Polaris Celebrates 60 Years
In 1954 a rural farm equipment shop in the small town of Roseau in Minnesota USA discovered that it had the creativity and passion to produce “snow machines.” 60 years later Polaris Industries has become the leader in the off-road vehicle industry by continually improving its off-road product offering.
In staying true to its 60-year heritage Polaris now a $3.8 billion dollar a year company is celebrating this anniversary milestone today in Minnesota in the best way they know how, with the release of a host of new Model Year 2015 models and updates to the existing range of class leading off-road vehicles. A massive 7000 people comprising Polaris dealers, distributors and subsidiaries from around the globe have all travelled to the United States to celebrate 60 years of Polaris at the company’s birthplace in Minnesota this week.
In anticipation for the Model Year 2015 product launch and testimony to the growth of the brand, the New York Stock Exchange listed company has increased its stock price by a record 965 percent since 2009 and last week the Polaris stock price rose by a further 9.3 percent to USD $145.52. These figures have seen the brand take a huge lead as the number one off-road vehicle brand both worldwide and in North America (the world’s largest market).
“Polaris sets the bar for industry innovation in off-road vehicles and introduce new products that are relevant to our customers’ needs,” said David Longren, Polaris Off-Road Division’s Vice President. “From first-time users, to recreationalists, to those who rely on their vehicles for work, Polaris offers the most-complete, off-road vehicle lines on the market.”
Polaris’ heritage begins in 1954 where employees of a small shop called Hetteen Hoist & Derrick in Roseau owned by Edgar Hetteen decided to create a vehicle that could travel through snow. The employees worked overtime to finish their concept in 1954 but after completing it Hetteen was sceptical in its value and sold the machine to cover the shops payroll.
On July 21st 1954 Hetteen Hoist & Derrick was renamed Polaris Industries Inc. and not being easily deterred the employees David Johnson, Paul Knochenmus and Orlen Johnson continued to explore the concept and built a second snow machine called the “Polaris Sno Traveler.” The first production model rolled off the assembly line in Minnesota in 1956.
After decades of perfecting the Snow Mobile, Polaris set about to expand their product offerings. In 1984 Polaris produced its first ATV which would be the first ATV made in the United States being the Polaris Trailboss. The Trailboss went to market in 1985 and for the first time Polaris dealers had product to sell year round for warm and cold weather use.
In the 90’s Polaris introduced three new product lines including RANGER SXS (side-by-side) vehicles, Victory Motorcycles and Polaris Watercraft. 60 years later Polaris boasts product lines including Off Road Vehicles comprising RANGER, RZR and ATV, On Road Vehicles including Victory and Indian Motorcycles and the all-new Polaris Slingshot, Polaris Defense products for military applications and Electric Vehicles with the GEM and Goupil brands.
The Model Year 2015 line up being released today will only further increase Polaris’ stronghold on the Australian and New Zealand markets and we look forward to bringing you specific information on the models which will be available to our local markets over the coming weeks along with announcing some exciting safety upgrades to our RANGER models.
Picture of Polaris Snow Vehicle Built in 1965
