Nova reopens caravan factory

After going into hibernation for seven weeks, strong-selling Melbourne manufacturer Nova Caravans has re-opened the doors at its Campbellfield, Victoria factory.

Nova was one of the first Australian RV manufacturers to announce a temporary factory closure due to the coronavirus crisis, suspending production on April 1 before re-opening the factory again on May 20.

With sales of new RVs drying up at many Australian dealers from around late-March when government stay-at-home restrictions were announced, many Australian RV manufacturers were forced into extended Easter shutdowns.

This included Jayco which stopped production for three weeks in April and laid off 100 workers at its Dandenong mega-factory, while production was down by two-thirds in early May at Cub Camper's Sydney factory as the 52-year-old camper trailer manufacturer relied on Jobkeeper government subsidies to keep staff employed.

Despite signs of a sales lift in early May, some Australian RV manufacturers struggle to remain in business, with Jurgens yet to announce when it will re-open its 4000sq.m Dandenong, Victoria caravan factory after standing down most of its workers in late-March.

While production and admin staff have returned to Nova's 3000sq.m production facility and head office, weekly trading hours have been cut back to 8.30am-3.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday,  with an online customer care 'hotline' available for enquiries outside those reduced hours.

Speaking on social media, Nova Caravans National Sales Manager John Sills said Nova was ramping up production again as hopes rise for travel restrictions to be eased and state borders re-opened to allow RV travellers to venture further afield than their home state.

"We'd like to say a big thank you not only to our customers and our dealers, but also our Nova owners groups on Facebook," Sill said.

Also read:

Tough times for Australian RV industry

Jayco hit hard by COVID-19

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