Brp to exit sport boat market

Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,616
Valcourt, Qu?bec, September 14, 2012 ? 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 Jos? 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 Johnson outboard 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.

-30-

For information:
Johanne Denault
Manager, Corporate Communications
Tel: 450.532.5173
johanne.denault@brp.com

Note: Also attached is the letter informing dealers of this news, it comes as quite a shock to many of us and we are very saddened to hear of this news today.

Attached File Sea-Doo boats letter_NA_20120914.pdf 18.35K 34 downloads
 

86 century

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Sep 8, 2009
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Re: Brp to exit sport boat market

That is a shame those little things are fun.

I do see that market being tough $25000 for a 14' glorified jet ski is a lot money.
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,201
Re: Brp to exit sport boat market

That is a shame those little things are fun.

I do see that market being tough $25000 for a 14' glorified jet ski is a lot money.

it isn't so much the product, but the consumers attitude... And not picking on you, but that is the attitude lots of people have. Their only experience with the jet boats are the little ones that are barely bigger than a pwc. Most people would look at the boat below and not even realize its a jet made by seadoo... Doesn't look much like a jet ski to me!

Makes it interesting though... Earlier this year searay announces they are jumping INTO jet boats, and now brp exits the market.

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