History of polaris

Polaris Industries Polaris2.png Type Public Traded as NYSE: PII S&P 400 Component Industry Automotive Defense Founded 1954 Founders Edgar Hetteen Allen Hetteen David Johnson Headquarters Medina, Minnesota, U.S. Area served Worldwide (except Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea) Key people Gregory Palen (Chairman) Scott W. Wine (CEO) Products Snowmobiles All-terrain vehicles Motorcycles Moto-Roadsters Commercial vehicles Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicles Parts, Garments and Accessories Revenue Increase US$ 4.719 billion (2015)[1] Operating income Increase US$ 716.1 million (2015)[1] Net income Increase US$ 455.4 million (2015)[1] Total assets Increase US$ 2.388 billion (2015)[1] Total equity Increase US$ 981.5 million (2015)[1] Number of employees 3,000 (December 2015)[1] Divisions Polaris Defense Polaris Commercial Subsidiaries List[show] Website Polaris.com Polaris Industries is an American manufacturer of snowmobiles, ATV, and neighborhood electric vehicles. Polaris is based in Roseau, Minnesota, USA. The company also manufactures motorcycles through its Victory Motorcycles subsidiary and through the Indian Motorcycle subsidiary which it purchased in April 2011.[2] Polaris no longer produces watercraft. Robin (a subsidiary of Subaru Corporation) previously developed and supplied all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile engines for Polaris Industries 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. In 2010 Polaris relocated a portion of its utility and sport vehicle assembly to Mexico. Components manufactured in Osceola, Wisconsin and the vehicle assembly in Roseau, Minnesota. The vast majority of powertrain and vehicles for the off-road line are manufactured in the Osceola and Roseau facilities, respectively. Both the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands are American made with complete powertrains and vehicle assembly located in Osceola, Wisconsin and Spirit Lake, Iowa, respectively. Contents 1 History 2 Racing 3 Polaris Defense 3.1 MRZR 3.2 DAGOR 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History Polaris Sno Traveler (1965) Polaris RZR ATV used by firefighters in the Kaibab National Forest. Edgar Hetteen, who was described by the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, Wisconsin as the father of the snowmobile, and Allan Hetteen were partners in Hetteen Hoist and Derrick Shop in Roseau, Minnesota. Edgar had dropped out of school after the eighth grade in 1934. Their employees, David Johnson, partnered with Paul Knochenmus, and Orlen Johnson, who was the first person to ride a Polaris, decided to create a vehicle that could travel through snow. These vehicles' primary use was to make hunting locations more accessible. David Johnson created the prototype in 1954 while Edgar was away. Edgar was furious. After creating it using a grain silo conveyor belt as a track, a Briggs and Stratton motor, and an old Chevy bumper for skis, they had their first snow machine. After returning from a trip, Edgar was shown the machine, but was skeptical of its value.[3] and was disappointed that the group had spent company time and materials on the machine. The No 1 sled was soon sold to Roseau lumberyard owner "Silver Pete" H.F. Peterson for $465 in order to meet company payroll