Forest River Inc. Facts

Forest River, located in Elkhart, Indiana, is one of the leading makers of recreational vehicles (RVs), cargo trailers, buses, boats, and modular homes. Forest River's RVs include fifth wheels, motor homes, tent campers, and travel trailers. The company's Starcraft Bus division converts vehicles for use as hotel shuttle vans, church buses, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Its’ Forest River Housing unit constructs manufactured homes branded Sterling Homes and Hart Housing. Forest River also makes pontoon boats. CEO Peter Liegl, who founded Forest River in 1996, sold the company in 2005 to Berkshire Hathaway, the diversified holding company controlled by investor Warren Buffett. (Courtesy Hoovers.com)

Location Type: Headquarters

55470 County Rd. 1
Elkhart, IN 46514
United States

Phone: 574-389-4600
Fax: 574-296-7558

Web Site: www.ForestRiverInc.com

President and CEO: Peter Liegl

CFO: Joe Greenlee

Peter Leigl’s take on the current economy and RV business

Liegl, terms the RV industry’s current downturn as “a godsend” for Forest River. “Let’s say the industry shrunk in half,” he said. “That means there’s still going to be half left, and somebody’s going to get that half, which is still far more than I can produce. But I’m going to get my fair share. We might have to work a little longer and harder, but we are going to get it.”

Liegl said it’s already too late to be making adjustments to cope with the soft RV markets. “It’s not what’s happening today,” he said. “It’s what you did last week and the week before that and last month that is going to determine your results today.”

All in all, Liegl expects that the RV market, despite current setbacks, will recover in short order. “It’s a very cautious individual who buys RVs,” Liegl said. “That doesn’t mean they aren’t going to buy. They might buy something a little less than what they would if the economy was blowing and growing, but this is short term. I’m very confident of that.

“I don’t know why (people are worried). When I say short-term, this year is going to be tough as far as the economy goes. But that’s short term.”

Read more at Bates International RV Blog