Rotax under power

Rotax under power

With its innovative drive systems “Made in Upper Austria”, BRP-Rotax is the leading manufacturer of engines in the leisure and power sports sector. In addition to specializing in combustion engines for the power sports sector, the Gunskirchen-based company is also a pioneer in alternative drive models and proves this with projects such as the emission-free Lynx HySnow snowmobile with fuel cell or the powerful e-kart series. The Canadian parent company BRP is going one step further and will be introducing electric models as standard in every vehicle line by the end of 2026. This pioneering strategy is also of crucial importance for BRP-Rotax. In the future, the required electric drive components will be developed and tested in the new R&D building in Upper Austria.

“With the introduction of electric drives in all product lines, our parent company BRP is pursuing an ambitious goal for a more sustainable future in the world of power sports,” says Wolfgang Rapberger, General Manager BRP-Rotax. After a construction period of 14 months, the R&D building was opened this week by the BRP-Rotax management together with 250 R&D employees from Gunskirchen and Kottingbrunn (BRP-Rotax Vienna). The Rotax team was also able to welcome Thomas Uhr, Chief Technology Officer BRP and Sebastien Martel, Chief Financial Officer BRP, on site as special guests of honor from Canada. Following the presentation and inspection of the building, the completion of the construction work was appropriately celebrated with a classic Austrian meatloaf snack. The new R&D building on the BRP-Rotax company premises will now be put into operation in October. On an area of ​​around 7,000 m2 and three floors, it includes an EV development laboratory and workshop, test infrastructure with highly developed EV test benches as well as component test benches and important office space. The building offers space for around 200 highly qualified employees.