Thule Celebrates 75th Anniversary

This year Thule is celebrating 75 years in business and in September they threw a party in New York City! Thule invited select dealers and partners to a showcase of their past, present, and future. In the video below Fred Clark, president of Thule Americas, speaks about their history, their innovation, and where they are going next!

Find out how Thule can help you make your life easier, whether its loading up your bike, staying active with your family, or adding more space to your vehicle. Racks For Cars carries Edmonton's largest selection of Thule products.

Thule Showcase in NYC Video

History of Thule

1942 - Thule is founded by Erik Thulin in Hillerstorp, Sweden.

1962 - We introduce the Thule ski rack – the first Thule product for carrying your sports gear.

1964 - We introduce the Thule Roof Basket – a true innovation with its flexible fastening solution for easier mounting.

1977 - The first Thule ski box (TB-11) is launched. World-famous alpine skier Ingemar Stenmark from Sweden becomes a Thule brand ambassador.

1983 - Thule introduces surfboard carriers to the outdoor market in the US. World-famous surfer Robby Naish becomes a brand ambassador.

1992 - Launch of the first towbar-mounted bike carrier.

2001 - We launch the Thule Hull-a-Port kayak carrier.

2004 - Thule Group acquires König, one of Europe's leading providers of snow chains.

2005 - Thule Group enters the Recreational Vehicle Product category by acquiring Omnistor, Europe's leading provider of bike carriers and awnings for RVs.

2006 - Thule Group acquires Case Logic, a leading company in Bags for Electronic Devices. Thule Group acquires sport&cargo carrier brand Sportrack and towbar businesses in Europe and North America.

2009 - We launch the Thule EuroPower bike carrier – the first purpose-made bike carrier for e-bikes. Divestment of the North American towbar business.

2010 - We introduce the Thule Crossover bags collection. The Thule Adventure Team, the world’s leading multisport team, is formed. Divestment of the integrated roof rail business.

2011 - Thule Group enters into the Active with Kids category via the acquisition of the Canadian Chariot Carriers Inc., world-leader of multi-functional child carriers.

2012 - We launch Thule Pack ‘n Pedal – a new, smart, and stylish bike bag and carrier system. Thule Group is awarded "Action Sports Vendor of the Year" by American sports retailer REI (one of the world’s leading retailers for outdoor gear and sporting goods).

2013 - We launch Thule-branded protective smartphone covers with the Thule Gauntlet and Thule Atmos X3 series. The Thule Chasm series of water resistant sport duffel bags and the Thule RoundTrip bike transport cases broaden the offer in the Sport&Travel bags segment. Thule Crew is created with the motto “Spend more time outdoors”, the Thule Crew members are chosen to inspire us to live a more active life.

2014 - Thule Group is listed at Nasdaq Stockholm and becomes a public company. We introduce Thule-branded Technical Backpacks to our retail partners. We widen our Active with Kids product portfolio with the Thule Glide and Thule Urban Glide sport strollers and the Thule RideAlong and Thule RideAlong Mini child bike seat. Strategic focus on branded consumer goods leads to spin-off of Business Area Towing as a separate stand-alone company, Brink Group, and divestment of Business Area Trailer, becoming the stand-alone Brenderup Group.

2015 - During 2015 the Thule Legend series of GoPro bags, developed in collaboration with Thule Crew member Matthias Giraud, was launched. Thule Sapling child carrier backpack and Thule RideAlong Mini, front-mounted child bike seat, went on sale in stores, broadening the range of products in the Active with Kids category, and the tow-bar mounted bike carrier, Thule VeloCompact reached retail. Sales also started for the new trendy Case Logic LoDo range of laptop cases. The Thule RideAlong Mini front-mounted child bike seat was also awarded with the prestigious iF Product Design Gold Award. A new 10,000 square meter distribution center for Eastern Europe was opened adjacent to our largest assembly plant in Huta, Poland. The Thule Group Test Center in Hillerstorp, Sweden, is expanded and becomes the global test center in Thule Group. The Snow Chain business is divested.

2016 - Thule introduces Thule Subterra luggage line at the IFA fair in Berlin. The next generation of Thule Chariot, the world's most sold multifunctional child carrier, and the Thule EasyFold XT, a new family member to the award winning, foldable bike carrier was launched at Eurobike, the world’s largest bike fair. Thule Group acquired the Dutch company GMG B.V. with a focus on child bike seats under the brand Yepp.

2017 - Thule Group holds it first Capital Markets Day as a public company. Thule introduces Thule Sleek, an all-new four-wheel stroller for urban explorers. Thule Group divests remaining part of the Specialty business - the US business for toolboxes for pick-up trucks. The trading with the Thule Group share is moved from Nasdaq Stockholm Mid Cap to the Large Cap category.