Last Tuesday morning, during a conference call following the announcement of Polaris 4th quarter financial results, Polaris Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott Wine acknowledged that the company missed its production targets for the new Indian Scout, the 2-tone Chiefs the Victory Magnum and the Slingshot although the factory was running at 100% for most of 2014, except a plant retooling in Spring. He warned that back orders for the Scout and the Slingshot will probably not be fully filled until second quarter of 2015. Currently there are There 175 dealers signed to sell Indian motorcycles, with only 118 operational because others are still in the process of making construction, renovations or additions to their dealerships. 330 dealers have signed up to sell the Slingshot.
Polaris Missing Production Targets For Indian Scout, Victory Magnum And Slingshot. Back Orders Not Filled Before Second Quarter 2015.
Published by January 29th, 2015 in Builders, Editorial and Events.24 Responses to “Polaris Missing Production Targets For Indian Scout, Victory Magnum And Slingshot. Back Orders Not Filled Before Second Quarter 2015.”
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Too much success, bad production planning, or both?
The claims on unfilled orders on the other models , though doubtful , I can almost … sort of … but ahhh … not really … believe . But the ‘ Slingshot ‘ ???
In light of the multiple states that have outlawed them , the many problems the thing has faced since its inception [ see Cyril’s post today on yet another recall ] and the fact that from all reports on the ground no one is running out to the dealerships to buy one ?
Errrr …. this kind of takes a whole lot of any credibility PVI might of had with this announcement and throws it right out the window . Perhaps PVI’s spin doctors might want to reaccess the overall intelligence of the audience they’re trying to spin …. cause this one’s just a little too obvious to anyone with even a modicum of intelligence and a soupcon of business sense 😉
JP – Neither ! More like a case of a poorly executed spin put out to deceive
Yesterday morning, CEO Scott Whine stated that they sold 1000 Slingshots. He can’t lie in financial statements.
TJ Martin, You are not an insider. So you know nothing about Polaris. Just read the news and stop making negative comments when you are not in the position to justify them.
Gee I wonder who I should believe, TJ or Polaris….obviously one of them is full of it…since I’m receiving the stock dividends and know the stock ticker is PII not PVI, I’m going to go with Polaris knows their business and TJ is full of it lol.
So how much of there fourth quarter sales statement is from un produced vehicles? Are the sales contracts for the 330 dealers that are not yet open also included?
Unless you work at Polaris, naturally you are speculating, it does not take an underwater sunbed to come to that conclusion.
So from my slightly stained arm-chair, may I suggest that the Polaris factory floor may be experiencing more work-in-progress QA (quality assurance) problems, than what was “budgeted” for during production planning.
This is a more likely scenario for a new (or relatively new) line of vehicles (eg motorcycles).
Rather blame the marketing people for over-selling and the public for over-enthusiasm. The Polaris Scout has potential -specifically the V-Rod motor, I did however note some time ago (on this forum – just ask my good friend BobS) that I will wait a while, until this ‘baby’ has done some more ‘potty-training’.
No doubt for me that the Scout sales number in 2015 are going to be very high. Excellent bike (tested it in Sturgis), great price, great review by Cyril.
I assure you that being one of the many who put their money down back in August of 2014 and since then have still not received a Scout, I can relate to TJ Martin. or any information from Polaris on when that might happen, I can relate to TJMartin. Pretty easy for for BobS & Sigreed to ” trust in the company” when they don’t have any skin in the game. Polarius has been anything but forthcoming on the Scout SNAFU, so pardon me if I don’t share their blind faith. TJ Martin…. You the man!
Not a good way to treat a “public” that is anxious for your product(s)
Hmmmm, remember the “waiting” list & the 3 – 9 month wait for a Harley ???
Maybe Polaris needs to think about opening a 2nd factory or increased production at Spirit Lake
I’m sure they don’t want people bad mouthing because of the inability to get the bike they wanted/ordered. I still want one !!! But I think like SIGFREED I’ll wait awhile until thing calm down ….
Um Jack…what gives you the impression I don’t have skin in the game? Tell me, between you, me, and TJ who owns PII stock? I know I do. Who amongst the three of us has toured the factory, seen Scouts and Slingshots being made, and have heard from the horses mouth that excessive demand for Victory Magnums was bottle necking the paint facility slowing down production across all lines in the plant? I have…If you think TJ is the man then you do have blind faith.
I hope they remember the “waiting lists” & the 3 – 9 month wait for a H-D not so long ago
Build a 2nd factory or 24 hr production
But your don;t want to leave a bad taste in the mouths of people
who put down their hard earned $$$$
Me, yes, I still want one, but like SIGFREED said I think i will wait a little while longer
Does anyone remember in the mid to late nineties, you had to be out on a waitin list to get a new HD, put down a hefty deposit and dealerships would not sell to those out of their “area”. I remember quite well, I purchasedy first new HD at this time and waited over a year for it.
As a slingshot owner, it has become apparent to me over the last 6 months, most folks with a negative opinion such as here…don get it
There are waiting lists at most dealers and anywhere you go, folks line up with questions usually followed by ‘how much’ , then ‘where can I get one?’
I refer to them as Adult street Legal go-carts… and for the haters/confused, I’m a Texas Resident and ride it legally…
And to think most of the country is smack in the middle of winter and not thinking about buying motorcycles right now, even ones with three wheels. I wonder what demand will look like in spring / summertime? I have a suspicion Polaris grossly underestimated the popularity the Slingshot might get. I also see two possible futures, one is the bike gains popularity quickly and the fun police step in and try and legislate it out of existence. The other scenario they don’t and more three wheeled vehicles come to market ( Elio anyone?). But here’s where the haters lose me: What if the Slingshot is popular and does sell a lot, what if it does become common to see one on the road…think about what that means, it means thousands more people will want one, so they’ll have to sign up for an MSF course and get a motorcycle endorsement to do it. How is that not good for us?
Love. My Scout and Slingshot (:-)
Been waiting since Sept 26 2014 when I ordered my RED 2015 Scout. I have my Confirmation number in hand and was expecting my Scout in the middle of Dec 2014 but due to some production flaws Polaris is trying to make things right. I rather wait for my Scout to be in good mechanical working machine and safe for me to ride. This is a simple wait for me. The hardest wait I every had to endure was waiting 6 yrs to get out of the Navy since I signed up for electronic program and was committed for 6 yrs active duty. The problem we have now days is too many fast food mentality people who want their stuff now, just be patience. Nice to know that Polaris cares about their pre-order Scout customers that did not receive their scout on time they were willing to send us a $200 acc/clothes coupon to be cashed in for Indian shirts/jackets/sweater,etc. They not only care about the pre-order customers but also veterans and they are giving a $500 product discount on Scout acc such as rear seat, pegs, and such, not bad for a company that cares about their customer or at least try.
I was at the local Victory dealership checking out the last Slingshot they had on the floor. That is the 3rd one they put out the door. I didn’t get it either, but after seeing one is person I can see it now. It’s such a sleek looking machine and looks so fun to drive.
I just hope my wife gets her Scout on time or I’ll be the one hearing about it.
Good position to be in. Who wouldn’t want more demand for their products than able to meet? I sure would that’s for sure then like Mike C I could own one of these great machines! Glad I bought stock before it shot up (that was before the launch of the original chief.
I too ordered the Scout on August 23 2014,after returning from Sturgis and I’m still waiting, I received word from my dealer my bike would be in on April 4, 2015, 4 months past the original delivery date. I still have not heard from my dealer, I don’t blame the dealerships for any of these problems, heck the dealers were not kept in the loop either…that was very kind of Polaris (indian) to stick their dealers out there like that with little to no information to give to the customers… I too want a good product…but don’t send a $200 clothing coupon to try and pacify me ..why should I advertise for a company that did keep their promise to the customers who put down their hard earned money…we did not receive any to little information since they missed their deadline… Just an apology …and I am glad that veterans are getting a break for accessories you deserve the incentive… You keep the country safe…but what I want to know is why didn’t the company also give the firefighters or police officers in this country the same incentive …they protect this country as well they put their lives on the line everyday..every minute they have their uniform on …do they not deserve the same respect…obviously not…so the company should believe in their customers as much as the customer believed in their product and give everyone some type of incentive for waiting so long… And on top of it they started to promote the sling shot and the Dark Horse ….and they can’t get the Scout out to those who are waiting…..very disappointed
Any updates on your delivery Texas1 or anyone else that has a Scout on order. I plan on riding mine cross country in late June and I am beginning to think that ain’t going to happen
been waiting 7 months for scouts to be deliverd to uk
there are scouts for sale in two central Florida locations that the dealers can’t sell. I know because both dealers have called me twice.
I backed out of the purchase after a test ride.