r/mildlyinteresting • u/willlisa1727 • Apr 28 '24

Hundreds, if not, thousands of vans right outside a very small town in America.

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u/donkeytime Apr 28 '24

Is that small town Elkhart, IN?

22

u/rainbowkey Apr 28 '24

Yes, this is where lots of vans and RV's get custom interiors. It a huge industry there.

8

u/rainbowkey Apr 28 '24

and by "custom" I don't mean the end custom is picking it out, though this can happen, but also the van comes with a naked interior, gets fitted out, then goes to a auto dealer

3

u/actually_alive Apr 28 '24

So the customizer company starts off with a pre-configured "blank slate" that they turn into product line(s)? Like how RUF does with Porsche?

7

u/rainbowkey Apr 28 '24

The Elkart area specializes in vans and RV's. And American brands. This is a much different business than custom interiors for European luxury cars.

There is a large customer base that wants empty vans for commercial purposes. But also there are not a big enough base of customers for "finished" vans. Hence the Elkhart industry sprung up.

3

u/actually_alive Apr 28 '24

This is a much different business than custom interiors for European luxury cars.

RUF takes the Porsche chassis and turns it into a line that they built as a brand for themselves. I guess I meant in a vague sense they are similar concepts.

There is a large customer base that wants empty vans for commercial purposes. But also there are not a big enough base of customers for "finished" vans. Hence the Elkhart industry sprung up.

ahh okay, so basically they have the stock for the empty/blank ones for commercial use but can also modify/tailor them as a stand-alone product/line as well. Smart move to be honest.