Shortly after former Arctic Cat vice president Brad Darling and an outside investment group purchased the venerable snowmobile maker in late April for an undisclosed sum, they announced plans for a 2026 lineup of vehicles, including the new Catalyst EXT Special model featuring retro styling from the original 1971 EXT Special.

In May, Darling says that to build the new models, he plans to reengage the majority of the workforce of just under 500 employees in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud. The former owner, industrial conglomerate Textron, had already laid off about 65 employees at the Thief River Falls facility in November. The new ownership group also plans to expand its workforce at the company’s engine facility in St. Cloud, he adds.

Prospects for winter recreation, of course, remain uncertain amid warming climes and declining snowfall—fellow snowmobile maker Polaris has been facing its own challenges and logged a 20% year-over-year dip in sales in 2024. But Arctic Cat’s new owner says the ‘26 lineup will, for now, provide a “huge sigh of relief to employees, family members, and a community about the future.” Delivery of the new vehicles is expected to begin in fall, says spokesman Mark Nigon.