A Sight For Thor Ayes: Significant Increase in RV Retail Sales and Order Input

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio, Feb. 4 -- Thor Industries, Inc. announced today record preliminary sales in the quarter and 6 months ended January 31, 2002.

Sales in the quarter were $268.6 million, up 55% from $173.2 million last year and $478.4 million in the six months, up 25% from $383.0 million last year. RV sales in the quarter were $202.4 million, up 97% from $102.7 million last year and $330.5 million in the six months, up 36% from $242.3 million last year. Bus sales in the quarter declined 6% to $66.2 million versus $70.5 million last year and were $147.9 million in the six months, up 5% from $140.7 million last year. These results include Keystone RV Company acquired on November 9, 2001. RV sales excluding Keystone in the quarter, were up 4% from last year.

``January sales were $110.7 million, easily the highest in any month in our history. Our recreation vehicle retail sales and order input in the quarter were up substantially from last year. Excluding Keystone, our RV retail registrations were up in each of the past 3 months, with an increase of 16% in the quarter. Our RV orders, excluding Keystone, were up 15% in the quarter. Including Keystone, our RV retail registrations and order input in the quarter were about double last year,'' said Wade F. B. Thompson, Thor chairman. ``We had no debt on January 31, 2002. With the substantial increase in December and January consumer confidence, along with low interest rates and gas prices, it appears that the RV industry is well positioned for a very solid upturn in 2002,'' he added.