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Powersports Business • December 2024 • 27

Officials in Sault Ste . Marie , located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan , are working toward making the home of the world ’ s largest single-day snowmobile race usable year-round .

A report on Mlive . com states that the city ’ s commission recently awarded a construction project at the I−500 track to a local construction company .

The International 500 Snowmobile Race attracts riders from across the U . S . and Canada and brings in millions of dollars in winter tourism . Officials now plan to upgrade the site to make it viable for year-round use for events like concerts , carnivals and other races .

Facilities will be upgraded around the race site , adding new parking lots , buildings , roads , expanded utilities and seating areas . Local officials hope to host events such as concerts in the summer to bring even more visitors into town .

Most of the project ’ s funding is from a $ 2.5 million grant from the Department of Commerce ’ s Economic Development Administration ’ s American Rescue Plan .

The Sault Ste . Marie Convention and Visitor ’ s Bureau must raise $ 500,000 in funds to access the total grant . In total , $ 420,000 has been raised , and construction is set to begin after the 2025 race in February , the Sault News reported .

Racers compete in the 54th running of the International 500 snowmobile race in Sault Ste . Marie , Michigan on Feburary 4 , 2023 . Photo courtesy of Joel Bissell , MLive . com

BRP has produced half a million snowmobiles at its Rovaniemi facility in Finland . This achievement reflects the success of its flagship brands , Lynx and Ski-Doo , and testifies to the expertise of BRP Finland ’ s almost 500 employees .

The company also announces that BRP Finland has started producing all its electric snowmobiles , supporting its efforts to become the standard in electric recreational vehicles .

“ Producing 500,000 snowmobiles in Finland is an accomplishment I am very proud of ,” says José Boisjoli , president and CEO of

BRP . “ I want to thank BRP Finland ’ s employees for their dedication , ability and willingness to foster a culture of continuous growth and innovation . Their deep understanding of the Scandinavian riding conditions has been key to the success of both Lynx and Ski-Doo , which now have a combined market share of over 70 % in Scandinavia and over 80 % in Finland . As a company , we have been investing and believing in the power of local expertise for over 35 years now to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of our Scandinavian and worldwide customers .” As one of the largest powersports OEMs in Europe and the biggest private-sector employer in Rovaniemi , BRP is a leading business player in Scandinavia , according to Valto Ristimella , commercial director of BRP in Scandinavia . “ With close to 500 dealers and distributors in EMEA , 150 dealers in Scandinavia , around 40 dealers in Finland , and products sold in over 15 countries worldwide , we can confidently say that BRP Finland ’ s outreach now extends far beyond Scandinavia ’ s borders !”

ELECTRIFICATION STRATEGY The Rovaniemi site plays a pivotal role in BRP ’ s innovative production model and business strategy . In 2023 , BRP launched its first electric models , the Ski-Doo Grand Touring Electric and the Lynx Adventure Electric , dedicated exclusively to Uncharted Society , BRP ’ s global network of experience outfitters and tour operators . In early 2024 , two electric snowmobiles designed for ski centers and resorts were unveiled . They will be available to consumers in winter 2024− ’ 25 .

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