Cortes Campers, the emerging fiberglass travel trailer maker in Euclid, Ohio, has received a purchase order for nearly $3 million from its Canadian distributor, Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre.
Cortes Campers, a subsidiary of US Lighting Group Inc., shipped its first 17-foot fiberglass travel trailer in late February and is building molds so it can begin shipping 20 campers per week by the fourth quarter.
Cortes Campers said Monday that it plans to expand its dealer program for its lightweight camper to growing RV markets in Europe and South America.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price on the campers is $48,500.
Manitoba-based Pik-A-Dilly has the exclusive rights to buy and sell the Cortes Campers product line in Canada, said Anthony Corpora, CEO and president of US Lighting Group, in a statement.
"Pik-A-Dilly's business strategy to dominate the Canadian RV marketplace with Cortes Campers RV travel trailers aligns with our goals, making this a great partnership," Corpora said.
Cortes also is developing a larger travel trailer and already has designed a smaller, teardrop trailer.
The company makes its trailers — and its speedboats and UFO-like, off-grid houses — with 100% molded fiberglass and marine gel coatings.
Recreational vehicle demand, which ramped up during the pandemic, appears to be leveling off.
Wholesale shipments of travel trailers rose 42% to 424,000 units in 2021, according to the RV Industry Association.
But shipments of travel trailers rose less — 19% to 38,000 in January — over the same month a year ago, the association said.
Shares of US Lighting Group (OTC: USLG) were up less than half a percentage point to almost 26 cents a share in mid-afternoon trading on Monday.
US Lighting Group shares have risen 225% since Feb. 22, the day the company announced its first camper shipment.
