After 20 Years, More than 10 Million Sold

Twenty years and 10 million minivan sales ago, Chrysler Group invented the "magic wagon." The magic wagon, or minivan, would go on to forever change family transportation and the automotive landscape of America's highways and driveways. It would replace the station wagon, revolutionize the cup holder industry and put America's family rooms on wheels.

"We've been building the world's best-selling minivans for the past 20 years," said Dieter Zetsche, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chrysler Group. "The 20th anniversary of the minivan is a significant milestone for our company and our employees. We take great pride in our minivans and the fact that we've sold more than 10 million minivans in more than 70 countries over the past two decades."

Time and time again, speculation surfaced that minivans, as a vehicle segment, would drive off into the sunset. Fact is, industry-wide minivan sales are vibrant, averaging 1.2 million annual sales for the past 10 years. Currently, industry-wide minivan sales account for approximately seven percent, or approximately one out of every 15 new vehicles sold in the United States. Even after 20 years, Chrysler Group continues to dominate the minivan market segment with Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan.

"Flexibility and utility never seem to go out of style," said Zetsche. "No other vehicle in the marketplace offers the space, utility and flexibility of a minivan. This company created the minivan formula and we will continue to enhance it with even more minivan-first features for the next 20 years."

Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan are manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri; Windsor, Ontario, Canada; and Graz, Austria.




The Minivan Formula

Coca-Cola® has the soft drink formula. Chrysler Group has the minivan formula.

"Twenty years ago, we created the minivan formula and we've been enhancing it ever since," said Mike Donoughe, Vice President, Family Vehicle Product Team, Chrysler Group. "I can assure you that we're not done. We have more ingredients and even more minivan-first features up our sleeves."

The Formula: Garageable front-wheel drive; low, flat floor, easy ingress and engress; chair-height seating; walk through access from front- to second-row seats; and space for a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood.

Twenty years later, Chrysler Group’s “inside out” formula is still the standard by which other minivans are measured. But it’s the entire package that has put Chrysler and Dodge minivans at the forefront of the market, with each new generation.

“Today, it’s not only about garageability and interior space,” said Donoughe. “You have to have outstanding design, innovation and excellent reliability in order to keep minivan fans coming back for more. Minivan after minivan, the Chrysler Group has done that. That’s why, even 20 years after inventing the segment, we continue to attract approximately 38 percent of the people who buy minivans, the highest market share in the industry.”



Enhancing the Formula with Even More Minivan Firsts

There’s something to be said for being first. Chrysler Group was the first to introduce the minivan 20 years ago. Over the past two decades, the company has introduced nearly 50 minivan-first features:

• First minivan to offer front-wheel drive (1984)

• First minivan to offer selection of engines, V-6 or four-cylinder (1987)

• First to offer long-wheelbase minivans (1987)

• First to offer luxury minivan with introduction of Town & Country (1990)

• First minivan to offer standard driver-side air bag (1991)

• First minivan with center high-mounted brake light (1991)

• First minivan with child safety locks on sliding door (1991)

• First minivan to offer four wheel anti-lock brakes (1991)

• First minivan to offer Quad command seating (1991)

• First minivan to offer all-wheel-drive on front-wheel drive platform (1991)

• First minivan to offer integrated child seat (1992)

• First minivan to offer standard passenger-side air bag (1994)

• First minivan with dynamic side-impact protection (1994)

• First minivan to meet California 1997 Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification (1994)

• First minivan to meet Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) certification (1995)

• First to introduce electric minivan, EPIC – Electric Powered Interurban Commuter (1995)

• First minivan with seamless passenger-side air bag door (1996)

• First minivan to offer Dual Zone Temperature Control (1996)

• First minivan in U.S. market to offer driver-side sliding door (fourth door) (1996)

• First minivan to offer windshield wiper de-icer (1996)

• First minivan to offer 16-inch wheels and tires for enhanced performance (1996)

• First minivan to offer power memory seat and mirrors (1996)

• First minivan to offer Easy-Out® Roller Seats (1996)

• First minivan to offer adjustable cup holders (1996)

• First minivan with cab-forward design (1996)

• First minivan to offer adjustable reclining rear child seat with molded seat cushion (1996)

• First minivan with removable windshield wiper module(1996)

• First minivan with mid-cabin upper level comfort control (1996)

• First minivan with dual-action rear drum brakes (1996)

• First minivan capable of transporting 4' x 8' material on top of folded seatbacks or with seat removed and liftgate closed (long wheelbase, 1996)

• First minivan with rear seatback-mounted grocery bag hooks (1998)

• First minivan to offer Flexible Fuel Vehicle availability, ethanol/gasoline (1998)

• First minivan to offer 17-inch wheels and tires for enhanced performance (1999)

• First minivan to offer AutoStick® transaxle (1999)

• First minivan to offer wireless headphones for in-vehicle entertainment system (2000)

• First minivan to offer 6.4-inch LCD screen for in-vehicle entertainment system (2000)



• First minivan to offer power-up and power-down liftgate (2001)

• First minivan to offer removable, powered center console (2001)

• First minivan with power dual sliding doors, allowing for minivan-first manual override, powered by an industry-first inside-the-door motor (2001)

• First minivan to offer power sliding door obstacle detection system when opening and closing (2001)

• First minivan to offer engines with power over 210 horsepower (2001)

• First minivan to offer pop-up rear cargo organizer (2001)

• First minivan with three-zone temperature control system (2001)

• First minivan with rear split 50/50 Easy-Out Roller Seats (2001)

Minivan Facts & Figures

The minivan market remains vibrant. In the 2002 calendar year, the segment reached 1,477,699 units, slightly lower than the segment’s all-time high of 1,654,621 minivan sales in calendar year 2000.

For the past 10 years, industry-wide minivan sales averaged approximately 1.2 million sales per year in North America.

In terms of total minivans sold, Chrysler Group continues to outsell its nearest rivals, GM and Ford nearly two-to-one. Last year, Chrysler Group outsold Honda Odyssey nearly three-to-one.

The former Chrysler Corporation began initial development work on the minivan in 1977.

The minivan program was formally approved in 1980 after the federal Chrysler Loan Guarantee Board approved $1.5 billion (U.S.) in guaranteed loans so Chrysler could move ahead with future product programs.

Advertising for the first minivan touted the vehicle as the “magic wagon.”

Since building the first minivan in November, 1983, Chrysler Group has sold more than 10 million minivans worldwide and received more than 150 industry-wide awards.

Chrysler Group’s first-generation minivans featured only two cup holders. Today’s Chrysler and Dodge minivans offer up to 14 cup holders.

Chrysler Group sells minivans in 72 countries.

Chrysler Group builds 2,766 minivans every day. That translates into 115 minivans per hour, or nearly two minivans per minute.

Approximately 20 percent of all Chrysler and Dodge minivans are ordered with a Rear Seat Video® entertainment system.

Chrysler Town & Country minivan sales have increased 182 percent since 1995.

Dodge brand has a 20 percent market share in the minivan segment (U.S.), the highest of any nameplate (34 percent market share in Canada).

Dodge Caravan is the world’s best-selling minivan and has been for the past 20 years. Dodge sells more than 250,000 Caravans per year.

Dodge Caravan has been the best-selling vehicle in Canada since 2000.