Club Car
American manufacturer of golf cars, low-speed electric vehicles, and utility vehicles for personal, commercial, and golf-course use.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Club Car is an American manufacturer focused on golf cars, low-speed electric vehicles, and small utility vehicles. Its products serve several overlapping markets: golf-course transportation and fleet operations, personal mobility in communities and private properties, commercial transport on campuses and at resorts, and utility work in industrial, agricultural, institutional, and turf-care settings. The company offers both battery-electric and gasoline-powered vehicles, although electrification, connected fleet management, and street-legal low-speed vehicles have become increasingly important parts of its portfolio. The business began in 1958 in Houston, Texas, as Landreath Machine. In 1962, entrepreneur Bill Stevens Jr. acquired the company, moved it to Augusta, Georgia, and renamed it Club Car. The Georgia base became central to the company’s identity and remains the location of its global headquarters, although the company now has a broader manufacturing and distribution footprint. Club Car’s early product was a three-wheeled golf car, and its later development helped establish the company as one of the best-known suppliers to golf-course operators. A major turning point came in 1978, when eight former EZGO executives acquired Club Car. The new ownership and management group positioned the business as a stronger competitor in the golf-car industry. The DS golf-car line, introduced in 1980 and named after designer Dom Saporito, became one of the company’s defining products and remained a major part of its identity for decades. Club Car subsequently broadened its offering beyond conventional golf cars. Its Carryall utility vehicles were developed for golf-course maintenance and commercial work, while the XRT range addressed personal utility applications with configurations suited to work attachments and varied terrain. Club Car was acquired by Ingersoll Rand in 1995 and became part of that company’s Infrastructure division. It was later associated with Ingersoll Rand’s Compact Vehicles Technology activities, alongside Bobcat-related operations, supporting expansion into utility and commercial vehicles. The company also moved into connected golf-car fleet technology through its relationship with GPS Industries, whose systems enabled fleet-level communication with the clubhouse and features such as location and score-related services. In 2017, Ingersoll Rand acquired GPS Industries, bringing that capability closer to its Club Car business. The brand’s product architecture continued to evolve. The Precedent line succeeded the long-running DS in the commercial golf-car market, and the connected Precedent i3 helped present the golf fleet as a digitally managed system rather than a collection of independent vehicles. The Tempo, launched in 2018, replaced the Precedent as a principal golf-course vehicle. In the personal market, Club Car introduced the Onward family in 2017, allowing customers to configure colors, seating, accessories, and other features online. The range expanded from two- and four-passenger versions to lifted, six-passenger, and lithium-ion variants. In 2021, Platinum Equity acquired Club Car from Ingersoll Rand. The transaction returned the company to stand-alone ownership and was followed by a move into additional low-speed electric-vehicle categories. Club Car subsequently acquired Garia, a Danish low-speed electric-vehicle manufacturer, together with Garia’s Melex subsidiary in Poland. The acquisition expanded Club Car’s access to street-legal neighborhood electric vehicles and lightweight utility products. In 2025, Club Car announced the Onward LSV, a more fully equipped low-speed vehicle with automotive-style safety and convenience features, including a touchscreen, four-wheel brakes, seat belts, turn signals, mirrors, a glass windshield, a backup camera, and an acoustic alert system. Club Car currently operates internationally and maintains facilities in Georgia as well as production or operational l…
History
Club Car was established in 1958 in Houston, Texas, under the name Landreath Machine. The company initially concentrated on compact vehicles for golf use and produced a three-wheeled golf car as its first product. In 1962, Bill Stevens Jr. acquired the business, transferred it to Augusta, Georgia, and adopted the Club Car name. The company’s Georgia headquarters remained an important part of its corporate and manufacturing identity. In 1978, eight former EZGO executives acquired Club Car. Their arrival strengthened the company’s position in the competitive golf-car market and helped support a broader product-development program. The DS golf car, introduced in 1980 and named for designer Dom Saporito, became the company’s signature model. Club Car also developed utility applications for golf courses and commercial users. Its Carryall II, introduced for business and turf-related work in 1985, provided a platform for transporting people, tools, and materials at manufacturing sites, educational campuses, resorts, and golf facilities. The company expanded its utility portfolio during the late 2000s. The XRT line addressed personal utility use, with models offering two- and four-wheel-drive configurations and compatibility with work attachments. Club Car also introduced or expanded low-speed and street-legal vehicle categories, adding features such as seat belts, turn signals, windshields, and other equipment needed for controlled-road environments. Commercial passenger vehicles were developed for resorts, venues, campuses, and similar locations where compact transportation was needed. In 1995, Ingersoll Rand acquired Club Car and placed it within its Infrastructure division. Club Car later operated in the company’s Compact Vehicles Technology structure, which connected golf-car expertise with utility-vehicle and commercial-vehicle activities. The company’s digital capabilities also developed through a relationship with GPS Industries. Beginning in the late 2000s, GPSI technology supported connected golf fleets, allowing operators to communicate with vehicles and monitor or manage fleet functions from the clubhouse. Ingersoll Rand purchased GPS Industries in 2017. The Precedent line became the successor to the DS in the commercial golf-car range. Its i3 version incorporated connected-fleet technology intended to link an entire golf fleet with the clubhouse and support services such as golfer information and score-related features. Club Car launched the Tempo in 2018 as a replacement for the Precedent in its golf-course lineup. Club Car entered a new phase in the personal-transportation market with the Onward family, first introduced in 2017. The model family emphasized individual configuration, allowing customers to select colors, accessories, seating arrangements, and other options through an online process. The initial range included two-passenger, four-passenger, and lifted four-passenger vehicles. Later additions included a six-passenger configuration and lithium-ion power. Platinum Equity acquired Club Car from Ingersoll Rand in 2021. The transaction made Club Car an independent portfolio company under new ownership. The following year, Club Car acquired Garia, a Danish maker of low-speed electric vehicles, together with Garia’s Melex subsidiary in Poland. This was Club Car’s first acquisition under Platinum Equity and extended the company into street-legal neighborhood electric vehicles and lightweight utility vehicles. Club Car’s current operations include its global headquarters in the Augusta-area community of Evans, Georgia, additional Georgia facilities, and operations in Mielec, Poland, and Jiaxing, China. The company serves golf, residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, resort, and utility markets. In 2025, it announced the Onward LSV, adding more extensive road-use and occupant-protection equipment to the personal Onward concept. Craig Scanlon became president and CEO in June 2025.
- 2025
Onward LSV is announced
[1]Club Car presents a more road-oriented Onward low-speed vehicle with enhanced safety, display, lighting, braking, and occupant-protection equipment.
- 2025
Craig Scanlon becomes president and CEO
[1]Craig Scanlon is named president and chief executive officer in June.
- 2022
Garia and Melex join Club Car
[1]Club Car completes the acquisition of Garia and its Melex subsidiary, expanding into low-speed and neighborhood electric vehicles.
- 2021
Platinum Equity acquires Club Car
[1]Platinum Equity purchases Club Car from Ingersoll Rand in a transaction reported at $1.68 billion.
- 2018
Tempo replaces Precedent
[1]Club Car launches the Tempo golf-course vehicle as the successor to the Precedent line.
- 2017
Onward personal vehicle family launches
[1]Club Car introduces customizable personal transportation vehicles and expands its consumer-oriented product offering.
- 2017
Ingersoll Rand acquires GPS Industries
[1]The acquisition brings the supplier of Club Car’s golf-fleet management technology into Ingersoll Rand.
- 2008
Connected golf-car development begins with GPS Industries
[1]Club Car’s relationship with GPS Industries supports the development of connected golf fleets and clubhouse-linked vehicle services.
- 1995
Ingersoll Rand acquires Club Car
[1]Club Car becomes part of Ingersoll Rand’s Infrastructure division.
- 1985
Carryall II enters commercial utility use
[1]Club Car introduces a commercial utility vehicle aimed at manufacturing facilities, college campuses, and golf-course turf operations.
Products and positioning
A premium-oriented specialist in golf mobility, personal electric transportation, and utility vehicles, combining configurable consumer products with commercial fleets, work-focused accessories, and connected vehicle capabilities.
Golf car · 1980
DS
Introduced in 1980, the DS became one of Club Car’s best-known golf-car platforms. Named after designer Dom Saporito, it served as a durable and adaptable basis for golf-course fleets and related personal transportation applications. The line remained a hallmark of the company until the broader transition toward the Precedent family.
Golf car · 2004
Precedent
The Precedent succeeded the DS as a principal Club Car golf-course vehicle. It was offered in configurations for course fleets and personal use, and its later derivatives incorporated updated drive systems and connected-vehicle capabilities. The Precedent i3 was designed to connect golf vehicles with clubhouse fleet-management functions.
Golf car · 2018
Tempo
Launched in 2018, the Tempo replaced the Precedent in Club Car’s golf-course portfolio. It is designed for repeated fleet use in golf operations, where serviceability, predictable operation, passenger transport, and compatibility with course accessories are important requirements.
Personal transportation vehicle · 2017
Onward
The Onward is Club Car’s personal transportation family. It introduced online customization of colors, accessories, seating, and related features. The range includes two-passenger, four-passenger, lifted, and six-passenger configurations, with later availability of lithium-ion power. It is aimed at private properties, communities, resorts, and other controlled environments.
Low-speed vehicle · 2025
Onward LSV
The Onward LSV extends the personal Onward concept into a more fully equipped low-speed vehicle. Announced in 2025, it includes a seven-inch touchscreen, four-wheel brakes, a reinforced frame, front and rear seat belts, side mirrors, turn signals, a DOT-approved glass windshield, a backup camera, and an acoustic alert system intended to improve pedestrian awareness while reversing.
Commercial utility vehicle · 1985
Carryall
The Carryall family is designed for commercial, institutional, golf-course, and worksite transportation. It evolved from the Carryall II, introduced for manufacturing facilities, campuses, and turf operations. Configurations and accessories support the movement of people, tools, materials, and maintenance equipment in locations where a compact utility vehicle is more practical than a conventional truck.
Personal utility vehicle · 2008
XRT
The XRT line entered Club Car’s personal utility-vehicle market in the late 2000s. Models ranged from two-wheel-drive configurations such as the XRT800 4x2 to larger four-wheel-drive vehicles such as the XRT1550 4x4. The vehicles could be equipped with work attachments and were intended for private-property, agricultural, grounds-maintenance, and general utility applications.
Fleet technology · 2008
Connected golf-car fleet systems
Developed with GPS Industries, Club Car’s connected fleet capability linked golf vehicles with clubhouse systems. The technology supported fleet communication and management and enabled services such as tracking and golfer-facing information. It represented a move from standalone carts toward digitally coordinated golf-course transportation.
Low-speed and utility electric vehicle · 2022
Garia and Melex low-speed vehicles
Through the acquisition of Garia and its Melex subsidiary, Club Car expanded its portfolio into street-legal neighborhood electric vehicles and lightweight utility vehicles. These products complement Club Car’s established golf-car and commercial-utility expertise with additional low-speed electric transportation formats.
Brand decisions
2025
Introduce the Onward LSVProduct launchBackground
Club Car’s personal-vehicle business was moving toward more capable and road-oriented low-speed transportation.
Action taken
The company announced the Onward LSV with enhanced braking, occupant protection, road equipment, display technology, and pedestrian-awareness features.
Aftermath
The model broadened the Onward family toward street-legal low-speed mobility; longer-term commercial results are not established in the available sources.
2022
Acquire Garia and MelexM&ABackground
Club Car aimed to broaden its addressable market beyond traditional golf cars into street-legal neighborhood electric vehicles and lightweight utility products.
Action taken
The company acquired Danish manufacturer Garia and its Polish subsidiary Melex.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Club Car’s geographic and product reach in low-speed electric mobility and marked its first acquisition under Platinum Equity.
2021
Acquire Club Car through Platinum EquityM&ABackground
Ingersoll Rand divested Club Car as part of a change in ownership for the vehicle business.
Action taken
Platinum Equity acquired Club Car in an all-cash transaction.
Aftermath
Club Car returned to stand-alone ownership and pursued additional growth in low-speed electric vehicles, including the Garia acquisition.
Reported transaction value. $1.68 billion (2021 acquisition)
2017
Launch the customizable Onward personal vehicleStrategyBackground
Club Car sought to deepen its presence in personal transportation rather than relying primarily on golf-course fleets.
Action taken
The company introduced Onward configurations and an online customization process covering colors, accessories, seating, and related options.
Aftermath
Onward became the company’s principal personal-use vehicle family and later expanded to additional seating, lifted, and lithium-ion variants.
1995
Join Ingersoll RandM&ABackground
Club Car was acquired as Ingersoll Rand expanded its infrastructure and compact-vehicle activities.
Action taken
Club Car became part of Ingersoll Rand’s Infrastructure division and was later associated with Compact Vehicles Technology.
Aftermath
The ownership period supported expansion beyond golf cars into commercial and personal utility vehicles.
Recent events
- 2025
Craig Scanlon named president and CEO of Club Car[1]
Leadership change
Craig Scanlon was named president and chief executive officer of Club Car in June 2025.
- 2025
Club Car introduces the Onward LSV[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Club Car announced the Onward LSV, a street-oriented low-speed vehicle equipped with features including a touchscreen display, four-wheel brakes, seat belts, turn signals, mirrors, a glass windshield, a backup camera, and an acoustic vehicle alert system.
- 2022
Club Car expands into low-speed electric vehicles through Garia acquisition[1]
M&A
Club Car announced and completed the acquisition of Danish low-speed electric-vehicle manufacturer Garia, including its Polish Melex subsidiary, broadening the company’s neighborhood-electric-vehicle and lightweight-utility portfolio.
- 2021
Platinum Equity acquires Club Car from Ingersoll Rand[1]
M&A
Platinum Equity acquired Club Car from Ingersoll Rand in an all-cash transaction reported at $1.68 billion, ending Club Car’s period as an Ingersoll Rand business unit.
Sources5 sources
- 1Club Caren.wikipedia.org
- 2Club Car official websiteclubcar.com
- 3Karma Automotive debuts first Club Car Current vehicles produced under contract manufacturing agreement with AYROtheautochannel.com
- 4Karma Automotive Debuts First Club Car Current Vehicles Produced Under Contract Manufacturing Agreement With AYROprnewswire.com
- 5Mobile Cart Leader Gallery Introduces Electric Vehicles with AYRO for Safe On-the-Go Food Distribution During Pandemicprnewswire.com
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