EUROPEAN REPORT
Groupe Beneteau, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pleasure boats and mobile homes, posted revenue of USD 1.6 million (1.508,1 million EUR) for 2022. The boat division generated USD1.3 million (1.250,9 million EUR), 83% of the group’s total revenue.
The Group order books are full for this year. The forecast is for 10% growth compared to revenues achieved in 2022. Last year, revenues by market were at 613.20 million EUR for Europe, 424.4 million EUR for North America and 135.9 million EUR for other regions.
The group plans to launch 13 models in 2023, of which five will be new models of dayboats, four models of sailing yachts, two models of sail catamarans and two models of power catamarans.
The boat division revenues increased 19.7% compared to 2021. The motorboats division contributed 58% of the total and the sailing division added 42%. The best-selling boats are the motor dayboats in size up to 8 meters followed by the sailing multihulls over 10 meters.
Sales of dayboats branded Wellcraft, Four Winns and Scarab gained 26 % compared to 2021. Originally named US brands, the group was acquired by the French group in 2014 as a part of its strategic plan to enter the US market and to develop the motorboat segment in size less than 8 meters. Eight years later, they are becoming the global market sales leader. Together with dayboats branded Jeanneau and Beneteau, the motor segment realized a sales growth in the North and Central America market of 27% and in Europe by 9.5%.
Sales of sailing yachts branded Beneteau and Jeanneau and sailing catamarans branded Excess and Lagoon grew 31,8%. They’ve been mainly sold to charter professionals globally. The main market for sailing boats remains Europe.
The Polish brand Delphia has been totally focused to develop and start the production of fully electric boats for sustainable inland boating. Two Delphia models in size of 10.77 meters and 9.78 meters have been launched. They are powered with the Torqueedo Deep Blue system, which includes an electric engine and lithium battery. For the moment, the builder is offering the same models in a diesel option powered by Yanmar 57 or 150 hp engines. Delphia aims to end production of diesel boats by 2025 being totally invested into the electric boats segment development. The group will continue to work on its B-Sustainable program development that includes the brands Engaged Crew, Preserving Oceans and Ethical Growth. Plans call for the alternative propulsion solution to be implemented into the entire boats division by 2030. Four Winns dayboats with the Vision Marine’s E-motion 180 hp propulsion system are scheduled to be launched in Spring 2023. PSR
Natasa Mulahalilovic is Marine Pleasure Boat Analyst-Europe for Power Systems Research
