BRP cutting production, sets layoffs

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., a Canadian company that makes Evinrude outboard engines at a plant in Sturtevant, said Tuesday that it will reduce production by 20 percent and eliminate 550 white-collar jobs.

The moves, driven by a global economic recession that's also hitting the power sports industry, follow the layoff of 370 blue-collar employees in the third quarter by the Montreal manufacturer of the Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo and Evinrude brands of sports equipment. Another 430 blue-collar workers have received notices of temporary layoffs to occur in the fourth quarter.

The work force reduction involves all BRP divisions, the company said. The firm did not disclose further details of the layoffs.

Among the elements of the company's plan, BRP is merging the engine divisions, BRP-Rotax and Outboard engines, into a new division called the “Powertrain” division that will be responsible for the manufacturing and engineering activities of Evinrude and Rotax engines. The Rotax engines will continue to be manufactured in Gunskirchen, Austria, and in Juarez, Mexico, while the Evinrude outboard engine manufacturing will remain in Sturtevant and in Dalang, China.