Yes, BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) does own the Johnson brand name.
Acquisition and Ownership History
BRP's ownership of the Johnson brand name traces back to a significant acquisition made by its former parent company. In 2001, Bombardier, the larger conglomerate from which BRP later spun off, purchased the trade names for both Evinrude Outboard Motors and Johnson Outboards. This acquisition was made from the then-insolvent Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), which had been a prominent manufacturer of marine engines.
When Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) was established as an independent company specializing in powersports and marine products, it inherited these valuable brand assets, including the Johnson name.
Current Status of the Johnson Brand
While BRP maintains ownership of the Johnson brand name, the manufacturing and sale of Johnson outboard motors were discontinued in 2007. Following the acquisition, BRP primarily focused its outboard motor production and innovation efforts on the Evinrude brand, which was also part of the 2001 acquisition. The production of Evinrude outboards also ceased in 2020, as BRP shifted its marine strategy.
Therefore, while the intellectual property and trade name for Johnson are owned by BRP, you will not find new Johnson outboard motors being produced or sold by the company today.
Key Milestones for Johnson Outboards and BRP
To understand the trajectory of the Johnson brand under BRP's umbrella, consider the following timeline:
| Event | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson Acquisition | 2001 | Bombardier, the parent company of what would become BRP, acquires the trade names for Johnson Outboards and Evinrude Outboard Motors from the bankrupt Outboard Marine Corporation. This brought the storied Johnson brand under their ownership. |
| BRP Spin-off | 2003 | Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) is spun off as a separate, publicly traded company. The marine brands, including Johnson and Evinrude, become part of BRP's portfolio, solidifying BRP's position in the marine industry alongside its powersports offerings. |
| Johnson Production Ceases | 2007 | BRP makes the strategic decision to discontinue the production of Johnson outboard motors. The company chose to consolidate its focus on the Evinrude brand, investing in new technologies and models for that line, though maintaining ownership of the Johnson trade name. |
| Evinrude Production Ceases | 2020 | BRP discontinues production of Evinrude outboard motors as well, pivoting its marine strategy towards new technologies and boat manufacturing, including brands like Alumacraft, Manitou, and Quintrex. |
For more information about BRP and its products, you can visit their official website or learn more about their history on Wikipedia.
