trailer line in 1997 called Continental Cargo.
In 1998 Forest River Launched Forest River Marine and began producing pontoon boats. That Same year the company purchased certain assets of Firan Motorhomes to begin manufacturing Class A Motorhomes.
In 2000, Forest River acquired US Cargo, another manufacturer of utility trailers.
In 2001, Forest River entered the bus business through the acquisitions of Starcraft Bus, and Glaval Bus.
In 2002, Rockport Commercial Vehicles, a brand of commercial vehicles and cargo trucks, was launched. That same year, the company acquired Vanguard Industries and the assets of Palomino.
With its rapidly expanding business, Forest River moved its corporate office out of the original building in Goshen, Indiana, to its current location in Elkhart, Indiana. Each new acquisition and launch led to expansions in manufacturing and production facilities in order to meet the demand for the products and strategically grow the company.
In 2005, Forest River, Inc., was acquired by Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.