November 20, 2019
, Windsor, Ontario
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FCA is celebrating 15 million minivans sold and counting since the very first minivan — a Plymouth Voyager — rolled off the line at Windsor Assembly on Nov. 2, 1983. Today, FCA continues to lead with more than half of the minivan segment in Canada, with a 52 percent share, selling twice as many minivans as any other manufacturer over more than 35 years.
“Reaching 15 million minivans sold isn’t just about hitting a number, it’s about the memories families have made and the children who have grown up driven to school or practice or on a family road trip in a Chrysler Pacifica or Pacifica Hybrid, Dodge Caravan or Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town Country or Voyager over the past three and a half decades,” said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “We continue to lead and innovate to keep our current minivan lineup the absolute best at hauling people and things and help this generation of owners make memories that will last a lifetime.”
As the first company to introduce the minivan and through six generations of the vehicle, FCA has innovated 115 minivan firsts — features that continue to make life easier for owners and their entire families and push the segment into the future. FCA firsts include the class-exclusive Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system, Uconnect Theatre, hands-free sliding doors and the only hybrid electric powertrain in the segment.
Today’s FCA minivan lineup includes the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Dodge Grand Caravan and the U.S market Chrysler Voyager.
The Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid continue to revolutionize and reinvent the minivan segment. The Pacifica Hybrid is North America’s first and only hybrid minivan and is among the top 10 best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the industry in Canada. Pacifica Hybrid achieves 2.7 Le/100 km in electric-only mode in city driving, has an all-electric range of more than 50 kilometres (31 miles) and a total range of more than 800 kilometres (497 miles).
As North America’s best-selling minivan ever, the Dodge Grand Caravan continues its decades-long history of offering families style, versatility and useful features at a tremendous value. The Grand Caravan has introduced nearly 80 segment firsts, including the industry-exclusive Super Stow ‘n Go seating, which can be easily operated with one hand, allowing users to convert seating for seven to a spacious cargo bed in seconds.
The award-winning Windsor Assembly Plant (WAP) has proudly built FCA minivans since the vehicle’s introduction in 1983. Originally constructed in 1928, today WAP measures over 371,000 square metres (4.4 million square feet) and employs nearly 6,000 people. Production of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica launched on Feb. 29, 2016, followed by the Pacifica Hybrid and this year the U.S. market Chrysler Voyager. Windsor received a silver designation in World Class Manufacturing (WCM) in March 2014, the first North American FCA facility to reach the award level. WCM is a methodology that focuses on eliminating waste, increasing productivity, and improving quality and safety in a systematic and organized way. It engages the workforce to provide and implement suggestions on how to improve their jobs and their plants.
FCA Keeps Minivan Segment Fresh With Chrysler Pacifica Red S Edition
FCA’s current lineup continues to dominate and innovate in the minivan segment with vehicles such as the new Chrysler Pacifica Red S Edition. The Chrysler Pacifica Red S Edition will be on exhibit during AutoMobility LA 2019 at the Los Angeles Convention Center Nov. 20-21 and will continue on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2019, which will be open to the public on Nov. 22-Dec 1.
With a striking crimson appearance, the Chrysler Pacifica Red S Edition brings a new look and a huge burst of attitude and colour to Pacifica’s already class-leading functional interior. The exclusive Red S interior features Rodèo Red premium Nappa leather two-tone seats accented by Light Diesel Grey stitching and piping and an “S” logo on the seatbacks. Silver Metal Brush hydro bezels embellish the instrument panel and door trim.
Exterior finishes include a Red S liftgate badge and Black Noise Chrysler wing badges with Velvet Red inserts. The Pacifica Red S Edition rides on 20-inch wheels (18-inch on Pacifica Hybrid) with a Black Noise finish. The package is rounded out by Advanced SafetyTec, featuring many of the more than 100 standard and available safety and security features of the Pacifica, 20-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio and KeySense.
The Red S Edition will be available in a range of six exterior paint colour options, including the new-for-2020 Ceramic Grey Clear Coat, as well as Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat, Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat, Billet Metallic Clear Coat, Bright White Clear Coat and Maximum Steel Clear Coat.
The new Red S Edition package is available on both Pacifica Limited gas and hybrid (late availability) models. Ordering for the package is now open for gas models at Chrysler dealerships at a Canadian Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $3,995 for the Red S Edition package.
A Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid S Appearance Package will also be on display in L.A. One out of every three Chrysler Pacifica models is sold with the popular S Appearance Package, which features black accents inside and out, creating a customized, athletic look. The package includes 18-inch wheels with a Black Noise finish and badging, Gloss Black accents throughout the exterior and an all-black interior with black seats with Light Diesel Grey accents and the “S” logo.
15 Fun Facts For 15 Million Minivans Sold
- The original minivan concept was referred to within Chrysler as the “T-115”
- The first minivan, a Plymouth Voyager, rolled off the Windsor assembly line on November 2, 1983 (as a 1984 model year vehicle)
- FCA has been the No. 1 selling minivan manufacturer every year since inventing the minivan segment
- FCA has produced enough minivans to drive the entire population of more than 100 countries, including Zimbabwe (14 million+), Belgium (11 million+) and Greece (10 million+)
- The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica is the sixth generation of the modern minivan
- One out of every three Chrysler Pacifica models sold features the popular S Appearance package
- Chrysler Pacifica has earned more than 120 honours and industry accolades, making it the most awarded minivan over the last three years
- FCA has innovated 115 minivan firsts
- First luxury minivan (1990)
- First minivan to offer integrated child seat (1992)
- First minivan with Stow ’n Go seating and storage system (2004)
- First minivan to offer dual rear seat video system able to play different media at same time (2007)
- First minivan to offer Blind Spot Monitoring System (2009)
- First and only electrified minivan with the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (2017)
- The Pacifica Hybrid ran the EPA test cycle without dipping into the gas tank
About the Chrysler Pacifica/Pacifica Hybrid
The Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid reinvent the minivan segment with an unprecedented level of functionality, versatility, technology and bold styling. Re-engineered from the ground up on an all-new platform, the Pacifica delivers class-leading gasoline and hybrid powertrains to the minivan segment. The Pacifica Hybrid takes this revolutionary vehicle a step further with its innovative, advanced hybrid powertrain. It’s the first and only electrified vehicle in the minivan segment and achieves 2.7 Le/100 km in electric-only mode in city driving, has an all-electric range of of more than 50 kilometres (31 miles) and a total range of more than 800 kilometres (497 miles). With more than 100 available safety and security features, the Uconnect Theatre rear-seat entertainment system, available 4G Wifi and a full array of comfort and convenience technologies, the Chrysler Pacifica has earned its spot as the most awarded minivan since 2016, with both the Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid serving as no-compromise minivans ideally suited for today’s families.
About FCA Canada
Founded as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925, FCA Canada Inc. is based in Windsor, Ontario, and celebrates its 94th anniversary in 2019. FCA Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCA US LLC, a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA Canada has approximately 440 dealers and sells Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. In addition to its assembly facilities, which produce the Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and Dodge Grand Caravan (Windsor), Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger (Brampton), FCA Canada operates an aluminum casting plant in Etobicoke, a research and development centre in Windsor, and has sales offices and parts distribution centers throughout the country.