Thule Bike Racks - Rooted in Sweden. Dedicated to the world.
High End Hitch Mount, Roof Top, Trunk and Hatchback, Spare Tire, and
Specialty Bike Racks
In 1942, Thule was founded by the Thulin family, when Erik Thulin, a true
lover of the outdoors, put the Thule name on a Pike Trap that he designed and
began to sell to the fisherman of Scandinavia. It wasnt long before they added
belt buckles and other things to his manufacture. Business boomed, gaining
profitably year after year a not so unusual thing for the typical Swedish
entrepreneurial company of that era, but there was something special about
Thule.
By the 1960s, the family whose work in metal for years began to concentrate
its business on car-related products, and before long the first roof rack was
born. Ever since, Thule has been in a growth mode. Weve added new products like
rooftop boxes to the offering and opened new markets such as the UK; Japan and
North America. The rest is indeed history, and Thule is today the most respected
brand globally in the industry.
The Thulin family sold Thule to the publicly listed company Eldon in 1979,
and it continued to grow both organically and through acquisitions (trailers and
rooftop box manufacturing). By 1999 the private equity firm EQT acquired the
company and developed it further with increased focus on growth and
profitability. UK-based private equity firm Candover took over the company in
2004 to initiate a stronger growth through acquisitions. Eleven new companies
joined Thule in the years between 2004 and 2007 strengthening the position as
world leader in sports and utility transportation. In 2007 Thule changed hands
one last time, and was acquired by Nordic Capital.
You will notice that the word Sweden is still as important a component of the
logo today as it has been for the past several decades. Though always a nod to
the companys origin, today it stands for the inherent values of a
Scandinavian-based company namely solid quality, timeless design, continuous
innovation, empowered and cherished co-workers, and an undying respect for
nature and the environment.
At Thule we continue to celebrate these core values:
- Smart Solutions
- Active Lifestyle
- Shared Passions