Softening Demand Leads to 298 Layoffs at BRP’s Sturtevant Marine Facility

STURTEVANT, Wis. (WRJN) – BRP Inc., a major manufacturer of recreational vehicles and boats, has laid off nearly 300 employees at its marine production facility in the Village of Sturtevant amid softening demand in the pontoon boat market.

The Canadian company announced the permanent layoffs of 298 workers in two rounds on March 15 and May 23, according to a state filing. The job cuts primarily impacted assemblers and material handlers at the Sturtevant plant, leaving a remaining workforce of over 300.

BRP had invested over $14 million just last year to launch production of its new Sea-Doo Switch pontoon boat line at the Sturtevant facility. The company upgraded the plant and developed an off-site shipping yard to support the pontoon manufacturing.

“Due to persisting adverse market and economic conditions, a second round of layoffs was conducted on May 23,” BRP operations director Nicolas Gagnon wrote in the filing.

BRP, formerly Bombardier Recreational Products, is a global leader in powersports vehicles and boats. Its product lineup includes the Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles, Sea-Doo personal watercraft, Ski-Doo snowmobiles, and boat brands like Alumacraft.