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Where did Polaris originate?

The hard-working trio started the forerunner of Polaris—Hetteen Hoist & Derrick—in 1945 in tiny Roseau, Minnesota. With World War II raging and metal scarce, their skill at repairing farm machinery quickly earned them loyal customers.

What is Polaris synonymous with?

For millions of people around the world, Polaris has become synonymous with adventure and passion, in both work and play.

When did ATVs start?

Since adding all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs) in 1984, we've grown to become a global powersports leader, providing some of the best-selling-brands in the industry, including RANGER utility vehicles, RZR recreational side-by-sides, Indian Motorcycle ®, and GEM ® electric vehicles.

Did Polaris make snowmobiles?

Their determination paid off. The machines became so popular that Polaris began manufacturing snowmobiles exclusively, which we did for many years before launching into additional product lines and services that leveraged our strengths in product development, powertrain, manufacturing, distribution and marketing.

Does Polaris offer premium ride and drive?

We offer premium ride and drive experience opportunities through Polaris Adventures, but we don’t stop there, Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments, and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio that includes Transamerican Auto Parts.

Who makes Polaris snowmobile engines?

Robin (a subsidiary of Subaru Corporation) previously developed and supplied all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile engines for Polaris Inc. Starting in 1995 with the Polaris Magnum 425 4-stroke ATV and in 1997, with the introduction of the "twin 700" snowmobile engine Polaris started the development and production of in-house produced power plants, known as the "Liberty" line of engines, now found in many models across their current production lines. Since that time Polaris has continued to develop their in-house engine production capacity, now designing and manufacturing all of their own power plants, while maintaining the partnership with Subaru.

Where are Polaris motorcycles made?

Polaris Inc. is an American manufacturer of motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATV, and neighborhood electric vehicles. Polaris was founded in Roseau, Minnesota, where it still has engineering and manufacturing. The company's corporate headquarters is in Medina, Minnesota. The company manufactured motorcycles through its Victory Motorcycles subsidiary until January 2017, and currently produces motorcycles through the Indian Motorcycle subsidiary, which it purchased in April 2011. Polaris produced personal watercraft from 1994–2004. The company was originally named Polaris Industries Inc. and was renamed in 2019 to Polaris Inc.

How fast is a Polaris snowmobile?

The original models weighed close to 1,000 lb (450 kg) and moved at a speed of about 20 mph (32 km/h). As Polaris snowmobiles gained sales traction, Edgar Hetteen became an advocate of the new product line.

How much did Polaris pay for a civil penalty?

In April 2018, Polaris Industries agreed to pay a record $27.25 million civil penalty for failing to report defective off-road vehicles.

When did Polaris introduce the Rush?

In 2010, Polaris introduced the Polaris Rush snowmobile which had a new suspension system and better trail handling capabilities. This snowmobile is also available with retro graphics on the Rush and Iq models. In late 2005, Polaris announced that it would purchase a portion of KTM Motorcycles.

When did Polaris start making snowmobiles?

In the early 1980s, Polaris started creating an Indy style snowmobile with IFS and a wider stance. They continued with the Indy style sled in the 90s with the Storm, XLT, XCR, Ultra, RMK, and Trail lines, within the last few years Polaris has re-introduced the INDY model name.

When did Polaris acquire Aixam Mega?

On April 11, 2013, Polaris announced that it acquired Aixam-Mega, a French quadricycle manufacturer.

What is the largest acquisition of Polaris?

Polaris’ largest acquisition to date was in 2018, when it acquired Boat Holdings for $805M. Polaris has acquired in 10 different US states, and 3 countries. The Company’s most targeted sectors include automotive (67%) and apparel/textiles (12%).

What is a Polaris?

Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles, including all -terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER and RZR side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles. Polaris was formed in 1954 and is based in Medina, Minnesota.

Who is the sole supplier of Polaris?

With the entry of Textron, Polaris was able to bring on Fuji Heavy Industries as its sole supplier. Fuji engineers went to Roseau to work on building a high-quality engine specifically for Polaris. Increasingly, the Polaris product lines were being noticed.

Where was Polaris Industries founded?

Polaris Industries was born in Roseau, a small community within a few miles of the northernmost point in the contiguous 48 states. This relatively remote area, located closer to Winnipeg, Manitoba, than to Minneapolis, inspired a climate of persistent innovation. Hetteen Hoist & Derrick, the forerunner of Polaris, was established in 1945 not for the manufacture of snowmobiles, however, but as a problem-solving job shop that became known for its fabrication of one-of-a-kind machinery for farmers in the region. Metal supply was at a premium at the end of World War II, and Edgar Hetteen was a skilled and inventive metal worker who could help people make do with what they had. Close friend David Johnson bought into the company while he was still serving in the navy, and Edgar's brother Allan Hetteen became a partner in the early 1950s. The company produced farm equipment, including straw choppers, portable grain elevators, and sprayers, but also depended on welding, grinding, and general repair work in the off-season.

Why did Textron sell Polaris?

Hall Wendel, Jr., to sell off the company. A deal to sell the Polaris division to Canada's Bombardier fell through, however, because of the threat of antitrust action by the U.S. Department of Justice. Liquidation was on the horizon. This opened the door for a management group leveraged buyout led by Wendel, who believed that there was a market for snowmobiles and that seasonal snowfalls would rise again. Polaris Industries was created in July 1981, and a shutdown of the Roseau plant was avoided. (Still, the company began production with just 100 workers after the buyout.) Also at this time, plant workers voted the union out and Polaris proceeded to establish a Japanese labor model of worker participation, with a crew that had firsthand knowledge of the machines and their capabilities. Times were still tough, though: the 1982 product line consisted of the 1981 model with some detail changes, and barely more than 5,000 machines were built that season. The same year as the buyout, Polaris attempted to purchase Arctic Cat. When the deal failed, Arctic Cat shut down, leaving Polaris, at least for a while, as the only American snowmobile manufacturer.

What is Polaris Industries?

is the largest manufacturer of snowmobiles in the world and a major competitor in all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and personal watercraft (PWC). It introduced a line of motorcycles in 1998.

How much did Polaris sell in 1995?

In spite of Barron's worries, all product segments set records in 1995, leading to total sales of more than $1 billion in 1995. Revenues had more than tripled in five years. Snowmobiles accounted for 40 percent, down from 67 percent in 1990.

What was the most popular snowmobile in the 1980s?

One of the highlights of the 1980s was the introduction of the Indy line of snowmobiles, which became so popular that other high-quality Polaris sleds, such as the Cutlass, were phased out. Good suspension, special features (such as handwarmers and reverse drive), powerful engines, and reliability all pushed Polaris into the number one position in the market. The Indy 500 was named the "sled of the decade" by Snowmobile magazine.

What was Edgar Hetteen's problem with Polaris?

When the bulk of the business shifted from fabricating farm equipment to designing, building, and testing snowmobiles, Edgar Hetteen was faced with a marketing problem. The company needed to broaden interest in the machine beyond utilitarian to recreational use. In short, Polaris had to convince people it would be fun to ride around in the middle of winter in a small, open-air vehicle. As Jerry Bassett wrote in Polaris Partners, "Edgar Hetteen, as the first president, had to establish a sales network for a product that could only be sold in places which got snow to people who weren't totally certain that they needed his product." During a promotional trip Hetteen made in 1958, according to C.J. Ramstad in Legend: Arctic Cat's First Quarter Century, "Hetteen got a real taste of the enormity of the problem that year when he set up an exhibit at a sport and travel show. Full of enthusiasm, he hustled show goers into his booth and eagerly showed them his new `snow machine.' The curious public thought the machine somehow produced snow. They wanted to know which end the snow came out!"

What is Polaris Industries?

Polaris Industries ( NYSE:PII) may have gotten its start as a manufacturer of snowmobiles, but today the powersports-vehicle manufacturer also dominates the off-road vehicle market and is the No. 2 player behind Harley-Davidson ( NYSE:HOG) in motorcycles.

How many stores does Polaris have?

The $665 million deal holds the promise of transforming Polaris because it operates a network of 75 retail stores and six distribution centers, and is the biggest manufacturer and installer of aftermarket parts in its respective sectors, one that owns well-known brands such as Pro Comp, Rubicon Express, and Trail Master.

How many sleds did Polaris make?

Polaris made five sleds the first year, 75 the second, and 300 in the third. Today it is one of the largest manufacturers of snowmobiles in the world. 2. One of the original partners ends up founding rival Arctic Cat.

How much did Polaris make in 2012?

It wouldn't make its next billion dollars until 2011, but it would exceed $3 billion in 2012.

When did Polaris buyout?

Polaris management leads a leveraged buyout in 1981. Choosing to focus on defense contracts, Textron tried to sell Polaris to rival Bombardier, but the deal fell apart because of U.S. antitrust resistance, and management instead led a leveraged buyout of the company. Image source: Polaris Industries.

When did Polaris introduce the first personal watercraft?

Polaris introduces its first personal watercraft in 1992. Entering the marine market, Polaris brought innovation to the sport, and its Genesis personal watercraft device was the first to seat up to four people. It would exit the market 12 years later. 8. Sales pass $1 billion for the first time in 1995.

Where was Polaris founded?

Polaris is founded in 1954 in Roseau, Minn. Edgar Hetteen, David Johnson, and Edgar's brother Allan were the original partners in Polaris that originally produced farm equipment. Two years after the company's founding it produced the first forerunner of today's snowmobile, which was sold to a Roseau lumberyard owner.

Who Founded Polaris?

Edgar Hetteen, along with his brother Allan Hetteen and friend David Johnson founded Polaris Industries in 1954. The men partnered up at Hetteen Hoist and Derrick in Minnesota. While the company was dedicated to manufacturing farm equipment, the trio came up with a snowmobile vehicle.

Where Is The Polaris Factory Located?

Polaris’ operations were founded in Roseau, Minn, which is where its manufacturing and engineering processes are still happening. Its headquarters, on the other hand, is located in Medina, Minn.

When Was The First Polaris Snowmobile Built?

The first snowmobile Polaris Industries, Inc. built was in 1955. More like sleds, the vehicles would help consumers access cabins in the remote woods. They got their power from the 9-hp Briggs & Stratton engine and used Chevrolet bumpers for the skis. The first vehicle made a run along the Roseau snow in 1956. Since the prototype did so well, the machine was mass-produced.

Does Polaris own KTM?

At this time, and despite the rumors, Polaris has no ownership stake in KTM. The rumor began after they strategically partnered in the mid-2000s.

When Did Polaris Make Their First Four-Wheeler?

In a market that Honda dominated, it was 1985 when Polaris came up with its first four-wheeler – the trail boss 250 four-wheeler. It also built an ATV called the scrambler 250 3-wheeler.

Does Polaris Make Its Own Engines?

In fact, Fuji was Polaris’ main supplier of engines until 1995 when the company branched out to create its own engines for some models. In 2013, Fuji Heavy Industries supplied a quarter of the engines to Polaris installed in some off-road vehicles and snowmobiles.

Does Polaris Have Electric Vehicles?

Polaris has shown an interest in electric vehicles and teamed up with the electric vehicle company Bram mo, Inc. to manufacture an electric version of the Ranger Side-by-Side. It’s also looked into the purchase of Global Electric Motorcars to expand its Brammo investment.

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Polaris Government and Defense

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