Coachmen Recreational Vehicles Gain Momentum in the Retail Marketplace.

ELKHART, Ind. -- Coachmen Industries, Inc.'s (NYSE: COA) Recreational Vehicle Group continues to gain momentum in retail market share, particularly with Class C motorhomes, Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels. According to the most recent data released by Statistical Surveys, Inc., through October, the Company's retail market share of Class C motorhomes grew 14.6% year-to-date. The momentum was even greater in towables as retail share of Fifth Wheels grew 1.5% through October and retail market share of Travel Trailers grew a remarkable 23.3% year-to-date.

"It's gratifying to see retail consumers validating all of the hard work we've done to improve our products and consistently meet and exceed consumer expectations for design, features, quality and value in our RVs," commented Michael R. Terlep, President of the Coachmen RV Group. "Over the past year, through our Advanced Design Team, we have invested considerable resources in the design, features and floorplans of our RVs, and that work was recently recognized at the national RV Trade show held in Louisville, Kentucky."

At the national trade show, Coachmen's RV Group introduced the new Prism[TM] Class C motorhome, built on the fuel-efficient Freightliner Sprinter chassis, enabling this coach to get an estimated 17-19 miles per gallon. The Group also introduced the groundbreaking contemporary-style Leprechaun 320DS featuring a modern, sleek marine-inspired interior. The new Freelander 2700RS features a rear wall slide allowing today's RVers the features and space of a 31-foot coach in a more fuel-efficient, easy-to-drive 28-foot package. In towables, the Group introduced the Adrenaline Surge 27FKSR featuring a 16'9" cargo area that can accommodate a dune buggy or sand rail. Another industry first, the Sprit of America entry-level travel trailer line was converted entirely to aluminum-framed laminated sidewalls, yet retained a price point competitive with traditional "stick and tin" towables. The new mid-profile Chaparrel Fifth Wheel features a new custom fiberglass front cap ideal for short bed pickups. In Class A motorhomes, the new Mirada 355 created a buzz at the show with its modern, functional new dual living-area floorplan. With its innovative flip-down wall bed, the rear bedroom area can be converted into a second living area with an entertainment center. As a result, space that used to be occupied only eight hours each day can now be utilized throughout the day as well.

"The host of new, innovative products we introduced at Louisville created consistent traffic in our booth as dealers were excited to see the results of our efforts. Although similar to the industry, overall results of the show were somewhat weaker than last year, our orders for Class C's and Sport Utility Trailers were dramatically higher than last year. As consumers see how we've changed the landscape of RVing, we expect our market share momentum to build, expanding from Class C's and towables into Class A's. This means more satisfied customers, higher inventory turns for our dealers and a huge boost for Coachmen's winning team," concluded Terlep.

Coachmen Industries, Inc. is one of America's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles, systems-built homes and commercial buildings, with prominent subsidiaries in each industry. The Company's well-known RV brand names include COACHMEN([R]), GEORGIE BOY[TM], SPORTSCOACH([R]) and VIKING([R]). Through ALL AMERICAN HOMES([R]), Coachmen is one of the nation's largest producers of systems-built homes, and also a major builder of commercial structures with its ALL AMERICAN BUILDING SYSTEMS[TM] products. Coachmen Industries, Inc. is a publicly held company with stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker COA.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ materially from that projected or suggested due to certain risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the potential fluctuations in the Company's operating results, increased interest rates the availability for floorplan financing for the Company's recreational vehicle dealers and corresponding availability of cash to Company, uncertainties and timing with respect to sales resulting from recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast, uncertainties regarding the impact on sales of the disclosed restructuring steps in both the recreational vehicle and housing and building segments, the ability of the company to generate taxable income in future years to utilize deferred tax assets and net operating loss carry-forwards available for use, the impact of performance on the valuation of intangible assets, the availability and the price of gasoline, price volatility of raw materials used in production, the Company's dependence on chassis and other suppliers, the availability and cost of real estate for residential housing, the supply of existing homes within the company's markets, the impact of home values on housing demand, the impact of sub-prime lending on the availability of credit for the broader housing market, the ability of the Housing and Building Group to perform in new market segments where it has limited experience, adverse weather conditions affecting home deliveries, competition, government regulations, legislation governing the relationships of the Company with its recreational vehicle dealers, dependence on significant customers within certain product types, consolidation of distribution channels in the recreational vehicle industry, consumer confidence, uncertainties of matters in litigation, further developments in the war on terrorism and related international crises, oil supplies, and other risks identified in the Company's SEC filings.