Brand Comparison
Evinrude vs Selva Outboards
A straight, factual side-by-side — both are excellent builders that simply shine in different places. Here is how they line up and who each one suits.
| Evinrude Outboard Motors | Selva Marine (Selva S.p.A.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1907 | 1945 |
| Headquarters | Sturtevant, Wisconsin (former) | Tirano, Italy |
| Ownership | BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020 | Privately held (Selva family, 3rd generation) |
| Stock / Ticker | TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Evinrude discontinued 2020) | Privately held |
| Annual Revenue | ≈ $9.0 billion (TTM, BRP Inc. — whole company) | Not publicly disclosed (private company) |
| Employees | ≈ 17,000 worldwide (BRP Inc., entire company) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Manufacturing | Former Evinrude outboard production has ended | One fully-integrated manufacturing facility |
| HP Range | (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued | 2.5 – 300 hp |
| Fuel / Power | Direct-injection 2-stroke (E-TEC), historic | 4-stroke & 2-stroke gasoline (+ electric via ePropulsion distribution) |
| Product Lines | 3 families | 4 families |
| Signature Tech |
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| Famous For | Inventing the practical outboard motor — and, in its final chapter, the E-TEC direct-injection two-stroke that ran for years with no scheduled dealer maintenance. Discontinued by BRP in 2020. | Italian craftsmanship and full in-house production. Selva is famous as Europe's only complete-cycle outboard maker and as an OEM supplier of drive components to brands like Seven Marine and Torqeedo. |
| Best For | Owners of existing E-TEC/G2 motors and buyers researching used Evinrude outboards and brand history. | European boaters and buyers wanting Italian-built outboards with Yamaha-based powerheads, plus boat/motor packages. |
Revenue and workforce figures are point-in-time snapshots from company filings for the year shown (in several cases the parent company, not just the marine division). Stock price, market value, and ROI change daily — use the ticker for live pricing.
Where Each Brand Dominates
Evinrude on the water
Historic / Collector Interest
One of the most collectible and historically important outboard names in the world.
Used-Motor Market
A large installed base of E-TEC and G2 motors keeps Evinrude relevant in the used market.
Low-Maintenance 2-Stroke Fans
E-TEC owners value the torque and minimal scheduled maintenance of the direct-injection design.
Selva on the water
European Recreational
A leading Italian/European choice for recreational and RIB boaters.
Sport & Performance
The XSR line targets sport-tuned, high-performance use.
Boat Packages
Sells inflatable and fiberglass boats paired with its own outboards.
Which one fits you?
Choose Evinrude if…
- ✓Historic significance — the first commercially successful outboard
- ✓E-TEC direct-injection 2-strokes prized for torque and low scheduled maintenance
- ✓BRP still supports parts and warranty for existing owners
Choose Selva if…
- ✓Full in-house manufacturing and quality control
- ✓Yamaha-based four-stroke reliability with Italian engineering
- ✓Broad 2.5–300 hp range plus boats and packages
Browse & Official Links
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The Honest Take
Both Evinrude Outboard Motors and Selva Marine (Selva S.p.A.) are top-tier outboard builders — you can buy either with confidence. Evinrude leans toward owners of existing e-tec/g2 motors and buyers researching used evinrude outboards and brand history, while Selva leans toward european boaters and buyers wanting italian-built outboards with yamaha-based powerheads, plus boat/motor packages. For most buyers the deciding factors are which dealer and service network is strongest in your area, and which brand your local mechanics know best. Whichever you choose, you can browse listings for both on OutboardListings.com.
FAQ
Is Evinrude or Selva the better outboard?
Neither is universally "better" — they lead in different areas. Evinrude is best for owners of existing e-tec/g2 motors and buyers researching used evinrude outboards and brand history. Selva is best for european boaters and buyers wanting italian-built outboards with yamaha-based powerheads, plus boat/motor packages. The right choice depends on how you boat and what dealer support is near you.
What is the HP range of Evinrude vs Selva?
Evinrude Outboard Motors offers (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued, while Selva Marine (Selva S.p.A.) offers 2.5 – 300 hp.
Who owns Evinrude and Selva?
Evinrude Outboard Motors: BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020. Selva Marine (Selva S.p.A.): Privately held (Selva family, 3rd generation).