Winnebago Industries Announces Charles City as Site of New Plant Expansion

    FOREST CITY, Iowa--April 1, 2002--Winnebago Industries, Inc. today announced plans to build the Company's new motor home manufacturing facility in Charles City, Iowa. The new facility, which will be the Company's largest expansion to date, will be 204,000 square feet in size and built at a cost of approximately $12.5 million. When operating at full capacity, the new plant will increase Winnebago Industries' motor home manufacturing capacity by approximately 30%. Plant construction will begin this spring with anticipated motor home production to begin by early 2003.
    "We had a tremendous response to our search for this new site, with nearly 100 proposals for us to locate within various communities throughout the Midwest, primarily in Iowa and Minnesota," said Winnebago Industries' Chairman, CEO and President Bruce Hertzke. "We were extremely flattered to be recognized as a preferred employer and wish to thank all of these fine communities for their hard work and interest in our site planning."
    Charles City was ultimately chosen for the site primarily because of the community's available workforce and the new plant's intended location in a developed industrial park just off the new Avenue of the Saints highway. "We will also recognize some benefits from the added utilization of our other Charles City facilities nearby, and a proven transportation network for access to and from our other Iowa facilities," said Hertzke.
    "Charles City has been an excellent partner for Winnebago Industries. We couldn't be more pleased with the success of our two current Charles City facilities, our excellent workforce and the great relationship we have with the Charles City community," said Hertzke. "I'd like to thank the Charles City community for their continued support. I'd also like to thank Governor Tom Vilsack and the Iowa Department of Economic Development for their confidence and support to keep Winnebago Industries' expansion in Iowa."
    The site selection is contingent upon final approval of grants and other incentives from the community, county and state.

    About Winnebago Industries

    Winnebago Industries, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of motor homes, self-contained recreation vehicles used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. Other products manufactured by the Company consist principally of a variety of component products for other manufacturers. The Company builds quality products with state-of-the-art computer-aided design and manufacturing systems on automotive-styled assembly lines. The Company believes its products are subjected to the most rigorous quality testing in the RV industry. The Company's common stock is listed on the New York, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges and traded under the symbol WGO. Options for the Company's common stock are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Visit Winnebago Industries' web site at www.winnebagoind.com. For access to Winnebago Industries investor relations material, to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases or for information on a dollar-based stock investment service for the Company's stock, visit, www.winnebagoind.com/investor_relations.htm.