DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen to Build a Minivan for the US Market

[ASurroca]

05 January 2006
DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND VOLKSWAGEN TO BUILD A MINIVAN FOR THE US-MARKET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. / WOLFSBURG, Germany - DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group and Volkswagen will develop and produce a new van for the North American market. The vehicle is to be marketed under the Volkswagen brand. A corresponding agreement will be signed at the Detroit Motor Show.

Production of the Volkswagen minivan, which will be based on the next generation Chrysler and Dodge minivan will begin in 2008.

“This an important and groundbreaking decision for the Volkswagen brand in the USA”, said Wolfgang Bernhard, Chairman of the VW Brand Board of Management. “In the Volkswagen product range we are missing a van for families, which meets the specific requirements of our American customers. With this new vehicle we are going to enter another important market segment with our own product.”

"This is a win-win deal for both the Chrysler Group and Volkswagen," said Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda. "With our manufacturing and platform engineering flexibility, we can deliver a high-quality product specifically tailored to Volkswagen's customers' tastes with little or no substitution effect on the current Dodge and Chrysler minivan lineup.”

source: VWoA press release

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More information and spyphotos available at Allpar.com

I'm sure some enthusiasts will cry foul, but this is an important step toward being more than a little niche brand in the US. Call it "selling out", but to make a lot of sales, a company has to make compromises, and frankly, the idea of a Chrysler/Volkswagen minivan is better than, say, a Ford/Volkswagen minivan (cough, Europe's Sharan). And an US-built Volkswagen will mean VAG won't have to worry about exchange rates.

[madjalapeno]

I drove a Mercedes A-class in London, was smaller and more nippy than a minivan.

Would be nice to see a proper VW van though, specially with a split screen.

[Deserion]

Considering that Chrysler's quality and design are improving with each new model, I'm sure this won't be such a bad thing to behold.

-Des

[SeeMKay]

My Sister and Brother-in-law are looking for a vehicle, possible mini van....and are proud owners of an AUDI A4 stationwagon now.....I am sure they will both love this news!!! (considering they are/were interested in the Pacifica)

[Porkchop]

But if I read this right, it sounds like its saying they're going to rebadge the Chrysler van for VW to sell. What the fahrvergnugen is up with that?

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by Porkchop

But if I read this right, it sounds like its saying they're going to rebadge the Chrysler van for VW to sell. What the fahrvergnugen is up with that?

Yeah, good question.

[digitalputty]

This angers me ....

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by digitalputty

This angers me ....

Why?

Just curious...

[larryziegler]

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

Why?

Just curious...

Economics!

As far as re-badging a Dodge Caravan, what Porkchop said is partially correct, as the body and drivetrain will be from Chrysler, however, VW will design the interior. The need for a people hauler is apparently necessary for VW's marketing plans and they can get one on the road sooner by collaborating with someone else.

[Deserion]

And don't forget that Wolfgang Bernhard was a former DaimlerChrysler exec.

-Des

[digitalputty]

We dont need another minivan on the road. There are too many already and, if someone wants a minivan they can buy one of the many already in existance.

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by digitalputty

We dont need another minivan on the road. There are too many already and, if someone wants a minivan they can buy one of the many already in existance.

To that, I agree.

[Fowvay]

There are too many sterile and boring mini vans on the market. What we need is an alternative for those of us that actually like to drive and not sit in an oversized chair, sipping coffee, talking on the phone, watching DVDs and watching the world slip by.

We need an interesting, fun, inexspensive, fuel efficent, useable lil box like the old Microbuses. Not a rebadged Chrysler minivan. If I wanted one of those I would buy it... obviously I don't. I still lust after Vanagons and thought the Eurovan brilliant.... overpriced but brilliant. VW you can do this I know you can.

Quit having all these meetings and trying to come up with new, bigger and better ideas. The best ideas are old ideas that are just old enough that people forgot about them and then they appear new.

The Microbus would be a breath of fresh air in a very stale look alike market. Don't build that $50,000 uber luxary thing you were parading around for the last few years but build one for the rest of us... the blue collar crowd.. your bread and butter.

Tom aka Fowvay

[Growler]

Amen Brother!

[digitalputty]

... "The Peoples Car".

VW is on its way to being overpriced and too luxurious. They need to redesign and rebuild things that made them Volkswagen. Not these 'new' things with other companies.

[Deserion]

And yet, I have not even seen mentioned a selling price yet. Seeing how the Dodge version of the DC van is the cheaper of the two, the VW van could also be in a lower price bracket. But, I guess we see "Chrysler" and think "$$$".

Wonder if people complained when VW collaborated with Toyota on the Taro, or Ford on the Galaxy? How about we wait until the product is introduced first, to see if it's a clone or something a bit different?

-Des

[Fowvay]

Originally Posted by Deserion

I guess we see "Chrysler" and think "$$$".

Huh... Thats not what I think of .. well it is kinda shaped like a "$" sign.. it is curly, hot, and steamy but it is usually coming out of the rear end of a Mammal..

[Deserion]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

Huh... Thats not what I think of .. well it is kinda shaped like a "$" sign.. it is curly, hot, and steamy but it is usually coming out of the rear end of a Mammal..

-Des

[ursabug]

I think Chrysler's going in the right direction. I think VW needs to expand its offerings or do something somewhat different in the U.S.

When we bought our Escape (Midnight edition ), we first looked to VW. They didn't have anything close - we're all tall, and the small wagon thing just didn't do it for us.

The Tuareg is great, but it's expensive and uses more gas than I'd like in a people hauler. It doesn't fit the bill for us, either.

I'd like to see something positive come out of this new "friendship", though.

[kcfoxie]

I'm kind of happy to see this; if VW can market an already decent offering (Dodge has made Caravan since I was born, going on 23 years now) then we might get a Westfalia version -- to which I'd buy in a heartbeat; even if Automatic. What this does guarantee, though, is it will never see a 5-speed and unlikely to be diesel ever. We can hope that it's got a nice Microbus-like feel to it, or somethig akin to the Sharon sold over seas.

This isn't really a bad thing, I don't think. Even if you think it is: VWs current marketing strategy is to hook the young ones at 25+ with Jetta/Golf V, then offer a van and SUV when they are married with kids 10 years or so later. The idea is to grab up the "working class" of button pushers, at least that's what everything thats come with our Jetta V has led me to believe.