Polaris Celebrates 20 Years of ATV Innovations

Polaris’ Innovations and Technology Shape Industry;
Company Delivers tough and Fun Machines to Riders Around the World

MINNEAPOLIS, March 3, 2005 – Polaris Industries is proud to announce that March of 2005 marks the company’s 20th anniversary for manufacturing All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) in the United States. It also marks another important milestone, the two millionth ATV coming off the line. Since 1985, Polaris has set the standard for ATV performance and innovation, selling sport and recreational utility machines to enthusiasts, farmers, ranchers, hunters, multi-acre homeowners and even the military.

The first ATVs Polaris built were the Scrambler three-wheeler and the Trail Boss four-wheeler. The company built approximately 1,700 Scramblers before retiring the three-wheel model in 1986 when the industry shifted to four-wheel machines. The Trail Boss is still a model that exists today. In 1995, the company launched what would become, and still is, the best selling ATV of all time, the Sportsman. Polaris sold more than 715,000 Sportsman units through 2004.

“Over the last twenty years, we’ve strived to listen to the customer and design innovative machines that allow riders to have fun and get the job done more easily, more efficiently and more comfortably,” said Bennett Morgan, vice president and general manager of the ATV division at Polaris. “We’re not going to change that focus in the next twenty years, rather we’ll build on our momentum and continue to introduce new and exciting products for riders.”

In 1985, the Polaris ATV manufacturing line in Roseau, MN consisted of approximately 200 people. At that time, annual ATV production was completed over the course of around 24 days. Today, Polaris ATVs are manufactured by more than 1,500 employees in the company’s three facilities – Roseau, MN; Spirit Lake, IA and Osceola, WI. And currently, ATV production is underway approximately 220 days each year. The final assembly is done in Spirit Lake and Roseau, the birthplace of Polaris.

Innovations – Polaris Firsts
Polaris has been a pioneer in many aspects of the ATV industry as the first company to manufacture an ATV in the US. The company came to market first with many key features that are now standard across the industry -- automatic transmission, on demand all-wheel drive, independent rear suspension (IRS), 4WD sport model, single lever braking, engine braking system (EBS), electronic fuel injected 4x4 and electronically locking rear differential.

2005 Polaris ATV Line Up
2005 marks an important year for Polaris ATVs. Sixty-two percent of the company’s ATV line is completely new -- including the largest and most powerful ATV in the industry – the Sportsman 800 Twin EFI, the Phoenix – a full-size entry level sport ATV at a great value, and the Sportsman MV7 – the toughest ATV ever built, based on a special vehicle Polaris produced for the military.

Awards – Industry Recognition
Polaris has been recognized by the industry for excellence in products and performance. Some of the notable awards Polaris has achieved include:

• Field & Stream – “Best of the Best Award” – 2005 Sportsman 800 Twin EFI
• ATV Guide – “Sport ATV of the Year” - 2005 Predator Troy Lee Edition & 2003
            Predator 500
• ATV Sport – “Sport ATV of the Year” – 2003 Predator
• ATV Rider – “Sport ATV of the Year” – 2003 Predator
• All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine – “Best in Class” – 2004 ATP VersaTrac (Innovation),
            Sportsman 600 & Predator 500
• ATV Magazine – “ATV of the Year” – 2004 ATP and 2002 Sportsman 700 Twin;
            2001 First ever “Legacy Award” – Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on the 1985 Trail Boss
• ATV 4-Wheel Action – “Top 20 ATVs of All Time” – Sportsman 500 & Scrambler 500

Military Presence
In early 2004 Polaris signed its first military contract for $10.3 million over five years and began developing an ATV specifically to meet the needs of troops overseas. The military version, MV, evolved and is now being used in Afghanistan and Iraq. The machine boasts the chassis and engine of a standard Sportsman 700 but also incorporates a number of unique features, making it ideal for military use in all types of terrain. The agreement also includes Polaris Sportsman 6x6 models modified to meet military specifications.

International Reach
Although Polaris ATVs have been sold as European homologated Quadricycles for approximately 10 years, it was just in 2004 that Polaris developed, built and launched to European consumers a factory-built Quadricycle. The Quadricycle is a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle built to meet strict European on-road regulations. The machine looks similar to the US version ATV, although because it is street legal, it includes alternative tires that perform well on streets and on trails, rear view mirrors and turn signals. There are currently three factory-built Polaris Quadricycle models being offered in Europe. The European market currently represents the fastest growing ATV market for Polaris.

About Polaris
With annual 2004 sales of $1.8 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Victory motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use.

Polaris is the recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris also 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 and Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.