Gunskirchen, Austria, November 6, 2026 –
A major milestone for Upper Austrian industry: BRP-Rotax in Gunskirchen rolled its 12-millionth Rotax engine off the assembly line yesterday. The milestone represents a decades-long success story that began with engine production in 1947 and established Gunskirchen as the global hub for developing and industrializing advanced high-performance propulsion systems.
Gunskirchen: The Global Powertrain Development Hub Within BRP
Whether across snow, water, dirt, asphalt, or in the air: Rotax propulsion systems are synonymous with performance under extreme conditions worldwide. As part of Canadian-based BRP, BRP-Rotax in Gunskirchen serves as the technological core for powertrain innovation: All innovations and engineering development for the global engine lineup are anchored at the Upper Austrian headquarters.
Today, Rotax engines are a truly global product: Over the past year, BRP-Rotax manufactured hundreds of thousands of engines across its worldwide production network in collaboration with BRP’s facility in Querétaro, Mexico, with approximately one-third produced directly in Gunskirchen. The 12-millionth milestone engine reflects this philosophy: scaling globally while keeping proprietary research, development, and advanced high-precision manufacturing deeply rooted on site in Gunskirchen.
“Reaching 12 million produced engines is not only an impressive operational figure, but above all a testament to the expertise, precision, and dedication of our roughly 1,500 employees in Gunskirchen as well as our colleagues in Mexico,“ emphasized Mario Gebetshuber, General Manager of BRP-Rotax. “Every single engine represents our promise to continuously push the limits of what is technically possible. Each one was developed and brought to serial maturity here in Gunskirchen. Celebrating this milestone on site underscores the vital role BRP-Rotax plays within our global network.“
Deepening Value Creation for Greater Resilience
The milestone also reflects the ongoing technological evolution of the facility. BRP-Rotax is strategically bringing critical key technologies to Gunskirchen. A prime example is the establishment of an automated, high-precision manufacturing line for direct injection systems for two-stroke engines, which successfully launched production in May of this year. Mastering these advanced micro-precision processes broadens in-house engineering capabilities, making production more resilient and independent from global supply chains.
Over the decades, the applications powered by Gunskirchen-engineered engines have expanded significantly: Beyond powersports vehicles, Rotax engines reliably power karts, light aircraft, and specialized industrial and commercial B2B applications, such as portable fire pumps for emergency response services. The technological portfolio spans from highly efficient two- and four-stroke internal combustion engines to innovative electric powertrains.
Symbolic Milestone: Anniversary Engine Unites Heritage and Innovation
The milestone engine — a two-stroke Rotax 600 RR E-TEC built for BRP’s Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles — embodies both the heritage and the continuous evolution of the shared history between Bombardier (the predecessor of BRP Inc.) and Rotax. Their shared history dates back to the early 1960s, when Canadian inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier was searching for an exceptionally lightweight, powerful, and cold-tested two-stroke engine for his innovative snowmobiles. He found the ideal solution in Gunskirchen.
That initial delivery laid the foundation for a decades-long collaboration, culminating in Rotax joining the BRP group in 1970. Marking the 12-millionth unit with a modern twostroke engine brings this historical journey full circle: The model pairs continuous refinement in two-stroke engineering with advanced in-house E-TEC direct injection and fuel injectors manufactured directly in Gunskirchen since May 2026—demonstrating how heritage and high-tech innovation converge at the Austrian headquarters.
