Beneteau sells CNB brand

Groupe Beneteau today announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its CNB Yacht Builders brand to Italian sailboat builer, Solaris Yachts. The move is part of the French company’s five-year strategic plan to rationalise its product portfolio.

By joining Solaris, CNB’s future will be ”developed within a smaller, more responsive structure, adapted to the demands of this exclusive market,” says Beneteau in a statement.

Solaris has been setting new standards in the performance cruiser sailboat sector since 1974. Its facilities are calibrated for producing small series models with high levels of customisation and quality for each boat. CNB Yacht Builders is firmly focused on blue water sailing. The Beneteau brand is renowned for creating one-off models, then adapting this know-how for semi-custom yachts.

”Moving forward, the synergies between these two brands will benefit the development of new models, while respecting each one’s identity,” says Solaris on its website. ”Illustrating this, the CNB 8X will be unveiled in a few weeks’ time, pioneering a new age for CNB Yacht Builders.”

Vincent Arnaud, CNB Yachts’ brand director, will continue in his role at Solaris. A transition period will run through to 2022 with a view to supporting future deliveries and enabling Solaris to gradually integrate production. Beneteau says that all yachts currently in build, as well as the CNB 66 and CNB 76 models sold in 2021, will continue to be produced at Groupe Beneteau’s site in Monfalcone. From 2022, CNB 66 and CNB 76 production will gradually transition to the Solaris site, which is located around 20km from Monfalcone.

Source: IBI News