Polaris Industries Forms On-road Vehicles Division

MEDINA, Minn. (AP) — Leisure vehicle maker Polaris Industries Inc. said Monday it is creating a division to oversee its motorcycle and other on-road vehicle operations.

The Medina, Minn., company said consolidating its on-road vehicle operations into a single division makes more strategic sense for the company. Its Victory line of motorcycles will be one of the segment's primary components.

Polaris said Mike Jonikas, vice president of sales and corporate marketing, will assume the newly created role of vice president of the division. Mark Blackwell, who runs the day-to-day operations for Victory Motorcycles, will become vice president of motorcycles.

Steve Menneto, director of North American sales, will become general manager of Victory motorcycles. Judy Kulsrud takes over Menneto's old position.

Shares of Polaris rose $1.02, or 3.4 percent, to $30.83 in afternoon trading.