Volvo Penta to stop the sales and production of Seven Marine engines
Volvo Penta has announced the company will put its outboard development on hold, and plans to stop the sales and marketing of Seven Marine engines from January 1st, 2021, as well as phase out production once customer demand is met.
The company said in a statement they will, however, continue to support the current outboard customer base by taking full warranty and parts responsibility for the products that are in the field.
“We want to send a clear message,” says President of Volvo Penta, Heléne Mellquist. “Volvo Penta does foresee that the outboard segment will continue to be relevant for the Marine Leisure market, but we believe that the indisputable need to drive advancements in sustainable technology must be our main focus. This is why, for the time being, the exploration of new technology together with the development of our core business, such as Volvo Penta IPS and sterndrives, will be the center of our efforts.”
They believe in the greater fuel efficiency and zero emissions available through hybrid, electric, and renewable fuels as the new direction.
The Volvo Group also recently announced the ambition to be a net-zero emissions company by 2050, at the very latest.
Adds Mellquist, “Volvo Penta welcomes this increased focus across the Volvo Group. We will support these objectives by intensifying our ongoing efforts and resources towards continued development of sustainable solutions.”
I certainly hope they entertain the idea of selling Seven Marine off in lieu of just “shelving” it because they do not believe it is a viable product anymore. I would imagine that there is someone out there that would love to move this great product forward in the industry. Simply eliminating it from existence would be a self serving move and create an unnecessary void in the current market and demand, potentially hurting a builders potential to deliver.
Well that’s no good. I have quad 627s on my Intrepid. Wonder how long before parts start becoming scarce.
The same idea with Evinrude E-Tec
Good call. Wait.
This is idiotic. green is good, but why eliminate a popular product before you have a replacement that fills that niche? What about all the employees and people that rely on Seven Marine? Seems to me a faze out approach would be smarter. Volvo just bought the Company! They say are thinking 30 years ahead?? It was clear they did not think even a year ahead when they bought Seven..
Excellent question Ken, one obviously not asked by the bean counters at Volvo. Mercury will be the only player in the hi HP outboard market with their new V-12 600HP monster.
It’s just the same old story the big guy buying out the little guy because they don’t have the intelligence to compete against him so why not just buy them and put them out of business