 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| TSX: DOO Nasdaq: DOOO | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 2003; 23 years ago (2003) |
| Headquarters | Valcourt, Quebec, Canada |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products | |
| Revenue |  CA$10.367 billion (FY24) |
 CA$1.157 billion (FY24) | |
| CA$0.745 billion (FY24) | |
| Total assets | CA$$6.775 billion (FY24) |
| Total equity | CA$0.813 billion (FY24) |
| Owners |
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| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references Financials as offiscal year ended January 31, 2024. References:[1] | |
BRP Inc. (an abbreviation ofBombardier Recreational Products) is a Canadian manufacturer ofsnowmobiles,all-terrain vehicles,side by sides,motorcycles, andpersonal watercraft.[2] It was founded in 2003, when the Recreational Products Division ofBombardier Inc. wasspun off and sold to a group of investors consisting ofBain Capital, the Bombardier-Beaudoin family and theCaisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Bombardier Inc., was founded in 1942 asL'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée (Bombardier Snowmobile Limited) byJoseph-Armand Bombardier at Valcourt in theEastern Townships,Quebec.
As of October 6, 2009[update], BRP had about 5,500 employees;[3] its revenues in 2007 were above US$2.5 billion. BRP has manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States (Wisconsin, Illinois, North Carolina, Arkansas, Michigan and Minnesota), Mexico, Finland, and Austria. The company's products are sold in more than 100 countries, some of which have their own direct-sales network.[4]
BRP's products include theSki-Doo andLynx snowmobiles,Can-Am ATVs andCan-Am motorcycles,Sea-Doo personal watercraft, andRotax engines. The Ski-Doo was ranked 17th place onCBC Television'sThe Greatest Canadian Invention in 2007.
In January 1934, a blizzard preventedJoseph-Armand Bombardier from reaching the nearest hospital in time to save his two-year-old son, Yvon, who died fromappendicitis complicated byperitonitis.[5][6]
Bombardier was a mechanic who dreamed of building a vehicle that could "float on snow".[6] In 1935, in a repair shop inValcourt,Quebec, he designed and produced the firstsnowmobile using a drive system he developed that revolutionized travel in snow and swampy conditions.
In 1937, he patented and sold 12 of the 7-passenger "B7"snow coaches.[7] They were used in rural Quebec to take children to school, carry freight, deliver mail, and as ambulances. In 1941, Bombardier opened a factory in Valcourt.[8]
In 1942,L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée ("Bombardier Snow Car Limited") was founded inValcourt.[9]
DuringWorld War II, theGovernment of Canada issued wartimerationing regulations. Bombardier customers had to prove that snowmobiles were essential to their livelihood in order to buy one. The company then shifted its focus to thearms industry.[8]
In 1947, during a blizzard inSaskatchewan, the company received positive press coverage when army snowmobiles resupplied isolated radio communication towers.[10]
In 1948, theGovernment of Quebec passed a law requiring all roads to be cleared of snow; Bombardier's sales fell by nearly half in one year. Armand Bombardier therefore decided to diversify his business, first by producing trackedsnowplows sized for use on municipal sidewalks, replacinghorse-drawn vehicles, then by makingall-terrain vehicles for themining, petroleum, andforestry industries.[8]
The machines had removable front skis that could be replaced with front wheels for use on paved or hard surfaces, thus providing greater utility to his large snowmobiles. In 1951, the wooden bodies were replaced with sheet steel, and these vehicles were powered byChrysler flathead six-cylinder engines and 3-speed manual transmissions.
In the early 1950s, Bombardier focused on developing a snowmobile for one or two passengers. A breakthrough occurred in 1957 when Bombardier developed a one-piece molded rubbercontinuous track with enough durability to provide snow-grippingtraction for lightweight vehicles. The vehicle was called the "Ski-Dog" because it was meant to replace thedog sled for hunters and trappers. However, in 1958, "Ski-Doo" was accidentally painted on the first prototype, and immediately became the popular name.[5]
The public soon discovered the fun of speedy vehicles zooming over snow, and a new winter sport was born, centered in Quebec. In the first year, Bombardier sold 225 Ski-Doos; four years later, 8,210 were sold. Bombardier slowed promotion of the Ski-Doo line to prevent it from crowding out other company products, while still dominating the snowmobile industry[11] against competitorsPolaris Industries andArctic Cat.
In 1963,Roski was created inRoxton Falls, Quebec as a manufacturer of composite parts for the Ski-Doo. In the 1960s,V-8 engines were added.
On February 18, 1964, J. Armand Bombardier died ofcancer at age 56. Until then, he oversaw all areas of operation and controlled the research department, making all the drawings himself. The younger generation took over, led by Armand's sons and sons-in-law, reorganizing and decentralizing the company. The company adopted computer inventory, accounting, and billing. Distribution networks were improved and increased, and anincentive program was developed for sales staff.[12] That year, a survey was mailed to Ski-Doo owners to find out how the product was being used.[13] Germain Bombardier, who had been groomed by his father, took over the company upon his father's death in 1964. He quit and sold his shares in 1966 after a disagreement with other family members.Laurent Beaudoin, the son-in-law of the founder, then became president, a position he held until 1999.[12]
In 1967, the company was renamedBombardier Limited. By that time, the snowmobiles were very useful for theInuit.[14]
In 1968,Clayton Jacobson II invented thejet ski and the company licensed his patents to create theSea-Doopersonal watercraft.[15]
On January 23, 1969, the company became apublic company, listing on theMontreal Exchange and theToronto Stock Exchange.[9]
In 1969–1970, the standard round windows reminiscent ofportholes were replaced with larger rectangular windows that provided more interior light. A change was made to theChrysler Industrial 318 engines with the automatic Loadflite transmissions.[15]
In 1970, the company acquiredRotax, an engine manufacturer based inGunskirchen,Austria.
In 1971, Bombardier acquiredMoto-Ski.[16] Also in 1971, Bombardier launched Operation SnoPlan, a program to promote snowmobile safety after a mounting death toll due to snowmobile accidents.[17]
In the 1970s, the company began producingCan-Am motorcycles, which includedRotax engines.[15]
By 1990, the first product of the company, theSki-Doo snowmobile, had become its weakest part, producing deficits and high inventories.[18]
In 2001 Bombardier purchased theEvinrude Outboard Motors andJohnson Outboards trade names for the insolventOutboard Marine Corporation.[19]
In 2003, the company sold Bombardier Recreational Products to a group of investors:Bain Capital (50%), Bombardier Family (35%) andCaisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (15%) for $875 million.[20]
In May 2025, José Boisjoli announced that he would be retiring before the end of the year.[21] In December 2025, it was announced that Denis Le Vot would be succeeding José Boisjoli as President and Chief Executive Officer.[22]
Before the start of the company's development of track vehicles, Joseph-Armand Bombardier experimented with propeller-drivenaerosleds. His work with snowplane designs can be traced to before 1920. He quickly abandoned his efforts to develop a snowplane and turned his inventive skills to tracked vehicles.
From the start, the company made truck-sizedhalf-track vehicles, with skis in the front andcaterpillar tracks in the rear, designed for the worst winter conditions of the flatland Canadian countryside. After producing half-tracks in World War II for theCanadian Army, the company experimented with new forms of track systems and developed an all-tracked, heavy duty vehicle designed for logging and mining operations in extreme wilderness conditions, such as heavysnow or semiliquidmuskeg. They produced it under the name Muskeg tractor.
Each track is composed of two or more rubber belts joined into a loop. The loops are held together with interior wheel guides and exterior cleats, commonly calledgrousers. The tracks are driven by a large drive sprocket that engages the grousers in sequence and causes the track to rotate. Two belt tracks were common on early model Bombardiers and muskeg machines. For deep-snow use, wider tracks, employing additional belts, are used for added flotation over the snow.
The research for the track base made it possible to produce a small, continuous-rubber track for the light one- or two-person snowmobile the founder of the company had dreamed about during his teen years. This led to the invention ofsnowmobiles.
The company created the snowmobile market,[citation needed] and held its own after international competitors entered the market in the late 1960s. From the 1940s through the early 1970s, Bombardier built the most successful[citation needed] snowcat models ever produced by any snowcat manufacturer.[citation needed] The B12 seated 12 people, and the C18 seated 18. Both were similar in design with long tracks in the rear and skis used to steer the vehicle. The B12 and C18 were very fast for their day, with speeds over the snow exceeding 30 miles per hour. Most historic and most modern snowcats have a top speed of barely 20 mph. The Bombardier B12 and C18 were probably the precursors to the more modernsnow coach used by resorts for transporting tourists. In their day, the B12 and C18 vehicles were used as school buses, mail delivery and emergency vehicles in northern United States and Canada, and were best suited to flat land conditions, frozen roadways, or frozen lakes. While more than 3,000 of the Bombardier B12/C18 variants were produced, Bombardier had competitors in both the North American and world markets. Most of the Bombardier production stayed in North American. The front ski design was incapable of being used in deep snow and rough ground conditions, which opened the door for the development of dual-track and quad-tracksnowcats. Unfortunately, the front ski design was not easily adapted to change for other ground conditions, so while it was successful on flat lands, frozen lakes, and snow-covered roads, it could not compete on rough, off-road conditions. The combination of the lack of design flexibility, incompatibility with off-road conditions, and the advent of modern snowplowing practices of public roadways beginning in the 1950s, and becoming common in remote areas by the 1960s, probably led to the demise of the B12/C18 design. Today, B12s are still in used in large-scale ice fishing in northern Canada.
Notable competitors included the AktivSnow Trac ST4 from Sweden,Thiokol, and TuckerSno-Cat from the USA. The Snow Trac was produced, virtually unchanged, until 1981, but it was successful, with over 2,000 units sold, and it was used all over the globe for exploration and commercial purposes, as well as the1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. Tucker Sno-Cat grew to become one of the world's largest builders of these vehicles, and produces a range of large commercial and exploration vehicles from its location inMedford, Oregon, USA. Thiokol produced popular units, notably the Imp, Super Imp, and Spryte models, but changed ownership and name several times before going out of business in 2000 as theLogan Machine Company and manufacturer of the LMC brand.
Armand dreamed of developing a fast, lightweight snowmobile that could carry one or two people. In the early 1950s, Armand set aside his dream to focus on developing his company's other tracked vehicles. But by the end of the decade, smaller, more efficient engines had been developed and were starting to come on the market. Armand resumed his efforts to build a "miniature" snowmobile. He worked alongside his eldest son Germain, who shared his father's mechanical talents. Armand and Germain developed several prototypes of the lightweight snowmobile and finally, the first Bombardier snowmobile went on sale in 1959.
TheSki-Doo was intended to be named the "Ski-Dog" because Bombardier meant it to be a practical vehicle to replace the dogsled for hunters and trappers. By accident, a printer misinterpreted the name and printed "Ski-Doo" in the first sales brochure.[23] Public interest in the small snowmobiles grew quickly. Suddenly a new winter sport was born, centred in Quebec. In the first year, Bombardier sold 225 Ski-Doos; four years later, 8,210 were sold. But Armand was reluctant to focus too much on the Ski-Doo and move resources away from his all-terrain vehicles. Armand slowed down promotion of the Ski-Doo line to prevent it from dominating the other company products but still dominate the entire snowmobile industry. The snowmobiles produced earned a better reputation than the rivalPolaris andArctic Cat brands of motor sleds. In 1971, Bombardier completed the purchase of theMoto-Ski company to expand the Ski-Doo line and eliminate a competitor from the marketplace.
In the mid 1990s, some of the sleds made by Ski-Doo were the Formula III, Mach 1, and Mach Z with Rotax engines. While it is a commonly held misconception that all Ski-Doo snowmobiles were powered byrotary valved engines, this is not true. Only two cylinder Rotax engines were equipped with rotaryvalves. As a rule, the later rotary valved sleds were liquid cooled as well. Fan cooled sleds were usually piston port (2-stroke) induction. Sleds such as the formula III, later model mach-1's and the mach Z were powered by three cylinder, 2-stroke, Rotax engines. In 1994 the company produced the first snowmobile equipped specifically for mountain riding, the Ski-Doo Summit. Ski-Doo snowmobiles have been competitive for performance and in the marketplace, taking national titles in racing events from Sno-X to hill-climbing. In 1999 Ski-Doo introduced the ZX aluminum chassis which was lighter weight with better suspension and thus successful in sno-cross competition. In 2003 Ski-Doo introduced rider-forward REV chassis, which changed the sport and was followed by other manufacturers. In 2008 Ski-Doo introduced the XP chassis, which moved the rider further forward with major weight reduction. The XP was the lightest machine available, withpower-to-weight ratios in the Summit models for the first time under 3 lb per HP.
For the 2017 snow year, Ski-Doo will release its most powerful engine. The Rotax 850 cc "Etec" engine. The engine produces 10 more horsepower (170 hp) than its predecessor, it is also more efficient 40 percent less oil burn than the previous Etec. and 30 percent quicker throttle response; this engine paired with the new SP chassis which moves the rider even further forward and provides a big weight reduction over the XP chassis. This makes the 2017 the most capable snowmobile ever, reaching speed of upwards of 120 mph in the MXZ models.
During the 1970s, Bombardier built theCan-Am brand ofoff-roadcompetitionmotorcycles designed formotocross andenduro with Rotax engines displacing 125, 175, 248, 366, 500 and 800 cc. The bikes competed successfully in professional racing withGary Jones winning the 1974 US 250ccAMAmotocross national championship.[24] In 1983, Bombardier licensed the brand and outsourced development and production of the Can-Am motorcycles toArmstrong-CCM Motorcycles ofLancashire, England. 1987 was the last model year for Can-Am.
In 2007 Bombardier renamed theirall-terrain vehicle line of products Can-Am.Can-am Off-Road has seven models of ATVs, the Outlander, the Renegade, the Commander, The Maverick, the DS, the Traxter, the Quest, and the Rally.
The Traxter and Quest (no longer in production) had two engine sizes 500cc and 650cc. The Rally (also no longer in production) was available with a 200cc engine. The Outlander is a utility style ATV available in multiple engine sizes, including 400cc and 450cc single cylinder and 500cc, 570cc, 650cc, 800cc, 850cc and 1000ccV-Twin engines. The Outlander MAX is available for 2-up riding and the Outlander X-MR is built specifically for mud riding. The Renegade is also available with multiple engine choices, a 500cc, 570cc, 800cc, 850cc or 1000cc V-Twin engine. The Renegade X-XC is a separate trim level built specifically for cross country racing. The Outlander 800R X-XC is a version of the Renegade with the same trim level for cross country racing and non-racing trail riding.
The XT-P is the modern outlander XXC and features the XT package with front sway bar and beadlock wheels. The 1000cc engine was introduced into the quad classification in the 2012 model year for both the Outlander and the Renegade series. The DS has four engine choices, a 450cc, 250cc, 90cc and 70cc. A 650cc engine was once available but has since been discontinued. An "X" trim level is available for the DS-450 and the DS-90. The Commander is a SSV or Side by side introduced for 2010 with either 800cc or 1000cc engines.
Commander has several trim levels, including XT, X and LTD (Limited) at the time the only engine option for the extra packages was the 1000. The XT had upgraded wheels, winch, front bumper and upgraded gauge and steering wheel. The X package had Bumpers,rock sliders, XT gauge and steering wheel, X package seats, and beadlock wheels. Commander Limited includes air ride suspension, an am/fm radio with four speakers, an iPod adapter, XT package and built-in touch screen GPS. All Can Am ATVs except the DS-70 and the DS-90 featurefour-stroke Rotax engines. The maverick side by side was introduced to stand up to the Commander's rival the Polaris RZR XP 900.
The Maverick has an updated version of the commander's 1000cc V-Twin Rotax engine (1000R) this engine had a massive 101 horsepower. This was achieved by using high flow dynamics to increase exhaust and air flow. The Maverick comes in six packages (at February 2014) Base, XRS, XRS DPS, XMR, X ds, and X ds Turbo. In the X ds lineup Can Am brought the first factory installed turbocharged engine to the industry. The turbo boosts the horsepower of the Maverick from 101 horsepower to 121 horsepower.
In 2007, BRP announced the launch of a new three-wheeled roadster called theSpyder, which was released in Q4 2007 under the Can-Am brand.[25] This is the first vehicle from BRP to go on the road. It was described as part motorcycle and partroadster; the latter is how the company refers to it. The Guinness World Record for the “Largest Parade of Can-Am Spyder Roadsters” was established in 2010 when 438 Can-Am Spyders paraded aroundMagog, Quebec.[26] In 2018, the Can-Am Ryker was launched as a simpler, more easygoing counterpart to the Spyder.
Beginning in the 1970s, Bombardier also built several sailboat models,[27] including the Invitation sailboat, with hull length of 15 ft 7 in (4.7 m); the Bombardier 3.8, with hull length of 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m); the Bombardier 4.8 and the Bombardier 7.6 keelboat.[28]
In the 1970s and 1980s, the company diversified into railway and aeronautical products and became amultinational corporation known asBombardier Inc.
During restructuring operations in 2003, the original snowmobile and tracked utility vehicle division was spun off as a separate company, with majority ownership transferred to Bain Capital. Though the company is a major manufacturer of two stroke engines and four stroke motors for several industries it is better known for its consumer recreational products.[citation needed]
They now make Ski-Doo and Lynx brand snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, Sea-Doopersonal water craft, jet boats, andEvinrudeoutboard motors (through the purchase ofOutboard Marine Corporation).[citation needed] Bombardier Recreational Products no longer sells outboards under the Johnson brand since 2007, as they have moved all sales entirely to Evinrude Outboard Motors.[citation needed] They support existing Johnson outboard motors through servicing and parts. They also produce motorcycle motors,kart motors, and small airplane motors, through their Rotax division.[citation needed]
In December 2004, Bombardier Recreational Products Inc, sold the industrial vehicles division to theCamoplast ofSherbrooke, Quebec. The industrial vehicles division made tracked vehicles such assnowcats, sidewalk snow removal tractors, and Tracked Utility Vehicles, including the descendant of their original Muskeg tractor.[29][citation needed]
In October 2007, Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. ordered at least some U.S. ATV dealerships to stop selling vehicles to Canadian customers, as the sales were a violation of dealer agreements to respect assigned geographic boundaries. Bombardier also announced that the warranty on any craft purchased by a Canadian in the United States – even if the purchase was initially made by an American - would be void. Newspaper articles revealed that some models were being sold in Canada for as much as 40% above prices in the U.S.[30]
In September 2012, the company announced that it would exit thesport boat business citing a decline in global sales in themarine industry. This meant the loss of 350 jobs, including most of those at a plant inBenton, Illinois.[31]
On May 29, 2013, the company announced the closing of an initial public offering of 12,200,000 subordinate voting shares of the company at a price of $21.50 per share resulting in gross proceeds to the company of approximately $262,300,000. The net proceeds from the offering were used to repay outstanding loans. The company's shares now trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
On May 27, 2020, the company announced the discontinuation of its Evinrude E-TEC and E-TEC G2 outboard engines,[32] the repurposing of itsSturtevant, WI,[citation needed] facility, and the closing of its Alumacraft operations inArkadelphia, AR.[33] The company stated that it had signed an agreement withMercury Marine to support boat packages and continue to supply outboard engines to BRP boat brands.[34]
TheMuseum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier is a museum in Valcourt, Quebec dedicated to the life of Joseph-Armand Bombardier and the snowmobile industry. Opened in 1971, with renovations in 1990, the museum is professionally curated and features Ski-Doos, other industrial designs, and a selection of books, booklets and other items of interest to snowmobile enthusiasts.[35]
The museum includes the original garage "factory" where the first snowmobile was built. The garage was removed from its original location in Valcourt and moved to its site at the museum, which is located blocks away from the Bombardier Recreational Products factory.[35]
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