Arctic Cat, a renowned manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, is set to indefinitely suspend manufacturing operations at its Thief River Falls and St. Cloud, Minnesota facilities by May 22, 2025. This decision, announced by parent company Textron Inc., stems from persistent weak demand in the powersports market, leading the company to explore strategic alternatives for its Powersports product line. The suspension will impact approximately 385 manufacturing employees in Thief River Falls, with layoffs expected between May 8 and May 22. Despite the halt in production, Arctic Cat assures its dealers and customers that it remains operational in terms of sales and aftermarket support, committing to provide service and assistance to its existing customer base.
The letter below was sent to dealers on February 27, 2025 from the Vice President & General Manager, Powersports.
February 27, 2025
Dear Valued Dealers,
Today, we informed our employees in Thief River Falls that we would indefinitely suspend manufacturing operations at that facility by May 22. As previously stated, this action is tough but necessary to weather the current downtum across the powersports industry.
As before, we remain open for business. Our sales organization, customer service teams, aftermarket distribution centers, and other functions are ready to assist you and your customers. We also will maintain tooling and production capabilities to ensure an ongoing supply of aftermarket parts for our customers. We are committed to providing the service and support to keep our thousands of loyal customers riding and enjoying Arctic Cat vehicles.
Textron Inc. continues to explore strategic alternatives regarding the future of the powersports business. If developments necessitate a change in plans for the Thief River Falls facility, we will notify everyone as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about this news, please contact your Arctic Cat territory sales representative. We appreciate our relationship with you, and your commitment and loyalty to Arctic Cat.
Sincerely.
Philip Jhant
Vice President & General Manager, Powersports
