公司简介
科凯弗公司由卡尔·科凯弗于1940年创立。他发明了一种舷外发动机，用于快速、强劲、可靠的划船动力。他称它为墨丘利，以罗马众神的信使命名。在1940年的纽约船展上，Kiekhaefer第一次展示了他的发动机。卡尔接受了超过16000个马达的订单。1941年12月，美国加入第二次世界大战。在全国范围内，工厂都被改造为生产战争设备。战后，情况发生了变化。Kiekhaefer预计休闲游艇将会蓬勃发展，对更大、更强大的舷外马达的需求也会不断增长。在1947年的纽约船展上，墨丘利推出了“闪电”。 In 1948, Kiekhaefer built the prototype of the Mercury Thunderbolt. It was a larger, more powerful outboard to meet the growing demands of the post-war boating boom. Thunderbolt was the industry's first four-cylinder-in-line, two-cycle, 40-cubic-inch engine. In 1957, the company began operations at a 1,400-acre undeveloped Florida lake. To keep the location a secret, Carl Kiekhaefer referred to it as "Lake X" and the name stuck. That same year, the Mark 75 was introduced, the industry's first six-cylinder, 60-hp outboard. In 1961, Kiekhaefer merged with Brunswick Corporation, whose 125 years of leisure business leadership brought capital for sustained growth around the world. The revolutionary MerCruiser engine was introduced at the Chicago Boat Show that same year, offering the first sterndrive unit of over 100 hp. It combined the power and economy of inboard engines with the flexibility and maneuverability of outboard drive units. Within the next few years, Kiekhaefer also unveiled the first 100 and 125-horsepower outboards, and also introduced the distinctive “phantom black” cowl that has become Mercury’s trademark. Carl Kiekhaefer resigned as president of the company in 1969, and shortly thereafter the company’s name was officially changed from Kiekhaefer Marine to Mercury Marine. In 1976, Mariner Outboards were introduced in Europe and the United States. In 1993 the company introduced a new product line, the Sport Jet 90, on Bayliner and Sea Ray boats. Two years later, Sport Jet introduced a 120-hp model, the perfect engine for towing skiers, knee boarders and tubers. And, with the introduction of the Sport Jet 175V6, V-6 power became available in a mini-jet engine. In 1996, Mercury and Mariner introduced 200-hp, OptiMax direct fuel-injected, two-stroke outboard engines. In 1998 the late Carl Kiekhaefer was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America at the Motorsports Museum in Novi, Mich. As the largest division of Brunswick Corporation, Mercury has facilities across the United States and throughout the world, with over 6000 employees and over 7000 dealers worldwide. The company is integrally involved in conservation issues and also supports fishing, boating, boat racing and watersports activities.
