27North unveils new luxury off-road vehicles

Roughly a year beyond the grand opening of 27North Inc.’s $6.5 million headquarters, the manufacturer of luxury recreational vehicles held an April 23 unveiling of two additions to its lineup of vans and trucks.

The event, attended by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, was held at the company’s 50,100-square-foot facility at 4202 W. Kearney St. As 27North founder and CEO Pavel Bosovik spoke at the product launch, curtains were raised to display the company’s newest creations: the Trekker, a four-wheel drive all-terrain truck that is built on a Dodge Cummins chassis, and the Venture X, an adventure van targeting families and entry-level adventurers.

“Adventure isn’t just a place, it’s a mindset,” Bosovik said. “Today, we’re taking a giant leap forward in making that mindset accessible to everyone.”

In an interview with Springfield Business Journal prior to the event, Bosovik said the Trekker is a first of its kind expedition truck in the U.S.

“Traditionally, expedition trucks and RVs are made out of panels, which is construction of sticks, cheap insulation and fiberglass,” he said, noting 27North collaborated with Sarasota, Florida-based manufacturer Design Concepts/Marine Concepts on the vehicle’s customized carbon fiber composite roof shell. “We literally took a boat mold, and reverse engineered it into a camper shell. It’s monolithic, it doesn’t have any seams and the finished resin on it is like a boat. So, it’ll last for decades or even longer.”

The Trekker is priced at $499,000.

For both the Trekker and Venture X, he said the vehicles are the first for the company to have an all-aluminum interior construction, which he added makes 27North one of the few RV manufacturers in the U.S. to eliminate wood and medium density fiberboard from its vehicles.

Bosovik said Venture X, which is replacing the company’s Venture van, is meant as a vehicle to introduce people looking for off-road journeys who also desire to maintain modern comforts, such as a portable toilet and a fully equipped kitchen.

“This was an important investment for me because, as a foster parent, I understand the importance of parents being able to safely travel with their kids,” he said.

For parents with children who want to travel, he said the two main options when acquiring a motor home are the high-end, luxury vehicles that cost around $1 million, or the cheaper $80,000-$90,000 choices that are made with MDF, which he considers neither safe nor high quality.

“I kind of found that the ideal price point for a middle-class family wanting to explore with their kids is that $199,000 price point,” he said, adding that is the cost 27North set for its Venture X.

The company initially plans to manufacture 300 units of the two vehicles over a 12-month span with the majority – 220 – devoted to the Venture X van. Both are now available for purchase.

The new line of vehicles is part of 27North plans announced last year by the company to invest $400,000 and create 32 new jobs over the next five years. For the job expansion, the company is benefitting from the Missouri Works program, which provides access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation. It also is receiving assistance from Missouri One Start, a division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development that assists businesses with recruitment and training needs.

The manufacturer’s workforce nearly doubled last year from its 2022 total, reaching 39 employees, according to Becky Johnson, executive assistant and marketing coordinator. Its revenue in 2024 was $14.3 million – a roughly 101% year-over-year jump.

Service additions
In addition to its new vehicles, Bosovik announced a pair of new offerings the company is providing: 27North Logistics and 27North Financial Services. He said the company will hire four new employees to handle logistics, consisting of two drivers, a dispatcher and a manager.

“You can now skip the hassle of spending your afternoon at the dealership,” he said at the event. “On top of that, our professional drivers will not only deliver the unit to you, but they will spend as much time as needed to train you up on how to use your new expedition vehicle.”

As for 27North Financial Services, Bosovik said the company initially will hire two people, noting he intends for his company to offer the most competitive interest rates in the industry. The company will provide financing through dealerships, officials say. The vehicles are sold in 21 locations among five dealerships across the country.

Bosovik said 27North also won’t charge gratuities, which can be a significant strain on dealers.

“We believe being partners with our dealers and not being like a shark,” he said.

Kehoe, who headed up the state’s Buy Missouri program when he was lieutenant governor, said 27North is a member of the economic development initiative that promotes products that are grown, manufactured, processed and made in the state. He remembers meeting Bosovik around four years ago when Bosovik started 27North and immediately falling in love with his passion.

“We’re proud to have him right here in Missouri. We love seeing innovation here and investment in Missouri,” Kehoe said. “We love seeing folks who get what the future holds for those who want to really explore this great country that we live in. And what they’re building here now is absolutely the avenue to get that done.”

Kehoe said Bosovik is driving the recreational vehicle industry to a new level, adding competitors will have to work hard to catch him.

“He’s so far ahead with what he’s doing with quality and innovation,” Kehoe said.

27North is part of a manufacturing sector that contributes $50 billion annually to the state’s gross domestic product and employs 287,000 people, according to a 2024 report from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Bosovik spoke last year at 27North’s grand opening about plans for a 330,000-square-foot expansion to its current location. While the project is still desired, he said April 22 that its groundbreaking currently has no set date.

While work is steady at the new headquarters, Bosovik said space is at a premium.

“We’ve subleased a few other factories and outsourced cushion manufacturing,” he said. “We’ve also outsourced the cabinetry manufacturing because we don’t have the space here.”