Thief River Falls, MN (trfnews.i234.me) — In a dramatic turn of events, Arctic Cat, the renowned snowmobile and ATV manufacturer based in Thief River Falls, has been sold to former executive Brad Darling and an investment group. This acquisition comes after months of uncertainty following Textron’s announcement to halt production and lay off employees at the Thief River Falls and St. Cloud facilities.
Brad Darling, who spent 17 years at Arctic Cat before becoming CEO and President of ARGO in 2016, will now lead Arctic Cat as its CEO and President. While ARGO and Arctic Cat will operate separately, the alignment is seen as a strategic fit, with potential synergies in the off-road segment.
“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 we intend to lead,” said Darling.
The sale brings hope to the Thief River Falls community, which has been deeply affected by the recent layoffs and production suspension. Mayor Mike Lorenson expressed optimism, stating, “It’ll bring immense relief to the employees, and we’re optimistic that the renewed energy will not only preserve jobs but continue the pride of the company that has been part of Thief River Falls for over six decades.”
Did you know?
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Arctic Cat was founded in 1960 by snowmobile pioneer Edgar Hetteen.
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Textron acquired Arctic Cat in 2017 for $247 million.
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In December 2024, Textron announced the suspension of manufacturing operations at Arctic Cat’s Minnesota facilities, leading to significant layoffs.
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The recent acquisition by Brad Darling and his investment group aims to revitalize the brand and its operations.
I’m Chris Harper, and I’m reporting for TRF News.