Thule was founded in 1942 by the Thulin family in Sweden. Erik Thulin, an outdoorsman, designed a Pike trap that he then put the Thule name on and began to sell to Scandinavian fishermen. As time went on he added other useful products to his company's portfolio and Thule gained in profitability over the years. Thule began to focus on automotive products by the 1960s and soon after the first roof rack was designed. More products were added through the 1970s and Thule began to expand into other countries like the US and Japan. In 1979 the Thulin family sold Thule to Eldon and it has continued to grow both in its own right and through acquisitions (trailers and rooftop box manufacturing), ever since. The Thule Group has added several companies in the last 10 years, which has confirmed the Thule Group as a premier provider of transport solutions for active lifestyles throughout the world.

Though Thule has grown and changed over the years, they still adhere to the basic principles the company was founded on: A commitment to superior quality, designs that will never go out of style, continuous creative solutions, as well as a high regard for nature and all employees.

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