Polaris, manufacturer of Victory motorcycles, is affected by the slow economy like everyone else, but they have an ace up their sleeve. Polaris makes a lot of ATVs and those just happen to be a great vehicle for use in a wide variety of military applications. By having a diverse lineup of vehicles, including snowmobiles, Polaris is able to keep sales moving while the motorcycle business is sluggish. Their off road vehicles are driving growth in the US and Europe.
Polaris CEO, Scott Wine said:
the retail environment, the sales to our dealer network, I mean to our customers throughout our dealer network were down only 4% in the fourth quarter [and] that will turn positive in the first quarter. We've issued guidance, we'll be up 1-3% in growth in 2010, and we feel confident we'll get there.
Victory is actually only 3% of Polaris annual sales and with a broad lineup of vehicles to offer, income is diverse and makes the motorcycle business more likely to weather the slowdown. Sounds like good news to me which is a nice break from some other sales figures we've seen recently.
Link: TheStreet
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Polaris is a big deversified company, thats what is keeping them going. Victory sales are in the Tank at this time, despite being a nice product. I would think that Harley should be a bit more deversified as well, although their buyer base is stronger. Big business is pretty tricky, few own their own factorys anymore, Is all about the Financing. Victory will live on and prosper in the future, Its nice to have an American alternative!! I wish someone here would market a price competitive Enduro in the 500cc range.
Hats off to Victory,a great bike that is way underestamated in design and reliability.They deserve to succeed.
Good for them. Sounds like they make sound decisions, having a diverse portfolio. Kinda makes it seem silly to “focus on your core market” like “other companies” do.
I’m with Tin Man 2, let’s see even more diversity from an american company. A 500 scrambler would be awesome. Make it a diesel and get some military interest…
-todd
Well at least it sounds like they are not planning to do the Harley/Buell thing to their Victory line….
Since they apparently do have sound engineering practice, would it be too much to ask for something less pointed to peeling HD riders off of that segment of the market and maybe, just maybe at the standard side of things? A single would be wicked, but what about a sport standard on the order of the Suzi VX800/ Yam MT-01?
Just a thought.
If Victory sales really are only three percent of Polaris’ overall sales then there is no chance we will ever any other products from them. I agree that a standard or offraod bike from Victory would be way cool, and if they built anything but heavy cruisers and touring bikes I would buy one, but that is not going to happen in this lifetime. I hope someone in America comes up with a good motorcycle, but I’m not going to hold my breath.