How long has polaris been in business

Since our founding in , we've been making high-quality, breakthrough products and broadening the view of powersports—whether it's launching the snowmobile industry, reinventing ATV categories year after year, developing the first purpose-built military vehicles, introducing a radical 3-wheel moto-roadster, or getting people to explore the outdoors by providing a network of ride and drive adventures.

And in recent years, we've pushed the boundaries of our industry and expanded beyond powersports into adjacent markets, like commercial and military vehicles, and electric vehicles, where we can add value. We support and serve our employees, customers and the communities in which we work, live and ride through a commitment to quality and safety and environmental stewardship.

Under our guiding principle of Best People, Best Team we are committed to helping our employees unleash their full potential and develop their skills to thrive in a customer-centric environment.

We lead a business that is driven by innovation and Polaris continues to Think Outside by offering a diverse portfolio of best-in-class brands which reflect who we are as well as our pioneering approach to always improve how our customers work and play outdoors.

Our vision is to fuel the passion of riders, workers and outdoors enthusiasts around the world by delivering innovative, high-quality vehicles, products, services and experiences that enrich their lives. For purposes of shareholder reporting, we are organized into five businesses:.

The Polaris spirit can be traced back to co-founders Edgar Hetteen, his younger brother Allan and his close friend David Johnson. With World War II raging and metal scarce, their skill at repairing farm machinery quickly earned them loyal customers. But it was their pioneering approach to finding a better way to get to remote hunting shacks in deep snow that earned them a place in history: Our co-founders developed an early snowmobile in Built on an innovative two-piece cast aluminum frame, they deliver outstanding performance, comfort, and cargo space.

The Cross Roads has a windshield and the Cross Country has a stylish hard fairing with integrated audio and instrumentation. The innovative PRO-RIDE rear suspension is a true progressive-rate suspension that delivers the best ride and overall performance on snow. April , and Primordial Oct.

Polaris acquires legendary Indian Motorcycle brand and re-launches the Chieftain in Sturgis in Polaris acquires GEM electric-powered vehicles. He smashes the old mark of feet, which he set in That makes it our King of the Hill — in the mountains, and in the snowmobile market for The ,sq. Engineering teams move in and start working in the new space in mid Polaris hillclimbers won 23 of 24 Stock class finals during the season. Keith Curtis won points titles in five Pro classes and all five Stock King of the Hill crowns, and Erin Beukelman won three points titles and three King crowns.

The model lineup includes the Indian Chief Classic cruiser, Indian Chief Vintage bagger, and Indian Chieftain with hard saddlebags, a formed fairing, and extensive electronics. It features a unique new single passenger cab design, and automotive-style controls, including a steering wheel and foot pedals. This next-generation performance platform provides riders with rider-balanced control, unrivaled acceleration, and rider-centric comfort.

The company also acquired Timbersled, the leading developer and manufacturer of snow bikes. Polaris acquires Transamerican Auto Parts, the leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of off-road Jeep and truck aftermarket accessories.

Polaris launches Polaris Adventures. Polaris is named to the Fortune list for the first time, making its debut at No. Share Tweet 0 Comments. Paul I Races. Paul I race. Wine joins Polaris. Most Popular Chad 'Chipper' Beito w Jeff Olsen Katie Borowicz will be Jeff Olsen Veterans Day Speakers Jeff Olsen.

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Then, it all came apart. The Consumer Product Safety Commission launched an investigation into the increasing number of ATV injuries that were suddenly being reported. That resulted in a lawsuit against the ATV industry. The primary focus of the lawsuit was the three-wheeler, a configuration that Polaris had barely produced with an obscure model called the Scrambler. But the company was included in the suit, nevertheless, and that resulted in the Consent Decree of This was a formal agreement between the ATV industry and federal government that restricted and regulated the business.

By , the once-lucrative ATV market had shrunk to , units a year. At the time, four-wheel drive was brand new, with Honda and Yamaha coming out with their first 4x4s at the same time.

The Trail Boss was nothing like its Japanese competitors. It had an on-demand four-wheel-drive system that made it an odd cross between a sport ATV and a utility quad. It had a two-stroke motor made by Fuji, which was a small-bore version of the motor in the cc snowmobile. Like its snow-going cousin, it had a belt and pulley and a continuously variable transmission that required no shifting.

The 4WD products from Japan were four-strokes with manual shifting. The Polaris also had floorboards and unified brakes. It was clear that Polaris had borrowed from the snowmobile industry, while the Japanese had borrowed from motorcycles. In the end, the ATV world would arrive at a cross between the two visions.

In that period, there were a number of new models that were unlike anything else on the market. The company also produced two-wheel-drive models, which were all powered by the Fuji motor. In , the Polaris Magnum was powered by a Liberty four-stroke motor, which was made in the U. The next year, the first Sportsman arrived. It was still powered by the two-stroke motor, but it was taking shape, with hints of the features we associate with the Sportsman line today.

It was the start of a great new era, but the original vision was something quite different. Columbus was just looking for a shortcut; Polaris just wanted a utility vehicle. Both got way more than what they bargained for. The first Ranger was a six-wheeler, designed to compete with the Kawasaki Mule. A four-wheel version of the Ranger followed in Within a few years, Polaris was able to gain the attention of the U. Department of Defense, and, in , Polaris Military was founded. The Ranger was a perfect match for the U.

Army, which needed easily placed, lightweight, off-road transportation for theaters all over the world. It was immediately clear that there was a pent-up desire to have a sporty, miniature, Jeep-like vehicle. The first Rhino sold like crazy. Unfortunately, an alarming increase in litigation followed.