Re: made in america
Mercury has a long history of producing overseas for the local markets, to ignore the booming economic market in China, and not to open multiple plants there would be a mistake. It was a long time “be where your clients are” Mercury business philosophy.
My concern is they will be closing many of their other plants while shifting ever more of the manufacturing to China in an attempt to cut cost in their low profit margin growth segments (primarily low emission four-stroke outboard engines, which have lower margins than the two-stroke products they are replacing that are currently being produced in America) mainly outboards and boats, there by leaving their cash-cow market, North America, high and dry in the future as a producer of their product. Their “be where your clients are” philosophy is no longer valid. While they claimed in the past it made no sense to produce in America, and ship around the world to clients, it now seems to make sense to produce in China & Asia and ship to America.
Their smaller motors are already manufactured in Asia, and are just re-branded Mercury versions of their competitor/partner Tohatsu's.
In 2004 they announced they would be manufacturing their 40, 50, & 60HP motors entirely in China, to be shipped to the States.
In 2007 they announced they would be slowly shifting production of their top-end outboard and race motors there in the future, as well as much of the R&D work (sorry, I no longer can find this information, I have a new computer and it was on the old one).
Their inflatable boats are also produced either by, or for, Mercury in China. These boats are marketed under the brand names Mercury & Quicksilver.
They are of course not interested in telling us just what they are still making in America, and what they are not, it is not a good marketing strategy.
So if your desire is to buy American, you might want to look past the “American Brand Name”, and buying one of the "Asian Brands" that are being “Made in America” might be a option.
On a positive note Mercury Marine received three “Best Buy” designations from Consumer Digest this year.
Mercury winners included the Verado 175 hp in the 150-199 hp category, the 15 hp Bigfoot in the below 50 hp models category, and the 75 hp OptiMax in the 75-99 hp category.
