Coburg luxury coach maker announces layoffs
Posted by The Associated Press March 13, 2008 05:53AM
Categories: Breaking News, Business
Country Coach handed pink slips to 8 percent of its work force because of deteriorating market conditions.

The manufacturer of high-end motor homes declined to say the exact number of workers losing their jobs. But based on the most recent company statements about the size of its work force, the layoff affects about 100 people.

Company spokesman Matt Howard told The Register Guard newspaper that Country Coach needs to ensure it has the right number of employees for the market.

"We look at the industry hopefully being at the bottom of the curve and being ready for a resurgence," he said.

The RV industry as a whole saw sales fall 17 percent in January, according to market watcher Statistical Surveys. Gasoline prices have hit record highs recently, likely hurting business. The home mortgage crisis also affects RV makers because many buyers rely on home equity to finance the purchase of a motor home.

After years of job gains, Lane County's RV industry has retrenched in recent years. The transportation equipment sector -- comprised mostly of RV makers -- lost 400 jobs in 2006 and 300 jobs in 2007, dropping to about 4,100 total jobs, according to the state Employment Security Department.

Besides Country Coach, Lane County is home to Marathon Coach and Monaco Coach.

Could Country Coach be going the way of National and TS? We seem to be having a thinning of the herds.

nah country coach has way too strong of a product line and they stand behind it... they are just being smart and laying off as needed so they dont get way in the hole and have it be too late... they have some great new products coming out soon that will make their products stronger than ever... as well as they have a loyal customer base and they stand behind their products...

quote:

Originally posted by silverleaf-tim:
... as well as they have a loyal customer base and they stand behind their products...

silverleaf-tim, I think that's true however it was and is also very true regarding National, Alfa and WRV customers. There's no telling financially speaking when a coach builder has to pull the plug. Remember Sunline? It's probably the best little travel trailer I have ever seen.

We're going to miss those guys. Who's next!? A large ticket item like a Country Coach still needs to pump up the jam in order to keep those pay checks flowing.

We can only wish them the best of luck, and keep em' coming!

I probably should have started a new thread entitled" what were they thinking". I am sure that none of us, even those that own SOB's, want to see any manufacturer go down or even have troubles. I was at the FMCA St. Paul rally and saw all those veranda models. I could not believe what I saw. A dog in the making. Who dreamt up that silly idea. Is this a last ditch attempt to gain some market share. It seems that every RV forum on the net talks about the industry having to produce more fuel efficient units. I wonder how much weight that contraption adds to a coach??. Perhaps a number of years ago when sales were booming. But why now? It is no wonder this industry has so many problems. I have always respected this Company but it seems that when Bob Lee left things changed. If survival is the name of the game they have to get on track. At one time CC had a whole pack of first class engineers. More than most of the others. They should be doing R&D on something better than a porch!!