Winnebago Industries, Inc. is developing a new facility with expanded resources dedicated to innovating technologies for the recreational vehicle and marine industries.
The Winnebago Industries Advanced Technology Innovation Center will focus on incubating and prototyping new technology applications across various technical and product-feature categories, including alternative energy management and autonomy.
Development of the Advanced Technology Innovation Center, located in the Twin Cities, begins in early 2023. The company did not disclose further details.
“Innovation is a cornerstone for Winnebago Industries. Our ability to excel in the market and further our industry leadership will hinge on our ability to advance the consumer experience through technology,” said Michael Happe, president and chief executive officer. “That is why we formed the Advanced Technology Group in 2019 and why we are now making a physical investment in and deepening that commitment to innovation by establishing the Advanced Technology Innovation Center.”
The Winnebago Industries Advanced Technology Group (ATG) will improve the company’s ability to identify, evaluate and market products and services within each of its brands across its four technology areas—alternative energy management, data & connectivity, material science, and autonomy.
“Our category-leading brands have always operated with a keen focus on bringing innovation to their product lines. The Advanced Technology Innovation Center will allow Winnebago Industries to partner with the business units to augment those efforts across multiple technological timelines to meet short- and long-term strategies and goals,” said Shailendra Singh, vice president, Advanced Technology. “We are committing to combining Winnebago Industries’ growing bench of research and development talent, new technology applications and a growing ecosystem of technology partners under one roof.”
Over the next five years, ATG will support the development a new generation of RV and marine products.
In 2022, ATG launched the first electric zero-emission motorhome from an RV manufacturer. It was the first public-facing example of its work in innovation and sustainability through product electrification, connectivity and improving the user interface experience—the original direction when ATG launched in 2019.
Winnebago Industries owns Winnebago, Grand Design, Chris-Craft, Newmar, and Barletta brands.
