Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota
And the winner is...
After thousands of public votes narrowing the field from 64 products to four finalists, the Minnesota Chamber and BMO are proud to announce the winner of the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota is...
Polaris Inc. - MRZR – Military RZR!
Congratulations to the team at Polaris and thank you for making this very cool product right here in Minnesota!
About the Polaris MRZR:
Polaris – The American Powersports Co. – makes off-road vehicles to explore our country and to protect our country. Polaris is proudly headquartered in Medina, with manufacturing and engineering in Roseau and Wyoming. Here, Polaris designs and manufactures the most capable light tactical vehicles, like the MRZR – a RZR reengineered and repowered specifically for military missions.
Driven by unwavering support of our country, Polaris began modifying its off-road vehicles for US Special Forces and Army after 9/11. Soldiers needed a better way to traverse the rugged mountains and terrain of Afghanistan and Polaris answered the call.
The MRZR’s military modifications include infrared and blackout lighting, greater range and collapsible roll cages for internal transport in helicopters and aboard naval vessels. Added payload capacity contributes to the mission even more – MRZR Alpha 6x6 carries more than a humvee and still fits inside the V-22 helicopter’s 60in x 60in cargo hold. Speaking of cool, an Arctic kit with tracks that replace the wheels can operate in –40F. And vehicle-provided power is enough to run equipment, enable systems that fight drones and allow communication globally.
MRZRs have been delivered to 50+ allied militaries worldwide, including every service in the U.S., for 10+ years. All MRZRs are built on a dedicated military production line in Polaris’ 800,000 sq. ft. manufacturing center in Roseau, leveraging skilled Minnesotans and multiple Minnesota suppliers. Polaris provides ingenuity and innovation as the world leader in off-road vehicle design and production to militaries around the world, right here from Minnesota.
And congratulations to this year's 4 finalists!
Do you make the “coolest thing made in Minnesota”?
Minnesota companies have a long history of innovation, creating some of the “coolest” products to fuel our economy. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is again searching for the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota!
- Manufacturing represents the single largest private-sector component of Minnesota’s GDP.
- 325,000 Minnesotans work in manufacturing.
- 42% of Minnesota’s Fortune 500 companies are in manufacturing.
- Minnesota exported $120 billion in manufactured goods in 2015.
- These companies sent 1,057 different types of products to more than 200 countries worldwide.
- Manufacturing workers took home $24.9 billion last year for an average annual wage of $76,950 – 10% higher than the state’s overall private sector wage.
About the Minnesota Manufacturers’ Council
The Minnesota Chamber is the voice of Minnesota manufacturers
For more than 30 years, the Minnesota Chamber has provided direct benefits to manufacturers by bringing them together statewide and providing a fierce voice for them at the Capitol.
Minnesota Manufacturers’ Council
Membership in the Minnesota Chamber automatically makes manufacturers in the Minnesota Manufacturers’ Council, the state’s largest statewide industry network.
Quarterly meetings with your peers and high-level decision makers.
Executives from the Minnesota Manufacturers’ Council will come together four times a year to meet with high-level decision makers at the capitol and in business.
A direct line to lawmakers making decisions critical to your business.
Manufacturers know what they need to stay and grow in Minnesota. Lower taxes? A less complex permitting process? Reliable energy at lower costs? Through the Minnesota Manufacturers’ Council, they have the opportunity to work with the Chamber’s six-person lobbying team and lawmakers directly.
One-on-one business assistance and access to Minnesota suppliers.
The Chamber will come to a business, listen to the challenges, help make critical business connections and help their business grow. They can provide access to the MN Supplier Match database of nearly 1,200 suppliers who provide accessibility, short lead-times, shared networks and trusted quality.
Short and long-term workforce solutions.
Everyone is looking for the right workers, to fill immediate positions and as our economy evolves into the future. The Chamber team helps manufacturers with resources in their community that can help with expeditious challenges, including how to grow a diverse workforce and tap different pools of talent.
Cost-effective, high-quality business insurance and employee benefits specifically tailored to manufacturers, to guard against business risk and keep and attract the best workforce.
The Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota is sponsored by:
