RVBusiness, January/February 2021

Camping World Announces Partnership With Lordstown to Develop Electric RV TOPof theNews IN BRIEF Brown Brown Acquires MAJ J Scott Penny chief acquisitions officer of Brown Brown Inc and Sid Vance the owner of MAJ Companies Ltd MAJ announced Dec 9 that Brown Brown Dealer Services BBDS has acquired substantially all of the assets of MAJ For the past 30 years MAJ Companies has been serving its dealer partners by providing bestin class F I product and sales training aftermarket program and contract analysis and F I performance management Sid Vance will lead the MAJ team as part of Brown Brown Dealer Services which operates under the leadership of Mike Neal Neal stated Sid and the MAJ team have been working together for over 30 years That experience will enhance the continued growth of BBDS in Ohio and the Midwest BBDS and MAJ will continue to work with Mike Jardina the founder of MAJ who is a recognized industry leader in F I reinsurance strategies for dealer partners We are excited to have Sid and his team join BBDS Brown Brown Inc is a leading insurance brokerage firm providing risk management solutions to individuals and businesses RVB RV Care Wraps Up Virtual Natl Mtg RV Care Canadas largest RV dealer network held its 5th National Dealers Meeting virtually on Nov 30 and Dec 1 and judging by all the comments received can be deemed as a very successful event officials said The group reported 338 registered attendees over the two days which otherwise was more than would have participated at their inperson national meeting held in Toronto The virtual conference format allowed dealers to invite staff members from their 80 RV Care Dealer Associate stores Like all our national meetings our sole objective is for our dealers to take something away from the time they spend with us This format allowed more dealership employees to participate which we believe will be very beneficial stated RV Care CEO Derek Paterson RVB Camping World Holdings Inc and Lordstown Motors Corp announced Dec 15 the formation of a relationship to create a national electric vehicle EV service and collision network for Lordstown Motors vehicles according to a press release from Camping World Camping World is the nations largest retailer of RVs and related products and services and northeast Ohio based Lordstown is a leader in electric light duty trucks focused on the commercial fleet market The service network partnership will begin with a focus on the Lordstown Endurance the worlds first full size all electric pickup truck the release states The partnership was formally announced at a joint press conference with Camping World Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis and Lordstown Motors CEO Steve Burns at the Lordstown Motors headquarters in Ohio By leveraging Camping Worlds growing footprint of over 170 service and collision Centers across the U S with thousands of technicians and service bays a 24 7 tech hotline and Good Sams Roadside Assistance Program Lordstown Marcus Lemonis Steve Burns Motors customers are expected to enjoy one of the most comprehensive EV support systems ever designed The two companies also are exploring the development of new EV products and solutions for the RV marketplace based on the Endurance platform including a lithium ion battery pack for travel trailers that would replace conventional onboard generators the first all electric high volume production RV eRV and installation of a Good Sam charging network at Camping World locations The future is now and the realization of electrifying RVs and the outdoor community is within our grasp and will only grow from here Lemonis said Lordstowns 14 RVBusiness J A N U A R Y F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1 recognition of the need for a national support network for service and technical support along with a fluid customer experience reinforces our confidence in this relationship Burns said Lordstowns partnership with Camping World will help us ensure that our fleet customers have the highest possible up time of their vehicles On top of that working with Marcus and his team to bring EV solutions to the RV market is quite exciting and Im excited about the first to market opportunities this partnership affords us Lordstown Motors is expected to lead the integration of their technology and service needs into the Camping World infrastructure including the development of an elaborate parts network In addition to more than 170 Camping World service centers that are expected to be equipped to handle Lordstown Motors vehicles Lordstown Motors is also rolling out independently owned and operated service centers in high density areas Lordstown Motors and Camping World expect to release additional details on their plans for eRVs in the coming months We really started looking at what it would take to roll out service of our own versus could we leverage somebody thats really good at this already already has a national footprint and has been doing this a long time And thats when we found Camping World Burns said according to a report by WKBN News 27 in Youngstown Ohio Burns and Lemonis even talked about the possibility of having Camping World sell Lordstown Motors products but said that deal has yet to be finalized RVB