Minivan to Turn 'Sweet 16'
18 October 1999
Minivan to Turn 'Sweet 16'
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 18 The minivan will celebrate 16
candles this November 2. DaimlerChrysler, which virtually created the popular
minivan segment, will mark the occasion by celebrating the sale of its eight
millionth minivan worldwide.
"Sixteen-years-old is young and enthusiastic," said Frank J. Ewasyshyn,
DaimlerChrysler's Senior Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing and General
Manager of Minivan Operations. "Through the past 16 years, we've maintained
our best-selling status in the segment by continuing to offer the greatest
selection of the most attractive minivans in the market.
"And in order to sell eight million of anything, it's important to
demonstrate innovation and excitement for your product on a consistent basis,"
said Ewasyshyn, who recently assumed James P. Holden's minivan general manager
responsibilities after Holden was named President of DaimlerChrysler. "Over
the past 16 years, we've introduced 38 minivan firsts to the segment without
walking away from the formula that's made us successful. The good news is
that we have more minivan firsts up our sleeves and don't plan to give up our
overwhelming popularity in the segment."
DaimlerChrysler's 38 minivan firsts include:
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 Chrysler 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 antilock 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 in U.S. market to offer driver-side sliding door
(fourth door) (1996)
First minivan to offer Dual Zone Temperature Control (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(R) (1996)
First minivan to offer adjustable cup holders (1996)
First minivan with cab forward design (1996)
First minivan to offer adjustable reclining back 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 computer controlled evaporator (1996)
First minivan with patented long-travel suspension (1996)
First minivan with self-contained load leveling rear suspension shock
absorbers (1996)
First minivan with dual-action rear drum brakes (1996)
First minivan capable of transporting 4' x 8' material on top of folded
seat backs or with seats removed and liftgate closed
(long wheelbase, 1996)
First minivan with rear seat back-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(R) transmission (1999)
First minivan to offer wireless headphones for in-vehicle entertainment
systems (2000)
DaimlerChrysler sells over 600,000 minivans worldwide every year and owns
approximately 40 percent of the North American minivan market. Since
introducing the minivan in 1983, DaimlerChrysler has sold nearly eight million
minivans worldwide and received more than 130 awards.
Even after nearly 16 years, the minivan market remains strong. Industry-
wide, minivan sales account for approximately eight percent of all new
vehicles sold in North America. For the past five years, annual industry-wide
minivan sales have averaged 1.2 million a year.