Thule is proud to manufacture it car top carriers and bike racks in the USA. More than 70% of the company’s output is produced in the United States. This local manufacturing model enables them to have more control over the quality of products that hit the market and reduces the impact of importing finished goods from foreign countries. Consumers should be relieved to know that their Thule roof rack was assembled by American workers and quality checked right here here in North America.
In addition to the American employees, the company helps to create more jobs at companies that support their operations in North America. Many materials and services are sourced from other American companies which means we indirectly provide additional job opportunities to American workers.
PERFECT FIT
Thule’s main objective is to make it as simple as possible to install and use our racks on your automobile and with your gear. Our overall fit development process involves creating comprehensive instructions using vehicle specific measurements. These precise dimensions allow our racks to have a custom attachment kit for a seamless installation. The easy installation process will have you loading your gear and hitting the road in no time.
Fit Precision
The team of engineers work hard designing a rack with precision fit for consumers’ vehicles so they don’t have to work had to install the rack. The engineer’s hard work analyzing each vehicle’s size and capabilities combined with the expertly sourced materials results in fresh solutions for securing consumers’ gear while in transit. Everyone can rest assured that this high quality product was custom designed to work with the customer’s specific vehicle ensuring the most reliable attachment possible.
Special Capabilities
The company has made it a priority to work in tandem with most major automobile manufacturers. This relationship facilitates free flowing information between our company and the automobile manufacturers on how to perfect rack designs and provide easier, more secure installations on the newest automobiles on the market. Feedback from all participating engineers facilitates certain standards between vehicles for exact attachment of these roof rack products.
QUALITY
At the top of the engineering design checklist for each item in the product lineup is safety. Of course, function and integrity are key, but safety is the top priority for consumer products. Because of the importance of product safety, the company is committed to operating three Quality Test Centers. Each center is located in a different county and each have the same meticulous testing procedure to ensure that roof racks bearing the Thule name exceed industry standards.
Setting and Exceeding Standards
This company is proud to be a leader in researching and enhancing industry quality standards. In an effort to go above and beyond for all customers, they adhere to many self-imposed product tests in order to give customers more confidence in all products.
State-of-the-art Testing
Each product in the lineup endures rigorous testing before it’s released to the public. A listing of expectations is put together and the engineers and product managers put together the prototype. Prototype designs are scrutinized virtually, using computer software, before being produced. We test each product in freezing, tundra-like and hot desert conditions. Each piece is exposed to UV radiation for long periods to simulate the effects of the sun. All products are also wind tested, shock tested, and tested for longevity under normal use. Finally, each product is installed on the appropriate vehicle and tested for aerodynamics and for performance during a crash. Each of one of the products is put to the test in the extremes of real world situations to improve performance, safety, and ease of use so customers can pack up and go quickly. Once a product has passed this gauntlet of tests, then the rack is ready to be released. Each item is expected to outperform the customer’s expectations and improve their overall experience no matter what adventure they’re going on.
INTUITIVE DESIGNS
Knowing how these products are going to be used, the company’s engineers carefully design each one using choice materials. Once installed on a vehicle, a Thule roof rack may live outdoors forever. Each Thule bike rack and roof rack is built to last and each product comes with a lifetime warranty.
Timeless Aesthetics
These bike racks have a reputation for providing a perfect fit, easily mounting to the vehicle, and being easy to load. The design of each rack promotes more than safety and usability. Sticking with a classic, refined style, each rack is classic and works with the design of your vehicle. Looking like it belongs attached to the automobile is part of what makes these racks so attractive to customers. Clean lines and an overall aesthetic appeal ensures the Thule roof rack silhouettes are the standard throughout the industry.
Collaborative Approach
Everything this company does is aimed at reducing difficulties for all customers. From design through production, each part of the process is scrutinized by their team of experts. New product designs are developed by professionals and tested at every stage to produce only the most durable, safest, easiest to use product is being offered on the market.
Product designers spend quite a bit of time with each product in research and development. Data is analyzed from many sources including consumer surveys, warranty claims, and interviews with research panels and other industry experts. Consumer feedback is a major resource for product managers to gauge how products are performing, and should be performing, for customers out in real world conditions.
WARRANTY
All of the company’s products, like the Thule bike rack, are manufactured to withstand the test of time. Each warranty claim is scrutinized and evaluated by the team to determine what improvements need to be made to ensure the product lives up to customer expectations every time. All feedback from customers is recorded and analyzed to see how the functionality, design, and operation can be improved to make use easier for the end user. Reported issues, as minor as the choice of words on the instruction sheet or as major as poor product fit, is taken very seriously by the product managers.