Polaris to exit ATV market in October

Polaris has announced it will withdraw all ATV models from sale in the Australian market prior to October 2020.

The move will happen when stage one of the new Consumer Goods (Quad Bikes) Safety Standard 2019 takes effect. The new Standard will be introduced in two stages from October 11, 2020 to October 11, 2021.

The company has the capability to comply with the testing and labelling required under stage one of the new Standard, but it has deemed the process to be unviable, given the rapidly declining ATV market.

Polaris had already committed to withdrawing from the ATV market in October 2021, when the fitment of Operator Protection Devices (OPD’s) become mandatory. The company has actively opposed the fitment of OPD’s, as it believes there is a lack of reliable science or evidence to support the safety claims made of such devices. The company also believes that the devices may cause as many injuries as they prevent.

The company had the option of complying with stage one and remain in the ATV market for a further 12 months (until October 2021), but it believed it to be an unviable short-term proposition. It will instead focus on the 30 models with properly engineered Roll Over Protection Structures (ROPS) it already offers in the Australian market.

Moving forward, Polaris is planning to ensure its side-by-side (SXS) vehicles are accessible and offer a strong value equation for customers.

Dealers are already cleaning out remaining ATV stock, so the company is urging customers to get in quick if they wish to get their hands on the remaining Polaris ATV’s.

This decision is only in relation to the Australian market. Polaris ATV’s will remain in production for the rest of the markets around the world. Full product support for parts and warranty will continue in Australia for at least the next decade.