Jayco to sell Airstream vans?

Aussies could soon be able to buy a US-built polished aluminium travel trailer from their local Jayco dealership, with Australia’s largest RV manufacturer looking to take over Australian distribution for the iconic Airstream brand.

Although Jayco Australia remain tight-lipped about any potential deal, Caravancampingsales understands a meeting between American executives from Airstream, Jayco management and Alan Imrie, the boss of Airstream’s current Australian distributor Airstream Australia, took place in Melbourne during the recent Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow.

The distinctive polished and riveted aluminium caravans have been officially available Down Under since 2012, when Batemans Bay, NSW-based A & A Industries secured the rights to import the Airstream vans.

However, with just the one main sales and service facility in Batemans Bay, and another small outlet at a Melbourne boat dealer, it’s believed Airstream is now seeking to lift the brand’s presence down under by appointing a new distributor.

Jayco has one of the largest dealer footprints in Australia, and a large presence at all the major RV shows around the country. Under Airstream Australia, the stylish vans have only really been displayed to a mainstream RV audience at the annual Sydney Supershow.

The aspirational models would be a good fit for Jayco, with Airstream Australia’s cheapest 19ft single axle 579 Sport priced around $100,000; or well above Jayco’s most expensive, top-spec Silverline caravan.

Signalling Airstream’s and Jayco’s intentions, the complete three-model range of Australian-spec Airstream caravans were on display at last week’s Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow, under the banner of large Victorian Jayco dealer Page Bros RV.

Displaying ‘not for sale’ stickers, it’s believed the display vans had just arrived in the country and not yet been made fully Australian compliant.

According to a Page Bros salesman at the show, “Jayco is looking (at Airstream)… it’s a work in progress at this stage.

"Airstream are keen to lift their profile (but) there are a few issues they have to sort out (before any deal is done)” he said.

He said the Airstream vans attracted plenty of attention at the show (but no firm buyers), with many punters recognizing them from the numerous Hollywood movies and American TV shows they’ve appeared in.

A victim of unfavourable exchange rates, the Airstream models were priced around 20 per cent higher than when they first arrived in Australia. For example, the top-spec 762 International was priced around $160,000, or $25,000 more than when launched in 2012.

“They’ll never be a big seller because they are a boutique product, but then not everybody drives a Porsche, do they?” the salesman said.