Arctic Cat reaches half-million mark

Arctic Cat has reached a big milestone in ATV production.

On September 25, 2007 the company produced its 500,000th Arctic Cat ATV at its main manufacturing plant in Thief River Falls, Minn.

“We are very excited about our hard working employees hitting this build number, which is actually much higher if you included our Prowler line,” says Arctic Cat CEO Chris Twomey.

Arctic Cat entered the ATV market in 1996 and there have been 13 model years since it introduced the Bearcat 454.

“We are definitely proud of this accomplishment,” Arctic Cat spokesman Kale Wainer told ATV.com. “In comparison to snowmobiles, it took us seven seasons to reach 100,000 units. It took us 31 seasons to build 1,000,000. We’ve built 500,000 ATVs in 13 seasons.”

“Producing our 500,000th ATV is something to be proud of,” adds Arctic Cat ATV general manager Ole Tweet. “Not only have we advanced our product line in those 13 years, but this ATV has advanced the industry. Our alternatively-fueled 2008 Diesel 700 is something no other OEM is producing.”

It was certainly no accident that the 2008 700 Diesel was the milestone vehicle.

“The 700 Diesel is an interesting ATV,” says Wainer. “Initially developed for the Euro market as well as the military, it is slowly gaining acceptance in the US amongst farmers and ranchers.”

Arctic Cat says the 700 Diesel provides 50% greater fuel mileage over conventional gasoline-powered engines. The engine will run on six forms of diesel fuel, including up to B20 Bio Diesel.