Thor Appoints New Independent Director

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio, Aug. 7, 2003 -- Thor Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Geoffrey A. Thompson, 62, a former President and CEO of Marine Midland Bank (renamed HSBC Bank in 2000), as a director. He is a financial expert and is also a director of Guardian Trust Company where he serves as head of the audit committee.

Mr. Thompson is currently a private investor. His broad business experience also includes having been a principal at buyout firm Kohlberg & Company and a senior officer at Citibank and General Electric Credit Corporation. At Marine Midland, Citibank, and GECC his responsibilities included financing of recreation vehicles. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He is not related to Wade F. B. Thompson, Thor Chairman.

Thor is the largest unit manufacturer of recreation vehicles and the largest builder of mid-size buses with preliminary sales for the year ended July 31, 2003 of $1.57 billion.

This release includes "forward looking statements" that involve uncertainties and risks. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from the Company's expectations. Factors which could cause materially different results include, among others, the success of new product introductions, the pace of acquisitions and cost structure improvements, competitive and general economic conditions, and the other risks set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.