Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine leads in innovative marine products
Boaters are always seeking to improve their experiences on the water with upgraded and innovative technologies—and Mercury Marine excels at providing ways for them to do so.
The Fond du Lac-based is a leader in marine propulsion solutions, offering items like outboard motors, stern drives, inboard engines, and other marine accessories. Rooted in Wisconsin since 1939, they are the only U.S.-based manufacturer of outboard engines. And Mercury Marine’s leaders are proud that their exporting success directly benefits the Wisconsin economy, reporting a $5.4 billion annual economic impact on the Fond du Lac community alone.
“What I like about the marine industry is that our products create meaningful experiences, bringing families and communities together on the water,” said John Buelow, the company’s president. “It’s also an industry that never stands still, constantly pushing us to innovate and improve performance, reliability, and sustainability.”
Providing jobs, leading in technology
The company reports having 3,060 employees in Fond du Lac and 6,200 globally. Since the company uses local suppliers, its engines incorporate the work of multiple Wisconsin businesses.
Economic impact aside, the company is actively engaged with the Wisconsin community through university partnerships—including internships for engineering and business students. Speaking at global forums, company leaders promote Wisconsin’s strengths and its position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation.
A tiered system helps Mercury Marine reach customers across the world. Exports were 33% of their sales in 2025; customers range from boatbuilders to marine service centers. The company uses a global distribution model to offer its products and services in more than 130 countries.
In locations where it does not have a direct sales presence, such as Latin America and in Africa, it has international distributors that import the products and market and manage dealer networks. In other regions, such as Europe and Australia as well as elsewhere in North America, the company has direct sales operations, with offices that include sales managers and technical support teams. And at their authorized dealers worldwide, dealers handle everything from sales to installation and warranty repairs. Finally, all over the world, the company has partnerships with boatbuilders that factory install the outboards, sterndrives, and inboards for distribution.
The company’s international sales have grown by 4% since 2023, reaching $3.2 billion in revenue in 2024.
Along with two other companies, Mercury Marine was honored with the 2025 Governor’s Export Achievement Award by Governor Tony Evers. The award is given to businesses to recognize their success in growing their exports and advancing Wisconsin’s reputation in global markets.
Continuing global growth
As technology continues to offer new ways for boaters to go faster, more safely, and find new ways to enjoy their time on the water, product development is a constant focus for Mercury Marine, Buelow said.
Its latest innovations include the industry’s first 600hp V12 Verado outboard engine and a suite of digital and control innovations including their new Mercury Keyless System, which allows boaters to unlock and start their boat using a PIN or a paired smartphone; Boost, which uses software to improve the speed of acceleration; and the DTS Performance Pedal, which provides a more connected throttle feel while the boater keeps both hands on the wheel.
“By launching these innovations together, Mercury delivers a clear message: The future of boating is smarter, more connected, and more intuitive,” Buelow said. “It really comes down to providing an unparalleled experience on the water. We take a lot of pride in being the technology leader in the industry.”
