Chrysler Group Celebrates Nine Millionth Minivan

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and GRAZ, Austria, March 23 The
company that invented the minivan 18 years ago celebrated the build of its
nine millionth minivan earlier today at its European manufacturing facility in
Graz, Austria.  Hundreds of Chrysler Group employees cheered as the nine
millionth minivan, a silver Chrysler Voyager, drove off of the line.
    "We sell nearly 600,000 minivans a year in more than 70 countries
throughout the world," said Frank J. Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President,
Advance Manufacturing and General Manager of Minivan Operations, who was
working at the Windsor assembly plant when the first minivan was built.  "The
minivan market continues to be vibrant.  Just last year, the segment climbed
to an all-time high of more than 2 million sales worldwide.  Our minivans
continue to answer the call for utility, convenience and style."
    With three minivan assembly plants, Chrysler Group has the capacity to
build nearly 2,766 minivans every day, which translates into more than 115
minivans per hour, or nearly two minivans per minute.
    Introduced in November of 1983 at the company's Windsor Assembly Plant in
Ontario, Canada, the segment-busting minivan would go on to replace the
station wagon, put the family room on wheels, spark the cup holder revolution
and forever change the landscape of the world's highways and driveways.
    Chrysler Group's formula for the minivan was simple: a garageable van,
designed from the inside out, that offered easy entry and exit, chair-height
seating, second seat access, low flat floor, removable seats and front-wheel
drive.
    "We continue to enhance the minivan formula by introducing even more
minivan-first features," said Ewasyshyn.  "By continuing to offer more
minivan-firsts, we are able to keep our minivan fans coming back for more and
stay top-of-mind with new buyers."
    Over the past 18 years, the Chrysler Group enhanced the minivan formula by
introducing numerous "firsts" into the segment including a driver-side sliding
door, standard driver air bag, standard passenger air bag, integrated child
safety seats, reclining child safety seats, grocery bag hooks, and a cab-
forward design which allowed for more space and utility.  The Chrysler Group
was also first to offer the world's only electric-powered minivan, the EPIC
(Electric Powered Interurban Commuter).
    The latest firsts featured in the company's all-new 2001 Chrysler and
Dodge minivan lineup include a power up and down liftgate, removable power
center console, pop-up rear cargo organizer and three-zone automatic
temperature control.
    Even with more than 15 competitive nameplates from which to choose in the
United States, Dodge and Chrysler continue to command more than 35 percent of
the minivan segment.  With 17 models, Dodge and Chrysler offer the greatest
selection of minivans throughout a vast price range from $19,800 to more than
$38,000 (U.S.).
    Industry-wide, minivans account for nearly seven percent of all new
vehicles sold in North America.  Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler
Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country are manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri;
Windsor, Ontario; and Graz, Austria.