#1 in December and #1 in 2014 for the US powersports giant

The spectacular growth of Polaris with its huge range of ATVs and Side x Side models continued throughout 2014 with the US powersports giant smashing its competitors like cheap Chinese toys to dominate the market and cement the number one market position. Its 27.1 percent share of the Australian ATV and Side x Side market puts Polaris in a commanding position with more than 1 in every 4 customers placing their faith in Polaris, a trust built up over 30 years in the Australian market and 60 years internationally.

In a dominant performance Polaris grabbed an incredible 47.9 percent share of the national Side x Side market, and lifted its ATV share to 22.3 percent for the full year.

According to industry data, while the market grew just 2 percent in 2014 Polaris sales increased by an amazing 32.4 percent, and show no sign of slowing down.

Capping off a remarkable result, Polaris had five of the top 10 selling models in 2014 with the Sportsman 570, Sportsman 400 and Hawkeye 400 ATVs leading the way. The youth models Outlaw 90 and Outlaw 50 also featured in the top ten.

"This strong growth mirrors the incredible growth of Polaris worldwide," said Polaris Industries Australia Managing Director, Peter Alexander. "Polaris has invested heavily in innovation and development and the growth you are seeing is the result of this investment. The fire in the belly burns hot at Polaris resulting in products developed to exceed customer demands and at prices that respect savvy primary producers and everyday users alike".

The Polaris collection comprises the Ranger family of Side x Side vehicles with ROPS (Roll Over Protection Structure), the high performance RZR racing Side x Side family (also with ROPS), the Hawkeye family of 2WD ATVs, the Sportsman family of 4x4 ATVs, the ACE compact single seat vehicle with ROPS and the ever popular youth range of RZR170 and Outlaw models.

The HD tag is the classification for heavy duty features required by today's man or woman on the land who put our products to work every single day in particularly harsh environments such as dairy. This is yet another range of products from Polaris and is setting the industry benchmark, providing unmatched versatility, durability and value for Australian customers. Engineering innovations for performance and riding ease include;

  • 4WDC - 4 Wheel Descent Control to manage long demanding descents in steep country.
  • Seat Belt Interlock - Designed to limit vehicle speed if the seat belt is not worn.
  • Speed Key Ready (option on some models) - Provides property owners with instant management over the speed at which someone can drive a vehicle simply by which key is used.
  • ROPS - Roll Over Protection Structure on 15 models including the unique - Polaris ACE providing unmatched choice.

This winning Polaris attitude parallels wins of another variety. For the third year in a row, the fastest in class RZR XP 1000 went on to win the Australian Rally Championship in the hands of Cody Crocker ably supported by navigator Greg Foletta. Earlier in the year another Polaris RZR XP 1000 went on to win the legendary Finke Desert Race in the hands of Phil Swindale and navigator Matt Costello. These major event wins are a testament to the performance and durability of all Polaris models.

Polaris is now extending this high energy racing platform into the reach of everyone with a lust for fun and excitement with the announcement of the 2015 RZR Championship and RZR Cup in partnership with Grunt Global, the series promoter. The RZR Championship sees competitors in identical Polaris RZR XP 1000s pitted against each other in a wheel-to-wheel stoush for supremacy over six rounds throughout Victoria and New South Wales with a plan to go National in 2016. The RZR Cup promises equally exciting racing and is for existing owners of any RZR model from current and previous years.

See www.rzr-racing.com.

"Whilst many of our competitors are relying on old reputations and old technology, we are continually lifting the bar for innovation to provide more and more solutions and a much wider range of choice for our customers", continued Alexander. "In the past 12 months, we have launched a plethora of new models - the Hawkeye 325 HD, Sportsman ETX, Ranger ETX and Ranger 570 HD, Ranger 1000 Diesel, ACE 325, ACE 325 HD and the designed specifically for Australia Sportsman UTE 570 HD, significantly swelling our already massive offering, notably including 15 models with ROPS. Customers are loving our advances in technology with innovations that have real world benefits and are not just some fancy acronym on a brochure. We simply have the hardest working and smoothest riding product on the planet".

For more information or to locate your nearest Polaris dealer, please visit www.polarisindustries.com.au

About Polaris:

Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with annual sales exceeding $4.4 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER ® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.

Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small electric/hybrid vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) and Goupil Industrie SA, and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.

Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PII", and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.

Media Contact:

Simon Gloyne
National Marketing Manager
Polaris Industries Australia
simon.gloyne@polaris.com
03 9394 5618