Airstream finds UK partner

Swift Group will be the sole distributor for Airstream in the United Kingdom, both companies said Tuesday.

“This is a fabulous new opportunity for Swift Group, with significant promise in an untapped market,” James Turner, Swift Group managing director, said in a release.

GROWING: Airstream needs 150 new employees by early 2017

Elkhart, Ind.-based Thor Industries makes Airstream trailers in Shelby County’s Jackson Center.

Airstream was founded in the U.S. by Wally Byam in the 1920s.

“The Airstream board has long coveted the British market, convinced that this epitome of high-end leisure vehicle luxury could find a place in the hearts of UK consumers,” the company said in its statement. “In Swift Group, Airstream discovered an ideal partner with an unrivalled calibre that will help the brand flourish.”

“Over the last decade, Airstream has developed a strong foundation in the UK and we believe Swift Group is the right partner to help us take it to the next level,” Bob Wheeler, president and chief executive of Airstream, said in the release.

“There is tremendous potential for Airstream in the UK, and we fully expect to see sales accelerate in the coming years.”

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