Exploring the Past of Bombardier: A Journey Through Time
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Bombardier, a name synonymous with innovation, began its journey in 1942 when Joseph-Armand Bombardier founded "Bombardier Snow Car Limited." After creating the first snowmobile in 1935, the company expanded its horizons, eventually entering the aviation industry with the acquisition of Canadair in 1986.
This move marked the start of Bombardier's aggressive diversification into the aerospace sector. Over the next few years, the company made key acquisitions that significantly expanded its capabilities and product portfolio. In 1989, Bombardier acquired Short Brothers PLC, Europe's oldest aircraft manufacturer, adding historic depth and manufacturing capability. The following year, the company added Learjet Corporation, a key U.S. business jet manufacturer, to its roster. In 1992, Bombardier further strengthened its regional aircraft presence with the acquisition of De Havilland Canada.
These acquisitions, combined with Bombardier's own aviation brand, Flexjet, established in 1995, positioned the company as a major player in the business and regional aircraft manufacturing. The company's expansive approach to acquiring and managing different companies, however, made its management more challenging.
In the 21st century, Bombardier's management recognized the need for a more focused approach. This led to a more streamlined business model, with the company's current focus solely on the aviation industry. As of the present, Bombardier is primarily a producer of business jets.
In addition to its core business, Bombardier's product portfolio includes various types of aircraft, such as those designed for firefighting and commercial use. One of the company's most significant achievements in the 21st century was the launch of the CSeries aircraft program, later marketed as the Airbus A220.
In a strategic partnership move, Airbus acquired a 50.01% stake in the CSeries Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP) in 2017. This partnership helped reduce production costs with Airbus’s supply chain expertise and expanded manufacturing capacity, including an assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. Airbus’s involvement greatly enhanced the product's global sales potential and market competitiveness, helping Bombardier access a larger share of the 100-150 seat aircraft market.
This partnership grew the aircraft's market reach and gave Bombardier a stronger position against dominant competitors Boeing and Airbus in the narrow-body aircraft sector. Early orders from major airlines like Air Canada and Delta demonstrated the commercial impact of the CSeries program.
Bombardier operates globally with its business jet production and employs over 12,000 people worldwide. The resources used for this information include Wikipedia, Bombardier's official website, and The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- Bombardier's strategic partnership with Airbus in 2017, where Airbus acquired a 50.01% stake in the CSeries Aircraft Limited Partnership, expanded the aircraft's global sales potential and market competitiveness, as it tapped into Airbus's supply chain expertise and manufacturing capacity.
- As of now, Bombardier primarily focuses on the finance and technology-intensive aviation industry, with products ranging from business jets to aircraft designed for firefighting and commercial use, such as the successful CSeries aircraft, now marketed as the Airbus A220, which transformed its market position in the narrow-body aircraft sector.
