BRP to Exit Sports Boat Market
14
09
2012
VALCOURT, QUEBEC, – (Motor ports Newswire) – BRP today announced it will exit the sport boat business over the coming months, citing the continued global sales decline in the marine industry, particularly the drop in sales of sport boats since the financial crisis.
“This is a difficult but necessary decision for BRP,” said José Boisjoli, president and CEO. “We worked hard to grow our sport boat business through a serious sales decline that began in 2007. But now, we must focus our research and development resources and capital investments in areas of our business that offer greater growth potential.”
BRP entered the boat manufacturing business in 1994 and purchased the assets of Celebrity Boats in 1995, at which time it moved its facility to Benton, Illinois.
“We looked for a buyer for our sport boat business, but that effort proved unsuccessful,” Boisjoli added. “Consequently, we decided not to resume production of the upcoming model year due to seasonal production planning requirements.”
All impacted employees will receive a good transition package.
BRP will continue to provide parts and honour warranties for its customers.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea‑Doo watercraft and boats, Evinrude and Johnsonoutboard engines, Can-Am all‑terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries.
www.brp.com
Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Lynx, Evinrude, Johnson, Can-Am, Rotax and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.
