Bombardier's Johnson Outboards Chosen as Premier Power Choice by United States Marine Corps Systems Command.

Buisness Editors

WAUKEGAN, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 16, 2001

Bombardier Lands Multi-Million Dollar Deal With U.S. Marine Corps

Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia 

Bombardier Motor Corporation of America announced today that it has entered into a $5.3 million US ($8 million Cdn) contract with the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command to provide over 500 Johnson(R) 55hp pump jet engines to the Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia over the next 12 months.

The engines, which will be used by the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command in amphibious operations, are a specialty product designed specifically for the Federal Government. "We understand the U.S. Marine Corps' unique requirements when it comes to outboard power," says Vince McLeod, Manager of Specialty Accounts and Government Affairs in the Outboard Engines team of Bombardier Recreational Products. "The Johnson 55hp pump jet engines were designed to perform in challenging military operations--they're submersible in up to 66 feet of water and they fit through the hatch of a submarine. The Johnson pump jet outboards can push heavy loads through the water faster and use less fuel than their standard carbureted commercial counterparts," McLeod explained.

"We've done very thorough and aggressive testing on these models," McLeod continued. "We've submersed the Johnson 55hp pump jet engines for 20 hours, brought them back up and pumped the water out. The engines start in less than five minutes and continued running during the subsequent on-water testing. I think this endeavor further strengthens the Johnson brand name and proves that quality and integrity are the driving forces behind the name."

"A lot of time and effort by Bombardier and the U.S. Marine Corps have been put into this engine," said Gunnery Sgt. David E. Grandin, Project Officer for Raids/Recon Small Craft, Marine Corps Systems Command. "Marines have been using the Johnson 35hp submersible engines since 1991." "We're quite proud of the exceptional reliability, ruggedness, and safety of this powerful engine," added the Program Manager.

Bombardier Recreational Products designs, develops, builds, distributes and markets Ski-Doo(R) and Lynx(R) snowmobiles, snowgrooming equipment and multi-purpose tracked vehicles, Sea-Doo(R) watercraft and sport boats and Bombardier(R) all-terrain vehicles. Snowmobiles, ATVs, watercraft and some sport boats are powered by Rotax(R) engines that are designed and built by Bombardier-Rotax GmbH, which also builds motors for motorcycles, scooters, karts and aircraft. In March 2001, the group acquired the Evinrude(R) and Johnson(R) outboard marine engines as well as the Ficht Ram Injection(R) technology.

Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company, is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset management. The Corporation employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Bombardier's revenues for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totaled $16.1 billion (Cdn) and more than 90% were generated outside Canada.

(R)TM Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its affiliates.