polaris layoffs not all in snowmobile division

May 2, 2005- - Of the 60 Polaris Industries layoffs reported recently, AmSnow has learned that less than 20 were targeted at the snowmobile division. Those let go included employees from all of Polaris' seven manufacturing facilities, but most were at the Roseau, Minn., plant. No single department was targeted with the layoff as it affected manufacturing, engineering, human resources, marketing and sales jobs alike, according to Polaris.

"The reduction in the snowmobile department occurred after several low snow years and smaller production with no change in personnel numbers," said Marlys Knutsen, external relations manager at Polaris.

Polaris employs over 3800 and reported a net income increase of 12% for March 2005 compared to this time last year. Total snowmobile sales have declined slowly for the last few years, but strong ATV sales have propped up Polaris' financial standing.