CAVCO INDUSTRIES, INC.

Origins and early history (1965–1995)

Cavco Industries originated in 1965 when Al Ghelfi founded the unincorporated association Roadrunner Manufacturing Company (renamed to Cavalier Company in 1966) in Phoenix, Arizona. The company initially manufactured truck campers. The company shifted strategy after the 1973 oil crisis, as rising fuel costs hurt the RV and truck camper markets. Ghelfi bought out his business partner and transitioned the operation entirely to factory-built housing. Original product lines were discontinued, and the firm officially rebranded as Cavco Industries in 1974. The company expanded operations, selling units through specialized dealerships across Arizona. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Cavco expanded into regional markets, diversifying its product lineup in 1986 by manufacturing and leasing relocatable commercial structures.

Centex ownership and independent spinoff (1996–2008)

In December 1996, the national homebuilding corporation Centex entered the manufactured housing sector by merging with Cavco Industries. Under Centex's ownership, Cavco integrated retail distribution, acquiring AAA Homes in 1998 to enter the direct-to-consumer sales field.

By the early 2000s, deterioration in the broader United States manufactured housing industry led to widespread industry contraction and consecutive operating losses. In response, Centex shifted its focus back to traditional site-built homes. On June 30, 2003, Centex spun off Cavco as an independent, publicly traded corporation, listing it on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol CVCO.

Mergers, acquisitions and brand consolidation (2009–present)

The company expanded through acquisitions of other building companies, including Fleetwood Enterprises (2009) and Palm Harbor Homes (2011). The company later added Commodore Corporation (2021), Solitaire Homes (2023) and American Homestar Corporation (Oak Creek Homes, 2025). These acquisitions increased production capacity, retail presence and geographic reach, particularly in the South Central and Northeastern U.S. regions.

In 2025, coinciding with its 60th anniversary, Cavco unified its legacy manufacturing brands under the single "Cavco" name (announced March 2025, effective April). More than 30 different manufacturers came under the Cavco brand. Plants now operate as "Cavco-[City]" (e.g., Cavco-Seguin, Cavco-Rocky Mount), with homes marketed by product lines.