What’s that about being judged by the company you keep? Fast Company has judged Polaris and Zero to be among the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2022. The annual list of Innovative Companies has been the definitive source for recognizing the organizations that are transforming industries and shaping society since 2008.
“The combination of our industry-leading electric powertrain technologies and expertise with Polaris’ category-leading products will accelerate electrification within the powersports industry,” notes Sam Paschel, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. “The RANGER XP Kinetic is the first proof point of that and we look forward to many more game changing collaborations to come.”
“As the global leader in powersports, we are committed to rider-driven innovation – to listen and learn from our customers and design our products accordingly,” adds Polaris CEO Mike Speetzen. “We are moving to electric in a purposeful manner. Polaris and the Zero Motorcycles teams have capitalized on their respective strengths and shared passion for innovation, to accelerate our development of category-defining vehicles that take advantage of the benefits of electric powertrains. The RANGER XP Kinetic is the first example of what this partnership will deliver: by leveraging an electric powertrain we were able to deliver the most capable, most durable and highest performing Polaris RANGER ever, designed specifically for our utility customers’ needs.”
In 2020, Polaris and Zero Motorcycles announced a 10-year exclusive partnership with the goal to offer category-defining electric vehicles in off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. The partnership is leveraging Polaris’ powersports leadership and scale, and Zero Motorcycles’ proven expertise in electric motorcycle powertrains and technologies to produce transformative electric off-road and snow vehicles. Just a year after the partnership was announced, Polaris and Zero launched the first vehicle – the all-electric RANGER XP Kinetic.
The resulting combination was the entire production run sold out in just over two hours. That is some pretty fast company, indeed.