Here is an article that came out yesterday about Navistar's plan to close part of Coburg, OR plant.  Hope that they continue to support us. The service center in Oregon is to remain open, and certain IT and support functions will remain in Coburg.



Navistar layoffs planned in RV, truck plants
August 2, 2011 7:14 PM ET
WARRENVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Truck-maker Navistar International Corp. said Tuesday that it will close two plants and cut jobs in the U.S. and Canada as it shifts production to other plants.

Navistar said it will close a Union City, Ind. plant run by its Workhorse Custom Chassis subsidiary, laying off about 225 workers.

It is also cutting 450 jobs in its Monaco recreational vehicle unit by scaling back operations at Monaco's headquarters and manufacturing plant in Coburg, Ore.

Motor coach production will shift to Monaco's plant in Wakarusa, Ind., with some of the headquarters work going to Navistar's corporate campus in Lisle, Ill. Adding the motor coach work in Wakarusa will add about 400 jobs there, the company said.

I really feel for all the workers who are losing their jobs. Sounds like the company is still doing very well but decided to move their operations. I know Coburg has been hit very hard since the downturn started. I will certainly be keeping these workers in my prayers. God bless them and their families.

Do you know if they do service work at the Indiana plant?

That may put the kibosh on any notion they'll produce Beavers again.

I agree with you Joel.  I just wish that someone could rescue Beaver from their jaws!

hmmmm.  Beaver made by Country Coach? just a thought.

Yes, the handwriting is on the wall isn't it? There are not enough buyers to support all the brands so consolidation is inevitable. Even if Monaco started building them again would they really be Beavers?

NOPE, a BEAVER, IS A BEAVER, IS A BEAVER!

They would probebly be a BINO(Beaver In Name Only). So sad...

Sme feel a true Beaver has not been built since 1993 when the original company wwent bankrupt. Some say when production was moved from bend. They have changed over the years but are still a Beaver if titled as one.

Just want to say we have a 1993 Beaver. We have what the reputation of Beaver was made on. If NAVISTAR wants to learn how to make a coach that will sell, look at the Classic Beavers and TALK to Beaver owners (of all kinds and manufacturers).  Management needs to look at ours, Mandy's and Schmidt's Beavers and TALK to Beavers (us) about what is so great about our coaches.

Beaver and even SMC had a committee of Beaver owners (see Mandy and Wally) to consult with them on what owners need and want in an RV.  

GEE !!!!!!!! WHAT A NOVEL IDEA, ASK THE CUSTOMER WHAT THEY WANT!!!!!!!

Sorry to get so wound up. BUT I have for so long tried to get the company (SMC or Monaco or Navistar) to LISTEN to us, the owners. All to no avail. So no wonder they are in trouble in sales.

Just give me an engineer and a designer and let me take them in a diesel pusher for 2 weeks to 4 weeks. They have to live in it and CAN'T go home. They have to LIVE in it with their spouse and kids. They have to move the RV, dump, cook, LIVE in it. We (Peter & I) will even stay with them, help them, move with them, ADVISE them.

Again sorry, but I try.  Hugs, Connie B.

WAY TO GO, YOU TELL EM GUYS.  Monaco/Navistar is shooting themselves in the foot and they are so numb they don't even know it.

I can't see a Beaver brand and if I was Monaco I wouldn't even consider it.  What I would do if I was CEO is have a Beaver Model under the Monaco badge.  The Beaver model could represent their high end coaches.  This would be no different than what others have done.  This allows a single brand to have distintive models for different markets.

Gil

I have read that back when the origional Beaver company was failing, there was a bid war going on between SMC and Country Coach. SMC won. The thought was that CC wanted to end the competition by downing Beaver, but moving the cabinet works to CC. Hear say on my part.

I sent an email to Monaco Technical support and found that Navistar will leave the Monaco Service Center and the Technical Support in Coburg.  They are moving only the production plant.