UPDATE: Ursa Minor Relocation

2024 was a challenging year, with delays on our Bronco project, shortages on parts and across the board cost increases on parts and materials.    It also marked a renewal period for our lease in Chula Vista, California.

In 2007 as we began our ECamper conversions, Ursa Minor moved into a small industrial park on the south side of San Diego.  We eventually expanded to 3 units.  

In 2016 we opened our Portland, Oregon workshop, allowing conversions and installs for customers in the Pacific Northwest.

In recent years, the ownership of our Chula Vista building changed from a family-owned operation to a corporate investor. Interestingly, from that point each year our rental rate went up, the surrounding area declined in cleanliness, and building maintenance became a slog.  

As we got busier in production with the surge from Covid, the layout of the 3 units proved to be more inefficient.  Our parking went from easy to a constant battle to find a spot to park for our truck, our customers, and our team.   The dumpsters filled in minutes with the debris from contractors (flood repair, plumbing, home services) located in the park.   Our operations also changed, as we concentrated all conversions in our Portland location, leaving San Diego focused on assembly and shipping or install of our Jeep campers.

In 2024 as our lease came up for renewal at the end of the year, we had to make a strategic decision on this location.  We are well passed the surge from Covid, and winter is always the slowest season for camper sales.  Our landlord expressly did not want automotive operations, and after 17 years was aiming for another increase. We needed better and more secure traffic flow and parking.  It was clearly time to go. 

We looked at a few locations in San Diego, but elected to consolidate all production at our Portland workshop for 2025.  Our lease in Portland also renews in mid-2025, allowing us to stay or move to a different or larger space based on the business needs. 

For customers with open orders for a San Diego install, there are several options:

-          We can ship to an installer or shop in Southern California, or in any state.

-          We can ship to a warehouse for will-call and self DIY install

-          We can install the camper in our Portland shop.

Our last day of operations in Chula Vista was 1/31/2025 and we are in the process of absorbing all the materials and equipment at our location in Portland.