By
Alex
TEXTRON ACQUIRES ARCTIC CAT, REBRANDS BAD BOY OFF-ROAD
These are exciting times in the powersports industry, coming off Polaris’ acquisition of off-road–accessories giant 4 Wheel Parts, commercial utility vehicle company Textron has announced its acquisition of Minnesota-based recreational vehicle manufacturer Arctic Cat. While you may not be familiar with the Textron name itself, you’ll instantly recognize many of the names under the Textron umbrella, including E-Z-GO golf carts, Dixie Chopper and Jacobsen lawn mowers, Cushman utility vehicles, TUG aircraft tow tractors, Bell Helicopters, Cessna, and Beechcraft aircraft.
In addition to the Arctic Cat acquisition, going forward, Bad Boy Off-Road, which Textron acquired in 2010, will be rebranded Textron Off-Road. Bad Boy gained recognition for its hybrid and electric side-by-side models, which became popular with hunters for their silent operation. The rebranded Textron Off-Road models will begin arriving in dealerships in April.
Textron’s corporate headquarters are in Providence, Rhode Island. Textron Specialized Vehicles, the unit that will assume responsibility for Arctic Cat, is based in Augusta, Georgia. Arctic Cat’s manufacturing operations in Minnesota will remain intact. With the acquisition of Arctic Cat, Textron will have expansive coverage of the side-by-side and light utility vehicle market in both the commercial and consumer spaces.
Source: http://www.fourwheeler.com/news/1703-textron-acquires-arctic-cat-rebrands-bad-boy-off-road/
