Billings RV dealerships say the sales have remained strong over the last six weeks, even as the industry faces strong headwinds nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Russel Pierce, vice president of Pierce RV Supercenter, said Tuesday most of the customers that have come in have been excited to get outdoors with their families again.
On May 1, campgrounds in Montana can reopen according to Gov. Steve Bullock's phased reopening of Montana.
Pierce says RV sales started to pick up toward the end of March and early April. To entice more buyers, Pierce RV Supercenter is offering up to six months of no payments when customers purchase a new RV through the end of May.
Pierce says he believes this year will be a great year for all Montanans to get out and enjoy the state.
Montana is among the states with the lowest rates of COVID-19 infections. While some states are beginning to reopen their economies, the majority remain in lockdown, which has hurt the outdoor recreation industry as a whole.
According to an RV sales report by trade group RV Industry Association, RV manufactures have seen a 20.3% decrease in shipments in March of 2020 compared to 2019.
The report mentions that the decline in shipments was directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
