Le Boat and Groupe Beneteau’s ten-year plan to build 400 Delphias
Groupe Beneteau has taken another step forward in its quest to ‘move upmarket’. It’s doing this by responding to the growing demand in the sharing economy – as evidenced by today’s report on a boom in boating ‘experience’ being preferable to boat ownership. The report highlights that consumers’ shifting preference in the North American market has increased customer engagement in marina and charter services (a major factor driving the demand for leisure boats in the region).
Thus, a new agreement’s been struck between Le Boat and Groupe Beneteau (under the latter’s Delphia brand in Poland). Le Boat, which claims to be Europe’s largest boat rental company, will invest over £100m into its international fleet over the next ten years.
That investment looks like 400 new Delphia boats. Those are slated to be built over the coming decade, with 100 to be made in the next three years, including at least 25 in 2025. These orders will be a combination of the current Horizon range, plus 34 of a premium new one-to-two cabin boat, named Liberty, which will be launched in 2025.
Erik Stromberg, VP for power and motoryachts for Groupe Beneteau says: “Le Boat has been a key partner for many years with the premier fleet of Horizon models. This next step continues the supply of Horizon models, as well as, a new co-developed boat to support Le Boat’s charter business and boat ownership program.”
Le Boat and Groupe Beneteau to create new model
In addition, the two companies will develop a new three to four-cabin model for launch in 2027 with both private and charter variants (the latter being exclusive to Le Boat). Furthermore, Delphia and LeBoat are also working to expand into the North American market to develop both new fleets and locations for charter holidays and boat sales.
Le Boat also offers an ownership programme which it says allows owners to enjoy guaranteed income while taking an average of eight weeks’ holiday every year on their own, or a sister, boat across the company’s 17 cruising regions. Le Boat says it has seen a threefold increase in its boat ownership programme since its Horizon fleet was launched in 2016.
“We’re delighted to be building upon our long-standing relationship with Groupe Beneteau to support the next stage of Le Boat’s growth journey,” says Cheryl Brown, Le Boat’s MD. “It will allow us to continue developing high quality river cruisers which our customer will love and enable us both to expand into North America. With these innovative new boats and stunning potential cruising grounds, this offers us a fantastic opportunity to grow both the charter and boat sales sides of our business.”
Groupe Beneteau recently elected Catherine Pourre as chairwoman, and re-elected Louis-Claude Roux as vice-chairman. That came after May’s announcement which revealed its revenues for the first quarter of 2024 were down 39 per cent. That downturn came from a high basis for comparison after the group reported revenues of +57 per cent for the first quarter of 2023. The group says this result is linked mainly to the change in dealership inventory levels.
Main image shows Martin Schemkes . . Delphia brand director, Cheryl Brown . . Le Boat’s MD, and Yann Masselot . . Delphia chief of brands & communication officer (left to right).
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