A total of 449 employees at three recreational vehicle manufacturers — Heartland RV, Cruiser RV, and DRV LLC — will be laid off this summer, according to recent state filings.
According to an article by The Elkhart Truth, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (IDWD) received WARN notices on April 21 detailing the layoffs, which were officially published online Monday.
The Elkhart Truth had previously reported the news on April 22, following employee reports and copies of layoff letters, though the full scope of job losses was not confirmed until now.
The job cuts include 251 positions at five Cruiser RV plants in Howe, 147 jobs at seven Heartland facilities in Elkhart, and 51 workers at a DRV plant in Howe. Layoffs are scheduled to begin on June 20.
All three companies — subsidiaries of Thor Industries — are non-unionized. According to the WARN notices, affected employees will not receive continuation of health coverage, severance benefits, or bumping rights.
Heartland RV acquired DRV and Cruiser RV in 2015. In March, Thor Industries announced a corporate restructuring effort, shifting Heartland under the management of its Jayco division to “enhance operational efficiencies” and “streamline business processes.”
Attempts to obtain comment from company representatives have not been returned.
Separately, Heartland RV filed a WARN notice in Michigan on April 25 confirming the closure of its Sturgis plant, which will result in an additional 121 layoffs.
This closure, alongside the upcoming Indiana layoffs, signals a significant shift within the RV industry as manufacturers adjust to changing market conditions.
Heartland’s restructuring, as part of Thor Industries’ broader cost-cutting strategy, highlights growing concerns about industry overcapacity and the ripple effects on workers, suppliers, and local communities heavily reliant on RV production.