Entering the outboard engine market
Volvo Penta has announced the acquisition of a majority shareholding in the American outboard engine manufacturer Seven Marine. With this acquisition, the Swedish heavy-duty marine engine manufacturer is entering the outboard engine sector and expanding its product range, as Björn Ingemanson, President of Volvo Penta, explains. "With Seven Marine, we are following a path to expand the range of products we offer to our customers and investing in the growth of a platform to shape the future of the outboard industry."
High power outboard motors
Seven Marine was created in Wisconsin, USA in 2010. The company develops outboard gasoline engines. Its Seven Marine 557 HP and 627 HP models are the most powerful on the market. Like Volvo Penta inboard petrol engines, Seven Marine outboards are designed from General Motors engine blocks, which is an asset for the synergy between the two entities.
Discretion about strategy
While Volvo Penta states in its official communication that it wants to become a leader in outboard propulsion, no additional elements are leaking. When contacted by BoatIndustry, Volvo Penta France could not tell us any more about the future developments and the consequences on the European market, as communication remains blocked at this stage by the parent company. More information will certainly be disseminated during the autumn fairs in France and the United States.
However, it is likely that the Seven Marine range will quickly expand to include lower powers. Outboard engines will also be a good complement to sterndrives engines, which are losing speed for all engine manufacturers.
