Brabus Partners With AB Yachts to Develop Co-Branded Yacht Line
The first vessel is scheduled to debut at the 2026 Monaco Yacht Show.
German luxury design house Brabus has entered a strategic partnership with AB Yachts, a brand within the Next Yacht Group portfolio, to develop a new line of co-branded yachts. The collaboration will combine Brabus’ design capabilities with AB Yachts’ yacht engineering and construction expertise.
Brabus, headquartered in Bottrop, Germany, has established itself in the automotive refinement sector since 1977. The company operates in more than 100 countries, developing high-performance vehicles and luxury products. AB Yachts, founded in 1992 and based in Viareggio, Italy, specializes in high-performance yacht construction utilizing aerospace-derived manufacturing techniques.
The partnership represents an expansion of Brabus Marine, the company’s maritime division. Brabus Marine currently maintains partnerships with Finnish boat manufacturer Axopar and Polish luxury catamaran builder Sunreef Yachts. The AB Yachts collaboration adds a performance yacht segment to the Brabus Marine portfolio.
Under the agreement, the partners will develop yachts that integrate Brabus’ design approach with AB Yachts’ hull optimization technology, waterjet propulsion systems, and electronic trim control capabilities. The first vessel from the partnership is scheduled to debut at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026, running September 23-26, 2026. A second model is planned for introduction at the Monaco Yacht Show 2027.
“AB Yachts has exactly the kind of energy we’re looking for: the drive to challenge what is possible, to push boundaries and to create something that instantly feels special,” says Constantin Buschmann, CEO and owner of Brabus. “As we continue the journey of Brabus Marine alongside our partners Axopar and Sunreef Yachts, this collaboration opens up a completely new dimension for us – bringing together our design, our love for bold design, individuality and detail with the incredible expertise of AB Yachts.”
Giorgio Mattei, deputy chairman of Next Yacht Group, adds: “It was, quite simply, love at first sight. From our very first meeting, we recognized in Brabus the same relentless passion for innovation, performance and bold design that defines AB Yachts. From the outset, this partnership has been both inspiring and natural, driven by a shared pursuit of excellence and a determination to push boundaries beyond what the market has seen before. Together, we are creating something truly distinctive: an innovative co-designed product that we believe will leave a lasting mark on the yachting industry and stand as a memorable milestone in its evolution.”
AB Yachts currently produces vessels ranging from the AB 80 to the AB 130, with performance capabilities reaching 60kt. The brand’s construction methodology incorporates optimized hull designs and advanced propulsion systems developed from aerospace engineering principles.