Arctic Cat History: An Interesting Tale Of Success & Survival

To add context to the announcement of Textron’s sale of Arctic Cat to Brad Darling and a group of investors from Argo/Ontario Drive & Gear, it’s interesting to recall the interesting business history of the Arctic Cat brand and company. There are certainly many other benchmarks related to products and innovations – from the earliest slide rail suspension designs right up to the Catalyst chassis with many, many things in between. But here, we’ll stick to the business news. Here’s a story with background on Argo/ODG.

1961 – Edgar Hetteen starts Polar Manufacturing in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The company’s first snowmobile – a 1962 Polar 500 – was manufactured that year.

1962 – The company was renamed Arctic Enterprises Inc. and the first Arctic Cat branded snowmobiles were built.  

1965 – Lowell Swenson replaces Edgar Hetteen as the Arctic Cat president.

1970 – Arctic Cat acquires Silverline, the first of several boat companies it would own, including Lund. Over the years, the original company would also dabble in several different markets – from lawn & garden products to wet bikes, trail groomers to mini bikes and beyond.

1979 – Arctic Cat acquires Scorpion.

1981 – Arctic Enterprises filed for bankruptcy, closed and its parts divisions and assets were sold or auctioned off over the next year.

1983 – The Arctic Cat brand is revived by a group of investors under the new name Arctco Inc., with Bill Ness as president, and launched machines for model year 1984.

1986 – Christopher Twomey promoted to president of Arctco Inc.

1993 – Arctco enters the personal watercraft market with its new Tigershark lineup

1995 – Arctco unveils is first ATVs, which were Bearcats (they were model year 1996s released late in 1995).

1996 – Name of corporation was changed from Arctco to Arctic Cat Inc.

1999 – The Tigershark personal watercraft lineup was discontinued.

2005 – First Prowler side-by-sides/UTVs were launched.  

2007 – Chris Twomey announced that Cat would move its corporate HQ to Twin Cities in the fall. The actual move happens in November, affecting 15 jobs. 2007 is also when the company began making engines in St. Cloud.

2008 – Claude Jordan joins Arctic Cat as COO and President; he added CEO title in 2011.

2010 – Arctic Cat builds its 1 millionth snowmobile.

2011 – Arctic Cat buys back Suzuki’s stake in the company.

2013 – An agreement with Yamaha is announced which includes Yamaha providing select powerplants to Arctic Cat, and Arctic Cat building select Yamaha snowmobiles at its Minnesota factory.

2014 – In June, Claude Jordan resigns as CEO after six years, and Christopher Twomey takes the helm back on an interim basis. In November, Twomey is succeeded by Christopher Metz, who joins Arctic Cat as president/CEO.

2015 – Arctic Cat announces a 13-year lease on the 55,000 square foot building in Minneapolis’ trendy North Loop district that was to be renovated to have 35 employees at first but would grow to 150-200, the company said.

2016 – Arctic Cat issues press release on August 16,  saying it now occupied the building.

2017 – On January 25, Textron announces it’s buying Arctic Cat for $247 million plus assumption of debt. The sale concludes on March 6. In May, Textron announces it is moving Cat out of the Minneapolis building while expanding production at Thief River Falls and St. Cloud. That same year, Textron announces the Arctic Cat name will come off of ATVs and Side-by-Sides, to be replaced by Textron Off-Road.

2019 – Textron reverses course on its off-road product, bringing back the Arctic Cat branding. It also announces the creation of relabled Tracker ATVs and UTVs.

2024 – Over the summer, rumors start flying about Cat not having a 2025 ATV lineup. On November 13, Textron sends a note to dealers, saying it has “initiated workforce reductions across our powersports business” and says it “will pause production at our TRF facility after production of our model year 2025 snowmobiles is complete. On December 18, Textron files  8-K form, announcing it has begun to pause production as it “reviews strategic alternatives” for the powersports business.

2025 – On April 24, Textron announces in its quarterly financial report that, “On April 23, 2025, we closed on the sale of the Powersports business, including the Arctic Cat brand and its operations.” Two hours later, Argo sends out a press release, announcing that its president, Brad Darling, plus a group of investors, purchased the company. It will be run side-by-side with Argo, with Darling the president of both companies.