Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Dodge
If you believe the gossip around Detroit, one of the Chrysler Group's minivan twins is fixin' to be killed. This is not news. In fact, it's now been over one year since we first reported that either the Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan will likely get the axe by 2013. What's still unknown, however, is exactly which of the two minivans will be left standing after the vehicles merge into one Pentastar van.
"If we were to combine them into one minivan, Town & County has the natural fit to continue," Chrysler brand CEO Saad Chehab said while speaking to Automotive News, adding that the T&C is the "bread and butter" of his brand. "It's always been Town & Country that leads the way for the business of minivans, but there is a certain cache and there is loyalty that we've got to consider to move forward."
In 2010, the Chrysler Town & Country was the best-selling minivan in the United States. Things shifted in 2011, however, where the Dodge Grand Caravan outsold the Town & Country - 110,862 units to 94,320 - and both were bested by the Toyota Sienna in sales. We suspect it isn't just owner loyalty that Chrysler would be keen to maintain with the Town & Country - it's also priced higher and that presumably translates into bigger margins.
Until the next-generation Chrysler Group minivan launches in 2013, we won't know which of the two current minivans will get the axe, though earlier reports have stated that the one van could wear different badges, depending on the market. Still, one of America's minivans is going away, so sound off in our poll below to tell us which of the two nameplates you'd like to see stick around.
Chrysler CEO votes for keeping Town & Country if minivans merge [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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