Polaris Announces Major Roseau Expansion; State Aid For Flood Relief Paves Way for Polaris Investment

    MINNEAPOLIS--Sept. 20, 2002--Polaris Industries Inc. today announced plans to expand its engineering facility in Roseau, Minn. It will be the 30th time in the recreational and utility vehicle maker's 48-year history that the company has invested in the northwestern Minnesota town where the company was founded.
    Construction on the new $7 million engineering facility is scheduled to begin in Fall, 2002. When completed Polaris will improve its engineering capability through improved facilities, tools and a collaborative work environment. Polaris' announcement comes on the heels of Thursday's special legislative session, where lawmakers approved much-needed state aid to help flood victims in the area.
    "We're thrilled to continue to invest in Roseau where the heart and soul of Polaris was born," said Tom Tiller, Polaris president and CEO. "Getting state aid to begin rebuilding the infrastructure of Roseau was critical to our ability to expand and attract and retain a phenomenal workforce. I applaud lawmakers and wholeheartedly thank our Polaris employees in Roseau who have kept doing their jobs, while trying to rebuild the town at the same time."
    Tiller worked side-by-side with volunteers throughout the night of June 11, sandbagging and pumping water away from the Polaris plant. Since the flooding began, Polaris has worked actively with local, state and federal government leaders to rebuild the community.
    David Johnson, Edgar Hetteen and Allan Hetteen founded Polaris in Roseau in 1954. Johnson and Edgar Hetteen invented the modern-day snowmobile in 1956. Over the years, the company has grown to become a $1.5 billion manufacturer of ATVs (now the company's largest business), snowmobiles, watercraft and Victory Motorcycles, Polaris RANGER and the Polaris Professional Series. More than 1,800 of Roseau's 2,500 residents work at the Polaris manufacturing facility. Polaris completed a $12 million manufacturing facility upgrade at the Roseau plant last year.

    About Polaris

    Information about the complete line of Polaris products is available from authorized Polaris dealers or from the Polaris homepage at polarisindustries.com.
    Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, Victory motorcycles and the Polaris RANGER for recreational and utility use. The Polaris Professional Series, a line of heavy duty Workmobiles(TM) targeted at lawn and landscape companies, equipment rental companies and construction operations, marks Polaris' expansion into the commercial equipment marketplace.
    With annual 2001 sales of $1.5 billion, Polaris is the largest snowmobile manufacturer in the world and one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of ATVs and personal watercraft; while Victory motorcycles represent the first all-new American-made motorcycle in nearly 60 years. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships. Consumers can also purchase apparel and vehicle accessories anytime at polarisindustries.com
    Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange under the symbol "PII," and the company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index.