If you’ve spent any time on the forums or at a trailhead lately, you’ve probably heard the whispers. Is Textron selling Arctic Cat? Actually, the "whispers" turned into a full-blown roar a while back, and the answer isn't just a simple yes or no anymore—it’s a "done deal."
Honestly, the drama surrounding the green team has been a rollercoaster. For a few years, it felt like the brand was just idling while Polaris and BRP (Ski-Doo) were pinning the throttle. Then came the big news: Textron officially sold Arctic Cat. The transition happened in the spring of 2025. It wasn't just a rumor. Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) confirmed the sale in their Q1 2025 financial reports, noting they closed the deal on April 23, 2025. They basically decided to wash their hands of the powersports world to focus on their "core" stuff—think Cessnas, Bell helicopters, and military tech.
Who actually bought the brand?
It wasn't a massive conglomerate like many expected. No, it didn’t go to a Chinese manufacturer like CFMOTO, despite those rumors flying around for months.
The buyer was actually a bit of a "hometown hero" story. Brad Darling, a former Arctic Cat VP and the current President of Argo, led an independent investment group to buy the company back. These are the same folks heavily involved with Ontario Drive & Gear (the parent company of Argo).
It’s kinda poetic, right? Someone who actually knows the Thief River Falls culture is back at the helm.
While Arctic Cat and Argo are staying separate companies for now, having Darling running both shows means there’s a lot of shared DNA. The industry is already seeing the effects. Within days of the sale, the "new" Arctic Cat was already screaming about their 2026 lineup.
What most people get wrong about the sale
You might hear people say Arctic Cat is "dead" or that production stopped. That’s only half-true.
Under Textron’s final months, things looked bleak. They had actually paused snowmobile production and laid off hundreds of workers in Thief River Falls. It looked like the end. But once the Darling-led group took over, they did a total 180.
- Production is back: They restarted the lines in Minnesota almost immediately.
- The workforce returned: Over 300 jobs were restored within weeks of the acquisition.
- The 2026 lineup is massive: They didn't just release old models with new stickers.
The 2026 Lineup: Is Arctic Cat actually back?
If actions speak louder than words, the 2026 machines are shouting. They’ve introduced some tech that people have been begging for.
One of the biggest shocks was the EXT Special. It’s the industry’s first two-stroke snowmobile with electric-assist power steering (EPS). If you’ve ever wrestled a 858cc beast through tight woods for six hours, you know why that matters. Your shoulders will thank you.
They also didn't ditch the Yamaha engines. Even though Yamaha is bowing out of the snowmobile market, Arctic Cat secured the rights to keep using those legendary four-stroke triples. So, the Pantera and ZR 7000 aren't going anywhere yet.
Key highlights of the new era:
- The 858 C-TEC2 Engine: This thing is the centerpiece of the Catalyst chassis. They’ve refined it for 2026 to cut down on vibration and improve lubrication.
- Twin-Rail Returns: For a while, Cat was all-in on the "Alpha" single-beam rear suspension. It was great for some, but not everyone. For 2026, they brought back twin-rail options like the HCX (Hard Core Extreme) and HCR (Hill Climb Racer).
- Widescape Acquisition: Just to prove they aren't slowing down, the new Arctic Cat leadership recently bought Widescape, that stand-up enduro snow-utility brand.
Why did Textron sell in the first place?
To be blunt, Textron and Arctic Cat were always a weird match. Textron is a massive industrial titan. They like predictable, high-margin aerospace and defense contracts. Powersports? Powersports is messy. It’s seasonal. It’s weather-dependent.
When Textron bought Arctic Cat for roughly $247 million back in 2017, they thought they could "industrialize" the process. But the market went soft, and the "Cat" loyalists didn't always vibe with the corporate shift. By late 2024, Textron’s leadership admitted they were "pursuing strategic alternatives"—which is corporate-speak for "somebody please buy this."
In their Q3 2025 earnings call, Textron reported that their Industrial segment revenue was down specifically because they had divested the powersports business. They actually saw a profit bump because they weren't carrying the overhead of the Thief River Falls operations anymore.
What this means for you (The Rider)
If you’re a rider, this is actually the best-case scenario. When a big corporation doesn't want a brand, the brand suffers. R&D stalls. Dealers get nervous.
Now that it’s owned by an investment group with "dirt and snow" in their veins, the energy has shifted. They’ve been hiring like crazy, bringing back industry veterans like Roger Skime (the legend himself) to help guide the ship.
You’ve got a company that is focused 100% on making sleds and dirt machines, not one that treats Arctic Cat as a rounding error on a balance sheet full of fighter jet parts.
Actionable Insights for Owners and Buyers
If you are looking at a new or used Cat right now, keep these things in mind:
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- Warranty Check: The new ownership has committed to honoring all existing warranties from the Textron era. You aren't being left high and dry.
- Parts Availability: Production of aftermarket parts was one of the few things Textron kept running during the "pause," and the new owners have ramped that up even further.
- Dealer Stability: The "two-fold increase in dealer interest" reported in late 2025 means your local shop is more likely to stick with the brand now that the corporate uncertainty is gone.
- Resale Value: Watch the market for Catalyst-chassis models. With the 2026 refinements, 2024 and 2025 models might see a slight dip, making them great used buys if you don't mind missing out on the power steering.
The era of "Is Textron selling Arctic Cat?" is over. The era of "Can Arctic Cat take back the crown?" has officially begun.
For riders, the next step is simple: get to a demo event. The 2026 EPS-equipped machines are a different beast entirely, and the only way to see if the "new" Arctic Cat lives up to the hype is to get some seat time. If you’ve been sitting on the fence waiting to see if the brand would survive, the lights are back on in Thief River Falls, and the machines are rolling off the line.