Winnebago buys Lithionics

[creativepart]

It was announced today that the corporation is in the process to purchase their LFP battery supplier, Lithionics.

Here’s the announcement from RV Business magazine:

https://rvbusiness.com/winnebago-ind...y-acquisition/

[Ray,IN]

That is the surest way to have a reliable supply of batteries. Winnebago is the oldest ongoing RV mfgr. in the U.S.A.

[Marine359]

Hopefully Winnebago management will stay out of the way and let Lithionics continue to innovate. These kinds of acquisitions oftentimes suffer from bean counter intervention, which can stifle R&D and allow the acquired company to languish and fall behind competitors.

[Wayne M]

I sure hope Winnebago is not diversifying themselves to much.

[Marine359]

They already done that years ago Top.

[Ray,IN]

So far, Winnebago in the last 5 years has acquired;

CrisCraft boating / Barletta Industries
Grand Design towables
Newmar RV
Lithonics Battery

Winnebago's market position is strong unless the stock market tanks again, but that depends on politicians. https://seekingalpha.com/article/458...lued-potential

[creativepart]

They also bought som Italian cabinet company that makes boat and RV curved wood cabinets.

They have plenty of cash and are putting it to work for future products.

They lost at least $50 million on the Country Coach purchase and failed move.

[GrumpyVet]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

That is the surest way to have a reliable supply of batteries. Winnebago is the oldest ongoing RV mfgr. in the U.S.A.

Lithionics was recently charged by the FTC for deceptive advertising. Although claiming to be made in the USA, according to the FTC, Lithionics battery and battery module products incorporated Chinese-made lithium ion cells, and Lithionics battery management systems included significant imported components.



https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidanc...-labeling-rule.


I personally will stick with Battle Born. I despise liars.

[creativepart]

Originally Posted by GrumpyVet

LI personally will stick with Battle Born. I despise liars.

Lithionics... and Battleborn, etc, all mention they are "US" made but they are US engineered and US assembled (built) with Chinese supplied parts.

Pretty sure every Lithium Iron Phosphate battery prismatic cell pack is made in China at this point. I don't think you can buy a LFP battery and not get parts sourced from China. I'm not talking about EV car batteries - but drop in storage batteries for RVs and boats.

[Marine359]

Battle Borne buys their LFP modules from China as well. Nobody buys US LFP cells because there aren’t any in the US.

[GrumpyVet]

Originally Posted by creativepart

Lithionics... and Battleborn, etc, all mention they are "US" made but they are US engineered and US assembled (built) with Chinese supplied parts.

Pretty sure every Lithium Iron Phosphate battery prismatic cell pack is made in China at this point. I don't think you can buy a LFP battery and not get parts sourced from China. I'm not talking about EV car batteries - but drop in storage batteries for RVs and boats.

Not sure about that but who knows? "Battle Born Batteries are not made in China. In fact, Battle Born Batteries are proudly manufactured in the United States. Every innovative feature of Battle Born batteries, from the electronics to the cells themselves, are designed and assembled in the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Sparks, Nevada" https://www.skystreamenergy.com/are-...made-in-china/


They will be coming out with a new bluetooth capable battery this spring and recently received a patent systems and methods for dry powder coating layers of an electrochemical cell." Found out about it earlier in the month and bought stock.


And I still hate liars. :-)

[creativepart]

Originally Posted by GrumpyVet

are designed and assembled in the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Sparks, Nevada"

As I said, "Designed and Assembled" in the US from parts sourced in China.

"Who knows?" Everyone that does any research or asks Battleborn directly.

[GrumpyVet]

Originally Posted by creativepart

As I said, "Designed and Assembled" in the US from parts sourced in China.

"Who knows?" Everyone that does any research or asks Battleborn directly.

I hope your remark wasn't meant to be snippy? If so, it's ok, I have a think skin. Actually I DID ask Dr Phares when he was at the Tampa RV show and he did say some of the supply chain was in China , [just like a lot of RV parts-jave you tried to get replacement parts for your MaxxAir Fans?] he also said that they are in the process of exploring more options. I guess they are ok tho because the FTC hasn't gone after them...yet.


But they must be doing something right, in 2022 their revenue grew to $86.3million.

[creativepart]

Originally Posted by GrumpyVet

I hope your remark wasn't meant to be snippy?

No, I wasn't being snarky. If it sounded that way I apologize.

The fact is, they do use Chinese made cells... because that's all that's available. I'm not sure, but I think the BMS is also Chinese. It's just a fact of life. That's where those things are made. They really don't like to come right out and say so. Are they "lying?" I'm sure they don't think so, but by your standards maybe.

Why Lithionics was called out, I'm not sure. But even though their cells come from China I think they do a lot of customizing their systems and certainly add just as much unique functionality as Battleborn to their product.

[Marine359]

Did a little checking and found This:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...301498775.html

It doesn’t say that LFP cells are being made in the US, but there is an initiative to do so. I’m interpreting this to mean there is no LFP cell manufacturing in the US, and by default, all US LFP battery manufacturers, including Battleborn buy their cells from China.

My personal opinion for what it’s worth is that, if Battle borne we’re making their own cells, they would be pushing that hard on the marketing side. They aren’t. Just some gobbledygook about batteries being made is the US. Several other LFP makers fall in the same category.

[Ray,IN]

I've read on a few forums where Battle Born is having some problems.