Arctic Cat Factory Is Running: Sleds, UTVs Are Being Built
Great news out of Thief River Falls, Minnesota: The Arctic Cat factory there is up and running, building snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
A friendly dealership owner we know told us this morning that he was up in Arctic Cat’s hometown earlier this week and saw the Arctic Cat factory parking lot full of cars. Inside that factory, the assembly lines are moving once again!
Then, this afternoon, the official press release (posted in its entirety below) was launched to share the big news.
In the supplied photos, Arctic Cat ZR 120 Kitty Cats can be seen on the assembly line, and there’s a group photo of Cat assembly employees in front of a Wildcat XX side-by-side (with its ROPs cage lowered for shipping). It’s enough to bring tears of joy to the eyes of many powersports enthusiasts and insiders!
It’s been a twisting and turning road for Arctic Cat as well as its employees, dealers and end customers. Last fall, then-Arctic Cat owner Textron started winding down its operations. There were announcements of planned layoffs, idling of assembly lines and the desire to find “strategic alternatives” for the proud brand.
It looked pretty bleak throughout the winter, but then some curious things started happening in the late winter that shined a glimmer of hope on the brand.
Then the big announcement launched in April: Arctic Cat was being purchased by group of investors mostly tied to the Ontario Gear & Drive/Argo company and its president – former Arctic Cat executive Brad Darling. Days later, a 2026 snowmobile lineup was unveiled – including an alluring new Arctic Cat EXT. Production, we were told, would begin in August.
The news cycle went quiet over much of the late spring and early summer, leading to some naysaying online by doubters and keyboard warriors. But as the calendar actually turned to August, Arctic Cat had brought back a big group of production workers and fired up the line – just as company officials pledged to do last spring.
See the press release below for the official word on the big news. And keep an eye out for more photos of 2026 models as they roll down the assembly line in the near future. (And check out our Snow Goer Live video discussion with Tom Rowland the day Cat’s comeback was announced.)
(All words from here down are the official Arctic Cat press release).
Arctic Cat Green Lights Production
(THIEF RIVER FALLS, August 8th, 2025) – In just 90 days since the acquisition of Arctic Cat by the new owner group, vehicle production has restarted at the Thief River Falls plant.
On April 24th, when the announcement was made about a new ownership group purchasing Arctic Cat, the entire powersports industry was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing one of the most iconic brands in powersports was poised to inject new energy into what felt like a questionable future.
Arctic Cat CEO and President Brad Darling stated, “Arctic Cat is in the hands of believers. From day one I knew everyone involved was ready to roll up their sleeves and dig in. That proof continues to show itself every day. Now, in the past couple of weeks, we have not only released a new off-road lineup but also hit the start button on the production line. I couldn’t be prouder of the efforts put forth and everything we have been able to accomplish in the first 90 days.”
When the Arctic Cat Thief River Falls factory hit the start button on production, the first unit to come off the line a couple of weeks ago was a Wildcat XX, and this week the snowmobile product line started to move forward producing the Kitty Cat youth snowmobile. Arctic Cat’s St. Cloud engine facility is also ramping up for what looks like a very busy season producing some of the finest engines to be put in the next generation of Arctic Cat machines.
The Arctic Cat plan is simple; it all starts with understanding the mind of the rider. This brand is now run by people who ride, and our products are built for those who live to ride. We know where to go next. Every decision, every machine, every message comes from the trail up, not the boardroom down. Arctic Cat’s relentless drive to produce quality products that are Built Right, Right Here in Minnesota, will continue to usher in new ideas and deliver new ways to enjoy the outdoors.
About Arctic Cat: Arctic Cat has been a leader in the offroad industry since 1962. Arctic Cat markets its Snowmobile, ATV and SXS products through a network of independent dealers located throughout the United States and Canada and through distributors representing dealers in international markets.
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Great news and great momentum for AC fans and all sledheads.
The cheetah seat cover on the 120 looks great just like 1070 sleds.
Wonder ho many MY26 orders they have and if any went to dealer inventory?
all we need is a early snow in November that stays and good snows in December and early January and the inventory of sleds will be gone in the Midwest
Wonder if Arctic Cat will produce any other 120s and 200s like they aways done for Ski-Doo and Polaris as it was their biggest model production in the last few years? Would be a good cash generator.
Wonder how many employees they have and how many are returning employees?
Wish Arctic Cat the best.
ISMA statistics, World wide sled sales are declining MY 25 vs MY 24.
USA sales decline are twice as large as Canadian sales both in units and percentage decline.
Worldwide sales in MY25 were 92,387 vs MY24 of 112,650. A 20,263 less units sold or 18% decline.
USA sales MY25 were 41,588 vs. MY24 of 51,987, 10,399 less units or 20%.
Canadian sales MY25 were 34,828 vs. MY24 were 38,599. 3,771 less units or 9.8%
European & Scandinavian sales were 15,971 in MY25 and 22,064 in MY24 so 6,093 less units or 27.6%
Biggest decline was US 10,400 units 20% then European and Scandinavian 6,100 units 28%, then Canadian 3,800 units 10%,
North American sales MY25 45% US and 42% Canadian.
North American sales MY24 56.3% US and 34.3% Canadian
Sled Sales Statistics, Weather / Snow levels and Climate Change are clearly showing Canadian sales are the strongest and the future of the industry.
R&D testing and manufacturing need to go where the market is most stable and resilient, Canada despite the fact that the US has over 10 times the population. Another big plus factor for Canada is distribution as 95% of the populations is within 100 miles of the Canada US border.
BRP makes sleds in Canada. Polaris used to in the late 1960s for ~4 years until the factory had a fire in Beausejour Manitoba (just 2 hour drive from the Polaris factory in Roseau MN. and home of largest super speedway 1/2 mile oval race track for sleds CPTC) . Arctic Cat President & CEO is a Canadian and the related partner ARGO corporation and Ontario Drive and Gear are both Canadian so it is time for AC to open up a lant there for sled production to get access to high quality less expensive Aluminum, Steel, Hydro electricity, labour costs and property and corporation taxes. Winnipeg Manitoba has many plastics companies as well and is only 3 hours from Thief River Falls MN.