National Press Release

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) today reported sales, net income and E.P.S. for the first quarter ended October 31, 2008. Net income was $5,120,000, down 87% from last year's $38,209,000. E.P.S. were 9 cents versus 69 cents last year. Sales for the quarter were $438.8 million, down 42.5% from $763.7 million.

RV income before tax in the quarter was $5,772,000, down 90% from $57,665,000 last year. Bus income before tax was $5,297,000, up 28% from $4,139,000 last year. RV sales in the quarter were $330.4 million, down 50% from $664.2 million last year. Bus sales in the quarter were $108.4 million, up 9% from $99.5 million last year. Net corporate costs were $2.8 million vs. $1.3 million last year.

"Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased to $299 million from $265 million last year. Our financial condition continues to be very strong. We have increased our market share in each of our business segments and we expect to continue our leadership in both of our industries," said Wade F. B. Thompson, Thor Chairman.

Thor is the world's largest manufacturer of recreation vehicles and a major builder of commercial buses.

This release includes certain statements that are "forward looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward looking statements involve uncertainties and risks. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from our expectations. Factors which could cause materially different results include, among others, additional issues that may arise in connection with the findings of the completed investigation of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Thor Industries, Inc. (the "Company") and the SEC's requests for additional information, fuel prices, fuel availability, lower consumer confidence, interest rate increases, tight lending practices, increased material costs, the success of new product introductions, the pace of acquisitions, cost structure improvements, the impact of the recent auction market failures on our liquidity, competition and general economic conditions and the other risks and uncertainties discussed more fully in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2008. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained in this release or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations after the date of this release or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based except as required by law.

                             THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
       STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE 3 MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2008 & 2007
                       $000 except per share - unaudited

                                         3 MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31
                                 2008          %          2007         %

      Net sales               $438,817                  $763,736
      Gross profit             $40,063       9.1%       $101,275     13.3%
      Selling, general and
       administrative          $34,266       7.8%        $45,197      5.9%
      Amortization of
       intangibles                $200         -            $213        -
      Interest income (net)     $1,887       0.4%         $3,836      0.5%
      Other income                $766       0.2%           $779      0.1%
      Income before taxes       $8,250       1.9%        $60,480      7.9%
      Taxes                     $3,130       0.7%        $22,271      2.9%
      Net income                $5,120       1.2%        $38,209      5.0%
      E.P.S. - basic             $0.09                     $0.69
      E.P.S. - diluted           $0.09                     $0.68

      Average common shares
       outstanding-basic    55,408,576                55,757,338
      Average common shares
       outstanding-diluted  55,472,773                55,966,614



              SUMMARY BALANCE SHEETS - October 31 ($000) (unaudited)

                       2008        2007                    2008       2007
    Cash and                               Current
     equivalents     $177,731   $104,451    liabilities  $211,688   $295,728
    Investments,                           Other
     short term          -       160,550    liabilities    50,074     46,220
    Accounts                               Stockholders'
     receivable       118,633    179,217    equity        699,201    676,123
    Inventories       166,563    187,879
    Deferred income
     tax and other     39,504     31,079
    Total current
     assets           502,431    663,176
    Fixed assets      150,312    157,091
    Investments-long
     term             121,392       -
    Investments-joint
     ventures           2,428      3,119
    Goodwill          158,128    165,663
    Other assets       26,272     29,022
                     $960,963 $1,018,071                 $960,963 $1,018,071

SOURCE Thor Industries, Inc.