Airstream CEO considers ditching the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

[Boxster1971]

Airstream CEO says ditching the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for its camper vans is 'always a consideration' amid continual supply chain delays

https://www.businessinsider.com/airs...hortage-2021-8

[85MH325]

It would improve the product immensely.

[GMFL]

Not being held hostage by suppliers is key to continued production. Tough decisions must be made. Bob and the Airstream leadership work very hard to keep their ship on course.

[heslinhotel]

Switching to a different platform would should bring down the base price and possibly increase the the number of repair locations. Besides it would make the Iconic Airstream brand an AMERICAN MADE product once more. Just my 2 cents

[Hans627]

Thanks for posting the article. Very interesting!

Running a business, assembling a complicated product which depends on a multitude of suppliers, is a challenging endeavor.

[n2916s]

What other platform could they use?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by n2916s

What other platform could they use?

Hi

It would be a ground up "from scratch" redesign if they went with another supplier. There is no practical way to simply "swap out" the vehicle on a Class B. The guts are to tightly tied to the shell. Either they add a second line (based likely on Ford or RAM ) or they introduce a whole new lineup.

Bob

[Coloradobus]

Cant open business insider article

[Rocinante]

Link is fine. Open in a new window that's private or incognito, and you'll be able to read the article.

Meanwhile, if AS added Ford Transit as a platform (with EcoBoost and AWD, of course), I'd love that. However, I've read several stories saying that Ford's Transit is also severely constrained. OTOH, if AS added the Ram ProMaster / Fiat Ducato, I'd go find something else because I do not like that platform. Are there any other viable platforms out there today? I wish there was at least one more from which to pick.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by n2916s

What other platform could they use?

Ford Transit. Ram Promaster. GM will be coming with a eurovan....I hear.

[Rocinante]

Hey, if they do it right a GM "eurovan" platform could be pretty cool.

BTW, key reasons for me not liking ProMaster / Ducato: it's badly under powered, and the dashboard tech and safety features seem at least 10 years out of date.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by heslinhotel

Switching to a different platform would should bring down the base price and possibly increase the the number of repair locations. Besides it would make the Iconic Airstream brand an AMERICAN MADE product once more. Just my 2 cents

But Sprinters are now made in South Carolina. How much more American made do you want? The Ford Transit is a European design made in Kansas for USA/Canada market.

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

But Sprinters are now made in South Carolina. How much more American made do you want? The Ford Transit is a European design made in Kansas for USA/Canada market.

Are they actually built in SC from scratch now, or still built in Germany, disassembled for shipping, and just reassembled to avoid the import taxes?

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by heslinhotel

Switching to a different platform would should bring down the base price...

This is innocently hilarious. If the cost of the bare platform were lower, that would just increase Airstream's profit margin.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

This is innocently hilarious. If the cost of the bare platform were lower, that would just increase Airstream's profit margin.

Ya think???? They wouldn't do that!

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

It would be a ground up "from scratch" redesign if they went with another supplier. There is no practical way to simply "swap out" the vehicle on a Class B. The guts are to tightly tied to the shell. Either they add a second line (based likely on Ford or RAM ) or they introduce a whole new lineup.

Bob

Not sure I agree with that, UB; several Class B/C units now offered with MBZ, Ford, and Dodge powerplants from Wini and other manufacturers...We have been eyeing a rear twin model Class C ourselves with the Ford diesel...B is too small for us, but I see several on the road this summer in Titons and Yellowstone with 4x4 also...

[RVDreamer]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Not sure I agree with that, UB; several Class B/C units now offered with MBZ, Ford, and Dodge powerplants from Wini and other manufacturers...We have been eyeing a rear twin model Class C ourselves with the Ford diesel...B is too small for us, but I see several on the road this summer in Titons and Yellowstone with 4x4 also...

Bob, is correct it would require a complete from the ground rebuild. There may be some manufacturers who support each platform but there are underlying design changes in each platform that require a unique solution to build the "coach box". There are also weight differences that each platform can support.

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Hey, if they do it right a GM "eurovan" platform could be pretty cool.

BTW, key reasons for me not liking ProMaster / Ducato: it's badly under powered, and the dashboard tech and safety features seem at least 10 years out of date.

Besides that, they are so ugly that I could not stand owning one of them.

[AZTinCan]

Getting away from the super complicated Mercedes platform will be an improvement and definitely get one out of a bind when in more remote places. Looks wise it’s unfortunate. The Ford platform will still look sleek enough. I personally wouldn’t touch the thing with the Fiat, GM or Benz platform. Having been exclusively a Toyota owner for 30 years, the Ford would be a tough enough transition. Of the three domestic platforms, the only one that hasn’t left me on the side of the road (rental cars and trucks) has been Ford. I’d be willing to give them a chance to screw me over, but the others are out. I may actually consider a class B at that point.

[skyguyscott]

Nah, I hear they are in talks with Tesla to build it out on a cybertruck platform...