Groupe Beneteau and Fountaine Pajot Join Forces to Electrify Sailing

Two of the sailing industry's biggest players are joining forces. Groupe Beneteau and Fountaine Pajot Group have announced the creation of E-LEKTRA MARINE, a 50/50 joint venture aimed at accelerating the shift away from diesel engines in recreational sailing.

The numbers put the ambition in context: today, more than 99% of sailboats still run on diesel. E-LEKTRA MARINE's stated goal is to bring electric or hybrid solutions to 10-15% of the global sailing market by 2030.

The venture brings together seven brands, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Excess, Fountaine Pajot Sailing Catamarans, Fountaine Pajot Yachts and Dufour, which together account for roughly 60% of the global sailing market. The brands remain commercially independent but will share a common technical platform for electric propulsion and onboard energy management.

The challenge goes beyond propulsion. Unlike an electric car that can be plugged in overnight, a sailboat at sea must produce, store and distribute its own energy. It is that complexity, as much as the motors themselves, that E-LEKTRA MARINE is being built to solve.

Both groups bring proven technology to the table. Beneteau has offered electric solutions on sailboats up to 12 metres for several years, while Fountaine Pajot entered the catamaran electrification market with the Aura 51 and Samana 59. 

Rather than continue developing separate technological bases, the two groups have opted to co-build a shared open platform available to other players in the industry as well.

The product range covers sailboats from 9 to 24 metres, spanning full electric and hybrid configurations, with a refit solution also planned for existing boat owners.