Montréal, Québec - 2000-02-09
Bombardier Recreational Products announces today the creation of its own distribution company to develop sales of Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Ski-Doo® snowmobiles and Bombardier all-terrain vehicles on the Japanese market. This is the first market where Bombardier will sell its recreational products directly to a dealership network outside North America and Scandinavia. In 84 other countries around the world, the consumer goods are sold through distributors.
Bombardier expanded its position in the Japanese market and made steady gains in capturing market share over the past few years. Sea-Doo sport boats own the #1 position in Japan and Sea-Doo watercraft are now the second best selling watercraft on the Japanese market.
"Sea-Doo is a major brand in Japan. We are capitalizing on the good work of our Japanese distributor and aim at taking the #1 position to be the best selling boat in Japan as Sea-Doo is worldwide" explains Henry Lonski, Vice-President Business Development for Bombardier Recreational Products. The previous Japanese distributor has decided to concentrate its activities and to discontinue the distribution of marine products after five years in the business. "This decision represents a great opportunity for us to establish our own distribution company. The establishment of this company will place Bombardier in a stronger position to compete in the recreational products industry in Japan" adds Mr. Lonski.
This new operation will count 13 employees and the main office will be located in Kawasaki, Japan. Mr. Peter Lim remains Zone Manager for the Asia/Pacific region. Mr. Yoshio Shiobara will act as General Manager and 12 people will report to him. Eleven employees from the previous distributor will be on board. This experienced team will ensure continuity in providing good business relations with the dealership network and enhanced consumer support.
"We believe in Japan as a potential growth market for our products. The economy is beginning to turn around, which bodes well for the future year" concludes Mr. Lonski.
Bombardier Recreational Products designs, develops, builds, distributes and markets
Ski-Doo® and Lynx® snowmobiles, snowgrooming equipment and multi-purpose tracked vehicles, Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Bombardier® all-terrain vehicles and Bombardier NVTM neighborhood vehicles. Snowmobiles, ATV, watercraft and some sport boats are powered by Rotax® engines that are designed and built by Bombardier-Rotax GmbH which also builds motors for motorcycles and scooters.
Bombardier Inc. is a Canadian corporation active in the fields of aerospace, rail transportation equipment, recreational products and financial services. It operates plants in 12 countries in North America, Europe and Asia, and more than 90% of its revenues are generated outside Canada. Bombardier's revenues for its fiscal year ended January 31, 1999 totaled $11.5 billion.
®, TM Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Products are distributed by Bombardier Inc.
in Canada and by Bombardier Motor Corporation of America in the USA and Bombardier
Recreational Products Japan in Japan.