Latest news with #TextronSpecializedVehicles
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Huge sigh of relief': New Arctic Cat leadership restores more than 300 jobs in Thief River Falls, St. Cloud
May 8—THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — More than 300 previously laid-off employees will keep their jobs, Arctic Cat announced Thursday afternoon. The news comes roughly two weeks after the Thief River Falls-based snowmobile manufacturer was taken over by Brad Darling, a former Arctic Cat executive. The company's previous owners, Textron Specialized Vehicles, had announced in February that the Thief River Falls and St. Cloud plants would indefinitely suspend operations and that 385 workers would be laid off in May. When Darling was named CEO and president last month, a news release said the Thief River Falls plant would continue operations as normal. Now, in the announcement Thursday, Arctic Cat unveiled a new 2026 snowmobile lineup, with plans to ramp up production at the Thief River Falls plant. "Once we got the keys, we knew moving fast was our only option," Darling said in a statement. "Having the ability to release a lineup of snowmobiles that offers new models and significant updates was the first step. Next, we are able to reengage the majority of our workforce of just under 500 employees, providing stability to our extended family." Dan Johnson, vice president of operations, said the company has been on a limited production run since the news that Arctic Cat would suspend operations at its facilities. The new 2026 lineup will create a ramp-up period for production and allow the supply base time to produce needed parts. He anticipates production activities to begin in late summer. The Arctic Cat engine facility in St. Cloud will also expand its workforce, the news release said. "Over 300 jobs within the Arctic Cat workforce faced immediate uncertainty," the Thursday release said. "(The lineup provided) a huge sigh of relief to employees, family members and community about the future of the Arctic Cat brand." Shortly after the news broke, Thief River Falls Mayor Mike Lorenson said he was in the midst of a deluge of phone calls about the restored jobs, including from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and state Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks. Lorenson said he himself was still digesting the news. "From my side, I'm excited for what the new leadership has in store for Arctic Cat," he said. "New energy, new focus, if you will, and it's exciting this year that they have a new lineup that they're working on right away. They've been very aggressive to make some changes." In a follow-up statement, Lorenson praised Arctic Cat's swift action and commitment to the city. "This is a great step forward for our city," he said in the statement. "I look forward to seeing this hometown legacy thrive once again." The Herald's Hannah Shirley contributed to this report.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Huge sigh of relief': New Arctic Cat leadership restores more than 300 jobs in Thief River Falls, St. Cloud
May 8—THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — More than 300 previously laid-off employees will keep their jobs, Arctic Cat announced Thursday afternoon. The news comes roughly two weeks after the Thief River Falls-based snowmobile manufacturer was taken over by Brad Darling, a former Arctic Cat executive. The company's previous owners, Textron Specialized Vehicles, had announced in February that the Thief River Falls and St. Cloud plants would indefinitely suspend operations and that 385 workers would be laid off in May. When Darling was named CEO and president last month, a news release said the Thief River Falls plant would continue operations as normal. Now, in the announcement Thursday, Arctic Cat unveiled a new 2026 snowmobile lineup, with plans to ramp up production at the Thief River Falls plant. "Once we got the keys, we knew moving fast was our only option," Darling said in a statement. "Having the ability to release a lineup of snowmobiles that offers new models and significant updates was the first step. Next, we are able to reengage the majority of our workforce of just under 500 employees, providing stability to our extended family." Dan Johnson, vice president of operations, said the company has been on a limited production run since the news that Arctic Cat would suspend operations at its facilities. The new 2026 lineup will create a ramp-up period for production and allow the supply base time to produce needed parts. He anticipates production activities to begin in late summer. The Arctic Cat engine facility in St. Cloud will also expand its workforce, the news release said. "Over 300 jobs within the Arctic Cat workforce faced immediate uncertainty," the Thursday release said. "(The lineup provided) a huge sigh of relief to employees, family members and community about the future of the Arctic Cat brand." Shortly after the news broke, Thief River Falls Mayor Mike Lorenson said he was in the midst of a deluge of phone calls about the restored jobs, including from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and state Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks. Lorenson said he himself was still digesting the news. "From my side, I'm excited for what the new leadership has in store for Arctic Cat," he said. "New energy, new focus, if you will, and it's exciting this year that they have a new lineup that they're working on right away. They've been very aggressive to make some changes." In a follow-up statement, Lorenson praised Arctic Cat's swift action and commitment to the city. "This is a great step forward for our city," he said in the statement. "I look forward to seeing this hometown legacy thrive once again." The Herald's Hannah Shirley contributed to this report.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Arctic Cat set for possible comeback after company sold to former exec
Following mass layoffs that saw nearly 400 employees let go from its Thief River Falls plant this year, Arctic Cat has been sold again — and the new owners are hinting at a resurgence for the brand. The purchase of the Minnesota snowmobile and all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) producer was announced Thursday. According to a press release, one of the buyers is Brad Darling, a former Arctic Cat executive who worked at the company for 17 years before becoming CEO and president of ARGO, a Canadian manufacturer of amphibious ATVs, in 2016. He is backed by an investment group and "will continue to lead both companies into the future," the release says, adding that the companies will be owned and operated separately. Darling and his group take over ownership from Rhode Island-based Textron Specialized Vehicles, which bought Arctic Cat in 2017. In a statement, Darling laid out an ambitious path for Arctic Cat: 'The pursuit of the checkered flag is in Arctic Cat's DNA. It's what we were built on. Like anyone who has ever grabbed the throttle – it's a relentless drive that pushes us forward and sparks our passion. Today is the start of a new chapter, one where Arctic Cat returns to the race, but with a powerful understanding: this race is never-ending, and our intent is to lead.' He also noted Arctic Cat's history in Thief River Falls, saying that "this iconic brand has benefitted from the passion of not only the employees but also the entire community." "We are now able to wipe away any uncertainty and are looking ahead with great excitement," Darling said. However, the release does not mention any specifics about reopening the Thief River Falls plant. Arctic Cat was formed in the city in 1962, according to the company website.
