What company owns Rotax

So, Rotax. It's a brand name you see on all sorts of engines—planes, snowmobiles, go-karts. But who actually owns it? That would be BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, which is just a fancy way of saying it's owned by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). BRP's a Canadian company, HQ'd up in Valcourt, Quebec. The engine division itself, though, lives in Gunskirchen, Austria. That's where the magic happens, design and manufacturing-wise.

Who is the parent company of Rotax engines?

Bombardier Recreational Products. BRP. They're the big boss. Publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (ticker: DOO). They make all kinds of powersports stuff—vehicles, engines. Back in 2003, BRP bought out the other half of the Rotax joint venture from Bombardier Inc. So now they own it outright. Funny thing is, BRP itself was spun off from Bombardier Inc. that same year. It's like a corporate family tree with a branch that got its own pot.

Is Rotax owned by Bombardier?

Nope. Not Bombardier Inc. anymore. That's a common mix-up. Rotax used to be part of Bombardier Inc.—back in the day. But when BRP was spun off in 2003, the engine division went with it. Now Bombardier Inc. is all about business jets and trains. Boring, right? BRP owns Rotax now, lock, stock, and barrel. All the engine stuff.

What is the relationship between BRP and Rotax?

BRP owns Rotax. Simple as that. They use Rotax engines in their own stuff a lot—Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am off-road rides. But they're not selfish about it. They sell those engines to other companies too. Think light aircraft, ultralights, kit planes. BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG is its own little unit inside BRP, with its own engineering crew and factory in Austria. Kind of like a band within a label.

Where are Rotax engines manufactured?

All in Gunskirchen, Austria. That's the spot. They've been building engines there since the 70s. The plant's huge—over 100,000 square meters. About 1,200 people work there. Every aircraft engine—the 912, the 915 series—and a bunch of recreational engines come out of that Austrian facility.

Rotax engine ownership structure

What types of engines does Rotax produce?

They do both four-stroke and two-stroke engines. For a bunch of different stuff. Here's the rundown:

• Aircraft engines: The 912, 914, and 915 series. Four-stroke. Used in light sport aircraft and ultralights.
• Snowmobile engines: These go in Ski-Doo models—think Rotax 600R, 850 E-TEC.
• Watercraft engines: For Sea-Doo personal watercraft.
• ATV and side-by-side engines: Used in Can-Am vehicles.
• Go-kart engines: The Rotax MAX series. Big in competitive kart racing.

How many Rotax aircraft engines have been produced?

As of 2024, they've cranked out over 100,000 aircraft engines. The 912 series alone? Over 60,000 units. Crazy, right? Rotax engines power about 75% of all new light sport and ultralight aircraft sold worldwide. They've been at it since the 70s, starting with the Rotax 447 two-stroke. Quite a run.

Frequently asked questions about Rotax ownership