Newmar started in 1968 when Marvin Newcomer and Marvin Miller left jobs as vice president of sales and vice president of manufacturing, respectively, for another major RV company with the firm idea of doing things better. The corporate name comes from blending Newcomer and Marvin. They set up operations in an old fire station in rural "Five Points," an intersection of roads about 12 miles from the company's current location. Freemon Borkholder joined the venture a short time later and the company moved to Nappanee, Indiana into a small building that is still used for manufacturing and as part of Newmar's main office.
The Kountry Aire travel trailer was the main product in the early years, becoming known as an affordable, well-made, and comfortable unit. In the early 1970s America was learning about the ease of towing a fifth wheel travel trailer and Newmar was at the forefront. It introduced the Kountry Aire fifth wheel travel trailer and production increased rapidly, establishing Newmar as one of the first and largest fifth wheel manufacturers. The Kountry Aire line is still a part of Newmar's product line-up.
From six people in 1968, the company has grown to employ more than 1,000. In 1995, Newmar moved into a new, 116,000 square-foot manufacturing facility considered by many to be one of the most state-of-the-art in the RV industry. In 2003, a 21,000 square-foot addition was added to this facility to accommodate changes in our products.
The company was founded and has always been owned by Mennonites in a community that is rich with hardworking and talented individuals. It might seem a paradox that Newmar with its conservative background is also recognized nationally as an innovator in the RV industry. Yet it is this very combination that has kept Newmar successful. The company's mission statement is that Newmar applies Christian principles of honesty, courtesy, morality, fairness, reasonableness, reliability, and integrity in dealing with its customers, employees, suppliers and financial institutions. Newmar also builds the kind of quality, utility, and value into each of its conventional motorhomes and fifth wheel travel trailers that keeps it among the industry leaders.
Newmar is always looking into the future while drawing heavily from the past. Newmar has grown from very humble beginnings to a nationally recognized and highly respected company built on Christian principles. With the inevitable changes at Newmar and the world in general, these principles have not changed. Newmar's objectives continue to be the same: offer the best in product leadership to its customers; be a conscientious and fair employer; provide a reasonable profit to its owners; and honor God in all business activities.