Just two and a half years ago, Polaris laid the first stone of what would ultimately be his new factory of the engine in Vietnam. With a total extension of 12 hectares and located in Ba Thien II Industrial Park, Binh Xuyen district, it was announced then an investment of 40 million dollarsalso ensuring that the facilities would generate at least 600 direct jobs.
According to local media at that time, the American company “already operated in Vinh Phuc through its subsidiary Northstar Precision Vietnam, with a factory in the Khai Quang Industrial Park, in the city of Vinh Yen”. The opening of the new manufacturing center would be aimed mainly at the manufacture of engines, motorcycles and components for both sectors.
The opening of the twentieth global Polaris plant
Just 18 months after that announcement, Polaris began operating in the new Vietnamese plant. The intention was to reach an annual capacity “10,000 motorcycles and 30,000 motorcycle engines for export”they then explained from the Vietnamese website. At the same time, Indian Motorcycles managed to make profits since the brand belonged to the American group.
However, just one year after launching the new plant in Vietnam, Polaris announced its decision to sell the Iowa firm to Carolwood LP, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. The reason, as explained in an official statement, was based on redefine its portfolio and focus on the most profitable sectors within its wide range of products.
So Mike SpeetzenCEO of Polaris, stated: “This transaction will allow us to concentrate resources on the areas of greatest growth and, at the same time, will give Indian the necessary freedom to continue innovating and strengthen itself as an independent company. Both parties win: Polaris will be able to move forward with more focus, and Indian will have a partner willing to drive its next era of expansion.”
The definitive closure of the Vietnamese Polaris plant
At this point, from the aforementioned local media, they affirm that, “In a post on his LinkedIn page five months ago, Matt Kantrud, managing director of Polaris Vietnam, announced the plant’s last day of production.” This confirms that the idea of closing the plant had been considered for a long time. Most likely since the sale of Indian Motocycle to Carolwood LP became official.
We must remember that currently, Polaris has completely disassociated itself from the two-wheeled sector. In fact, the company does not market any vehicle focused on road use except for the tricycle. Slingshot. In this sense our colleagues point out: “The planned divestiture comes at a time when Polaris’ On Road segment…has suffered sustained weakness.”
They conclude by echoing the company’s official figures in relation to the last campaign: “Sales in the on-highway vehicle segment fell 6% in 2025, to $926.5 million, compared to $987.8 million the previous year, primarily due to decreased shipment volumes across its product portfolio.”
In summary, Polaris is definitively changing its direction, which has forced the company to partially restructure its facilities globally.
