Just saw on the news that Polaris is closing their Osceola, WI plant and will be moving many of it's manufacturing processes to a new plant in Mexico. I used to work at this plant so I feel bad for all the employees there. Not sure how many employees they have there now but when I was there we had over 800. So much for made in the USA
Sad day for Polaris
- Thread starter elf
- Start date
Wisconsin is sending companies away,first Harley now Polaris. state needs to eliminate their manufacturing tax and give the companies some reason to stay here! http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=851319
Yet another casualty of NAFTA open your eyes America our politicians have sold us out. All NAFTA has done is give U.S. corporations the green light to move manufacturing to cheaper labor in other countries. The American Middle Class has been outsourced it is time to be angry very very angry. http://www.jsonline.com/business/94537074.html?commentSubmitted=y&refresh=35923#
I live in polk county near Osceola and used to work a Polaris. Its about 800 people all told that will lose their jobs. All so Polaris can save a buck by moving that operation to Mexico. I cant think of a better reason to boycott this company than this. I understand about Wi manufacturing tax, but they arent just moving it out of state, they are moving out of the country!
And YES this means your Polaris snowmobile?atv engine will now be built in Mexico!
Screw Polaris! its not a sad day for them, Its sad day for the employees and the town of Osceola!
And YES this means your Polaris snowmobile?atv engine will now be built in Mexico!
Screw Polaris! its not a sad day for them, Its sad day for the employees and the town of Osceola!
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fusionfool
New member
I doubt they will actually move. Our company closed a plant and moved the majority of the product to Reynosa MX. Here is a link to the stats for average wage in that area. http://www.understandmexico.com/mexico/investment/information/fully-loaded-average-wage-mexico
Not too many US people can live on this type of wage. I know of one person that moved down to McAllen to work in Reynosa when they closed the plant. He kept his US wages, then the first layoff came, and he was gone.
Polaris believes they are going to save money, but the reality is going to be higher cost for some time for them due to quality spills, loss of customers, travel expense for the Engineering, management people ext. I know first hand, how a move like this goes. Not good for anyone except MX.
Snowbuff, as much as you'd like to blame Doyle, he's got nothing to do with it. If it was purely tax driven, Polaris would have been out of MN years ago. In 1991 they opened the plant in Osceola, WI, just across the border from MN. In about 1994 or so they opened the plant in Spirit Lake, IA, again just across the border from MN. In late 1990's they opened their distribution center in Vermillion, SD. Again, just outside of MN. MN taxes and business climate were driving them away from the state. Finally in 2003 or so they opened up a R&D center back in MN due to the huge tax breaks they were given.
They are moving to mexico for the labor and overhead costs, pure and simple. I could understand if they were struggling and had to lower costs, but they aren't. They had a great 1st 1/4 and a solid 2009. I can't believe it's going to be cheaper to ship parts from MX to Roseau. They are going to have to carry more inventory now to cover up for shipping issues, that isn't cheap. So long to the made-in-the-USA Liberty engine. Are they going to call it the Chimichanga engine now? Are we, the consumer, going to see huge price reductions in products from this? Doubtful. It stinks!
They are moving to mexico for the labor and overhead costs, pure and simple. I could understand if they were struggling and had to lower costs, but they aren't. They had a great 1st 1/4 and a solid 2009. I can't believe it's going to be cheaper to ship parts from MX to Roseau. They are going to have to carry more inventory now to cover up for shipping issues, that isn't cheap. So long to the made-in-the-USA Liberty engine. Are they going to call it the Chimichanga engine now? Are we, the consumer, going to see huge price reductions in products from this? Doubtful. It stinks!
Just need to clarify.....cat has brought engine mfg in house about two years ago...either 07/80 weas the year they stoped the susuki relationship.......Team green, American made.
Firecatguy
New member
Minnesota made..........
polarisrider1
New member
Sad day for Polaris employees is a better title. Polaris had Jap. engines for yrs. When Polaris customer relations asks, "What do you want in the products we make?" and you answer, "Lower prices and better quality." They have to do something. As long as we operate in the "Wally world" mentality job losses will continue. Boycott? Why? Yamaha and Skidoo should be boycotted too if you use that mentality.
G
G
Guest
I think the Blades are over. They did use Pol engines though. Also I believe the Rotax engines 'Doo uses are made in Austria and not Germany. Not that it really matters. Pol will be moving a few things back to Roseau so that will help that community. From what I have heard it is taxes more than cheap labor behind the move to MX. It will likely be a robot plant not unlike the Ford plant that was discussed here not too long ago. QC will not suffer (in theory). In fact it should actually get better. Yes, things have been good for Pol lately. This move is maintain their viability. It is a smart move on their part given the rules they have to follow. If you want to point a finger point it at the govt. and all the layers of taxes that must be paid just to be here. That being said it is obviously a very bad thing for Osceola and I hope they are decent enough to give all the terminated employees a decent severance package. Sign of the times. Unfortunately.