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Articat shutting down

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TY 4 Stroke Guru
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Ontario
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2019 srx,2006 apex gt,96 storm hot to go
Looks like Articat is shutting down for 1 year
 

Do tell us more on this ?
There's an article on Facebook saying everyone getting layed off and getting severance then opening up again sometime in 2025
 
I'm not sure about 1 year, the article I read said they hope to resume production sometime in Q1 2025. We will see, sad for those workers.

It is an extremely tough powersports market right now. Even with large incentives, traffic and sales are not there.
 
We ( many on here ) have been saying all along that prices were crazy out of balance for the longest time… yet the powers to be kept saying how great everything was going, kept increasing the prices ( All manufacturers ) just pass it on …Hopefully this business correction will help them return in better shape and may turn out to be a great cost saving move on their part… One thing for sure it will be a real awakening Iam sure… Who is next Auto Industry????
 
I saw that they are shutting down the production line till next year. All other operations are to continue as normal. I think all power sports manufacturers are in the same boat. The more diversified the company the better to have something else to fall back on. Time will tell. Prices are crazy for everything right now. This can’t be maintained forever.
 
I can’t help but wonder how some of these dealers are staying a float. One of our large power sports dealers has 97 sleds, 99 motorcycles, 52 ATV’s, and 75 UTV’s, and not much appears to be moving. Yikes.
 
It reads to me that they are finishing the sleds and delaying the dirt products.....
 
If we don't get some early snow, there are going to be a lot of dealers feeling the pressure, of all makes.
 
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Polaris is doing the same thing. Heard today they laid off 60 engineers! Right now the market is flooded with various machines and not many of any were used last year in the snow season. I know I didn’t turn a track.

As for arctic cat, it’s the dirt market as well. There a reason pricing is plummeting after the COVID buying and snow machines not getting run at all last season. I haven’t even run my 23 but 60 miles the season before. People need a reason to buy, and a no snow season is not good for the market. Going to be a while before it takes off again and we’ll need good snow years to recover some. The market flood during COVID will also see many machines up for sale from sledder wannabes too, or people that thought they wanted snowmobiles and side-by-sides. It’s gonna be a good couple years for buyers of these products!
 
The two biggest contributors are generation Z don't want to work and can't afford the $40k to entertain this sport. $40k is being generous. Two brand new sleds (to help move brand new units. Buying used sleds doesn't help) trailer and a tow rig. Unfavorable weather patterns. I can't afford a $25,000 sled to sit in my shed.
Unfortunately they have to continue to raise prices.
Even with a stellar season on the horizon it's a little too late for a lot of people.
 
Actually I see some positive to come out of this …First it will slow growth, trails have become more and more busy with new riders, this should curb demand for increase production which should decrease prices as the market on all powersports starts to slow down… Over stocked units will find a home as prices fall and production slows… End result markets shrink..
 
Funny how the internet blows this out of proportion.
When they made just sleds the farmers would get laid off every year.
Building sleds was just a side job from farming.....
 
Arctic Cat is in trouble, let's face it, this is nothing new. When you run the same chassis from 2012-2024, it does help reduce costs of production, but it doesn't increase market share. Polaris is on pins & needles for this season as well and it's not all from just lack of snow, as atv & utv sales have plummeted too.
 


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