Editing Bombardier Inc. (section)

===Bombardier Recreational Products===
[[File:1951B12a.jpg|thumb|right|1951 Bombardier B12 Snow Bus Snowmobile]]
{{Main|Bombardier Recreational Products}}

In January 1934, a blizzard prevented [[Joseph-Armand Bombardier]] from reaching the nearest hospital in time to save his two-year-old son, Yvon, who died from [[appendicitis]] complicated by [[peritonitis]].<ref name="skidoo">{{cite journal |last=Skorupa |first=Joe |date=January 1992 |title=Ski-doo: 50 years on snow |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=seMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA94 |journal=[[Popular Mechanics]] |volume=169 |issue=1 |pages=94, 95 |issn=0032-4558}}</ref><ref name="legacy">{{cite web |title=Bombardier: The Snowmobile Legacy |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/topic/bombardier-the-snowmobile-legacy |website=[[CBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218232335/https://www.cbc.ca/archives/topic/bombardier-the-snowmobile-legacy |archive-date=February 18, 2016}}</ref>

Bombardier was a mechanic who dreamed of building a vehicle that could "float on snow".<ref name="legacy" /> In 1935, in a repair shop in [[Valcourt (city)|Valcourt]], [[Quebec]], he designed and produced the first [[snowmobile]] using a drive system he developed that revolutionized travel in snow and swampy conditions.

In 1937, he patented and sold 12 of the 7-passenger "B7" [[snow coach]]es.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Scott S. |date=October 10, 2014 |title=Bombardier Conquered Winter With Snowmobile |work=[[Investor's Business Daily]] |url=https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/josepharmand-bombardier-created-the-snowmobile/}}</ref> They were used in rural Quebec to take children to school, carry freight, deliver mail, and as ambulances. In 1941, Bombardier opened a factory in Valcourt.<ref name="workhorse">{{cite web |date=January 1, 1950 |title=The Bombardier winter workhorse is born |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-bombardier-winter-workhorse-is-born |website=CBC News}}</ref>

In 1942, ''L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée'' ("Bombardier Snow Car Limited") was founded in [[Valcourt (city)|Valcourt]].<ref name="timeline">{{cite news |date=February 17, 2016 |title=Aerospace company Bombardier: A timeline |work=[[CTV News]] |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/aerospace-company-bombardier-a-timeline-1.2781982}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], the [[Government of Canada]] issued wartime [[rationing]] regulations. Bombardier customers had to prove that snowmobiles were essential to their livelihood in order to buy one. The company then shifted its focus to the [[arms industry]].<ref name="workhorse" />

In 1947, during a blizzard in [[Saskatchewan]], the company received positive press coverage when army snowmobiles resupplied isolated radio communication towers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rescue by snowmobile |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/rescue-by-snowmobile |website=CBC News}}</ref>

In 1948, the [[Government of Quebec]] passed a law requiring all roads to be cleared of snow; Bombardier's sales fell by nearly half in one year. Armand Bombardier therefore decided to diversify his business, first by producing tracked [[snowplow]]s sized specifically for use on municipal sidewalks, replacing [[horse-drawn vehicle]]s, then by making [[all-terrain vehicle]]s for the [[mining]], petroleum, and [[forestry]] industries.<ref name="workhorse" />

The machines had removable front skis that could be replaced with front wheels for use on paved or hard surfaces, thus providing greater utility to his large snowmobiles. In 1951, the wooden bodies were replaced with sheet steel, and these vehicles were powered by [[Chrysler]] flathead six-cylinder engines and 3-speed manual transmissions.
[[File:2007 Bombardier XRS 800.jpg|thumb|Ski-Doo snowmobile]]
In the early 1950s, Bombardier focused on developing a snowmobile for 1 or 2 passengers. A breakthrough occurred in 1957 when Bombardier developed a one-piece molded rubber [[continuous track]] with enough durability to provide snow-gripping [[Traction (engineering)|traction]] for lightweight vehicles. The vehicle was called the "Ski-Dog" because it was meant to replace the [[dog sled]] for hunters and trappers. However, in 1958, "[[Ski-Doo]]" was accidentally painted on the first prototype, and immediately became the popular name.<ref name="skidoo" />

The public soon discovered the great fun of speedy vehicles zooming over snow, and a new winter sport was born, centered in Quebec. In the first year, Bombardier sold 225 Ski-Doos; four years later, 8,210 were sold. Bombardier slowed promotion of the Ski-Doo line to prevent it from crowding out other company products, while still dominating the snowmobile industry<ref>{{cite web |date=March 15, 1962 |title=Snowmobiling just for the fun of it |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/bombardier-just-for-the-fun-of-it |website=CBC News}}</ref> against competitors [[Polaris Industries]] and [[Arctic Cat]].

In 1963, [[Roski]] was created in [[Roxton Falls, Quebec]] as a manufacturer of composite parts for the Ski-Doo. In the 1960s, [[V-8 engine]]s were added.

On February 18, 1964, J. Armand Bombardier died of [[cancer]] at age 56. Until then, he oversaw all areas of operation and controlled the research department, making all the drawings himself. The younger generation took over, led by Armand's sons and sons-in-law, reorganizing and decentralizing the company. The company adopted computer inventory, accounting, and billing. Distribution networks were improved and increased, and an [[incentive program]] was developed for sales staff.<ref name="younger">{{cite web |date=April 12, 1967 |title=Younger generation takes over Bombardier |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/younger-generation-takes-over-bombardier |website=CBC News}}</ref> That year, a survey was mailed to Ski-Doo owners to find out how the product was being used.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 29, 1969 |title=Look What's Behind the Snowmobile King |newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oK8tAAAAIBAJ&hl=fr&pg=866%2C6884565}}</ref> Germain Bombardier, who had been groomed by his father, took over the company upon his father's death in 1964. However, he quit and sold his shares in 1966 after a disagreement with other family members. [[Laurent Beaudoin]], the son-in-law of the founder, then became president, a position he held until 1999.<ref name="younger" /> He had joined the company as controller in 1963 and was president for 25 years.<ref name="Farnsworth1991"/>

In 1967, the company was renamed ''Bombardier Limited''. By that time, the snowmobiles were very useful for the [[Inuit]].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 7, 1967 |title=Inuit embrace the snowmobile |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/inuit-embrace-the-snowmobile |website=CBC News}}</ref>
[[File:SeaDoo XP Generation 1.jpg|thumb|SeaDoo personal watercraft]]
In 1968, [[Clayton Jacobson II]] invented the [[Personal watercraft|jet ski]] and the company licensed his patents to create the [[Sea-Doo]] [[personal watercraft]].<ref name="guided">{{cite news |date=November 20, 2007 |title=Guided Enterprise |newspaper=[[Manawatu Standard]] |url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/manawatu-standard/20071120/284352605187066}}</ref>

On January 23, 1969, the company became a [[public company]], listing on the [[Montreal Exchange]] and the [[Toronto Stock Exchange]].<ref name="timeline" />

In 1969 to 1970, the standard round windows reminiscent of [[porthole]]s were replaced with larger rectangular windows that provided more interior light. A change was made to the [[Chrysler]] Industrial 318 engines with the automatic Loadflite transmissions.<ref name="guided" />

In 1970, the company acquired [[Rotax]], an engine manufacturer based in [[Gunskirchen]], [[Austria]].

In 1971, Bombardier acquired [[Moto-Ski]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Pinz |first=Les |date=March 6, 2009 |title=1971 Moto-Ski Bullet |work=American Snowmobiler |url=http://amsnow.com/news/vintage/2009/03/1971-moto-ski-bullet}}</ref> Also in 1971, Bombardier launched Operation SnoPlan, a program to promote snowmobile safety after a mounting death toll due to snowmobile accidents.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 9, 1972 |title=Ski-Doo backlash |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/ski-doo-backlash |website=CBC News}}</ref>

In the 1970s, the company began producing [[Can-Am motorcycles]], which included [[Rotax]] engines.<ref name="guided" />

In 2003, the company sold [[Bombardier Recreational Products]] to a group of investors: [[Bain Capital]] (50%), Bombardier Family (35%) and [[Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec]] (15%) for $875 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chipello |first=Christopher J. |date=August 27, 2003 |title=Bombardier to Sell Subsidiary To Group Led by Bain Capital |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB106198653325581800 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>