Arctic Cat

Arctic Cat History

Arctic Cat was born in the North, raised on snow and gravel, and they cut the teeth helping adventurers test their limits. And still make the home on the great plains of Minnesota. Arctic Cat was formed by Edgar Hetteen in 1962, and transformed into a leading snowmobile, side-by-side and ATV manufacturer over decades of trail riding, racing and bringing friends and families together. The community is tight-knit, passionate and proud.

In 2017, a new era in Arctic Cat history began when we joined the Textron Inc. family of brands, which includes Bell® helicopters, Cessna aircraft and more. Because of Textron's heritage of power, performance and precision engineering, the decision was made to change the off-road product brand from Arctic Cat to Textron Off Road.

As Textron Off Road, Arctic Cat released some of our most inspiring vehicles yet, including the highly anticipated Wildcat XX with its industry-leading suspension system. But as they listened to their loyal riders, it became clear that their passion for the Arctic Cat brand remained strong. That's why in 2019 we decided our off-road vehicles should carry the Arctic Cat name once again.

Today, the bulk of their manufacturing happens at our facility in Thief River Falls, MN, with trails in their backyard and the mountains just a day’s drive away. Arctic Cat vehicles explore the world, but they all start with American workers and an American work ethic. Just one more reason they are proud to stand behind every machine they make.