Arctic Cat made the decision to stop using Suzuki engines in order to gain more control over their products and enhance their ability to meet regulatory and performance requirements. Suzuki had been an engine supply partner for over 25 years and remained a significant shareholder in Arctic Cat. However, the company felt the need to change their engine strategy for several reasons.
Firstly, by relying on Suzuki for engine supply, Arctic Cat had limited control over their products. They were dependent on Suzuki’s production capabilities, pricing, and availability, which could potentially impact their ability to meet market demand and respond to changing customer preferences. By shifting their engine strategy, Arctic Cat aimed to have more control over the entire production process, allowing them to better manage their product offerings and ensure timely delivery to customers.
Furthermore, by developing their own engines or partnering with other engine manufacturers, Arctic Cat sought to enhance their ability to meet regulatory requirements. With the increasing emphasis on emissions standards and environmental regulations, having more control over the engine development process would enable Arctic Cat to design and produce engines that comply with these regulations more effectively. This move would also provide them with the flexibility to adapt to any future changes in regulatory requirements.
Additionally, Arctic Cat aimed to improve their products’ performance by taking charge of the engine development process. By having a greater say in the design and engineering of their engines, they could tailor the performance characteristics to better align with their brand and customers’ expectations. This would allow them to differentiate themselves in the market and potentially gain a competitive edge over other manufacturers.
It is important to note that Arctic Cat’s decision to stop using Suzuki engines does not diminish the long-standing partnership between the two companies. Suzuki remains a significant shareholder in Arctic Cat, indicating their continued support and investment in the company’s success.
Arctic Cat made the strategic decision to stop using Suzuki engines to gain more control over their products, enhance their ability to meet regulatory and performance requirements, and differentiate themselves in the market. This shift in engine strategy allows Arctic Cat to have greater control over their production process, comply with regulatory standards more effectively, and tailor their engines’ performance to better meet customer expectations.