Why did Mercury eliminate model year designations for its outboard engines?
Eliminating the “model year” designation results in a host of benefits for consumers of our products and for the dealers who represent Mercury Marine. In the past, Mercury waited for the model year changeover date before introducing new products and enhancements to existing models. But because the market continues to evolve, making new products and improvements available in “real time” is absolutely necessary. A major benefit of this initiative is that the very latest products are always available, often much sooner than in the past. In addition, because our boat builder and dealer customers can more effectively manage their inventory levels, they generally will not have to deplete prior-year inventory before receiving the newest products. This also helps ensure consumers always have the latest models. Finally, this is consistent with current trends within the marine industry. Mercury’s MerCruiser sterndrive engines and MotorGuide electric trolling motors have not had model years for s
