Newmar was the No. 1-selling Type A diesel manufacturer in 2024, according to Statistical Surveys. Newmar’s Dutch Star topped diesel Type A model sales for the fifth consecutive year.
As the manufacturer’s leadership addressed dealers on the first day of Newmar’s annual Dealer Meeting, the primary message was that Newmar is pushing to do more.
Director of Sales Matt Ellinger said, “We are a proven winner in this space, and we are only going to get better. We are not here settling for good enough. We are setting the bar higher.”
Newmar President and CEO Casey Tubman said the company had 16 new things of substance to share with its dealers this year. He said Newmar had a history of first-to-market innovations. He said the company wants to bring more first-to-market innovations to its dealer body.
“We are going to show you some of those this week,” he said. “We have 16 new things; some of those are first to the industry.”
Ellinger said the changes are not about keeping up with the RV industry.
He said, “They are about leading it.”
Ellinger told dealers about three new introductions, including a move to Victron inverters in all models and a change from Silverleaf to ATC electronic systems. He said the ATC systems provide a simple, intuitive and powerful consumer interface that works seamlessly with Victron’s inverters and the new app.
Another model-year highlight is the introduction of Artisan series graphics. The graphics will be available on King Aire, Essex, London Aire and Summit Aire models, as well as the 45-foot Supreme Aire.
The graphics are unique choices selected by either the dealer or the consumer. Once the graphic design has been selected, Newmar and Artisan graphics remove the option from their catalog, leaving the motorhome with an entirely unique exterior look.
Before Ellinger stepped before the dealer body, Director of Engineering JP LaPorte said Newmar faced unbridled opportunity in terms of the technologies the manufacturer can use to grow.
“With its position as the dominant player in the luxury market,” he said, “Newmar is better poised than anybody else to bring new technologies into the product. We have the brand. We have the customer base. We can do it.”
LaPorte cited other advancements in engineering and manufacturing. He started with the 3D software used to build 2026 models, a concept introduced last year by former Vice President of Engineering Paul White. White unexpectedly passed away in August 2024, and Tubman said Newmar wanted to remember White and his work at this year’s event.
LaPorte said the change in product development enables Newmar to bring new models to market faster. LaPorte said what used to be a process measured in months is now measured in days and weeks.
Newmar Vice President of Marketing and Strategy Ryan Buurstra said Newmar commissioned a customer segmentation and demand landscape study, conducted by Ipsos. Buurstra said the findings uncovered a range of consumer motivations for buying a Newmar motorhome. Product developers will use the study findings to determine new models, features and benefits.
“You can start to connect the dots if you look at the macro trends, shifting demographics and some opportunities across these categories,” he said. “Newmar will continue to lead in our current stronghold, but we are also focused on expanding into new customers and new segments while remaining true to the Newmar brand.”
