Dodge Caravan to Live, Town & Country to Die: Chrysler

Rumors leaking out of the Motor City are saying the Chrysler Group LLC is going the put down the Chrysler Town & Country minivan, while at the same time continue to pump out Dodge Caravans.  

The move, which will take place in 2014, should be a money saver since the two vehicles tended to compete against one another. This should have been expected of a pair of minivans possessing the same architecture. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said that the void left by the departing Town & Country will be filled by a new Chrysler crossover.
 
Holding the title of being the first minivan introduced by venerable Lee Iacocca, the Dodge Caravan has a long history of being popular and useful. Aaron Bragman, senior analyst at IHS Automotive, explaining that the vehicle’s longevity is well-deserved, said, “Frankly, when you have a family, there are few alternatives that have the utility of a minivan. You can’t push a button and open the rear doors on a crossover like you can on a minivan. It’s a big market still.”

Only time will tell if the move becomes a long-term winner. Competitors General Motors and Ford don’t seem to feel that it will be and have already replaced their minivans with sleeker crossovers awhile back.