Winnebago will import to Australia

The move comes after winning a court battle against local manufacturers and dealers using their brand name.

Sydney-based Knott Investments Pty Ltd has been making Winnebagos RVs for more than 30 years, but the original American company, established in 1958, challenged the Australian company's use of the name in 2010 after deciding it wanted to export its product to Australia.

The Federal Court has now ruled that Knott and 11 Winnebago dealers around the country had contravened the former Trade Practices Act and the current Australian Consumer Law by using the American Winnebago name and logo. 

Costs are yet to be decided, but the Australian company, trading as Winnebago Industries, has been given time to re-brand itself. Director Samantha Binns, daughter of founder Bruce Binns, has refused to comment on the court's decision. 

Winnebago Industries last year built a second factory on its Emu Plains site in Sydney doubling capacity to cope with the wave of baby boomer retirees. The 47-year-old family-owned company now produces one motorhome every three hours with a staff of 250.

Company spokesman Max Mayo said earlier this year that Australia's biggest motorhome company expected to record its second successive record financial year after topping 600 sales last year. Meanwhile, the big American motorhome company plans to move into the Aussie market with its behemoth homes on wheels.

Winnebago RVs have featured in Hollywood movies for several decades, including Lost in America (1985), Spaceballs (1987), Independence Day (1996), About Schmidt (2003), Terminator 3 (2003), Talladega Nights (2007), Wild Hogs (2007) and Race to Witch Mountain (2009).

The very name Winnebago has become synonymous with monstrous motorhomes. The biggest motorhome company in the world is based in Iowa and named after the local county, river and original American Indian tribe of the region.