Chrysler Soldiers On as Minivan-Only Brand, Grand Caravan Now Above $50K
With production of the 300 sedan coming to a close in the next few days, Chrysler will be a minivan-only brand in 2024. CEO Christine Feuell believes the segment, which is experiencing 40 percent growth this year after slow pandemic years, will grow another 15 percent next year and remain stable until the end of the decade.
The Pacifica and Grand Caravan appear to be safe for the foreseeable future. In fact, the former will receive a significant update for 2025.
- Also: Rear-Seat Passengers at Risk in Today's Minivans, IIHS Warns
- Also: Stellantis to Spend $3.6B to Transform Ontario Plants for EV Future
Its less popular twin won’t be so lucky, however. In the U.S., where it goes by the name Voyager, this minivan is now sold to fleets only. Up north, the Grand Caravan is available in a single trim level (SXT) and seems like an afterthought in the company’s plans, although a politically correct Feuell told us it remains an important product in the Canadian market.
No changes are in store for 2024 other than two new body colours (Baltic Grey and Red Hot), and yet pricing has increased from $47,990 to $51,265 when including freight and PDI. That’s right: you have to spend more than fifty grand for a Grand Caravan these days—clearly not the bargain and high-value offering it used to be as a Dodge.
Earlier this fall, Chrysler celebrated the 40th year of minivan production in Windsor, Ontario. Feuell expects the plant to build more units in 2024 than it did this year despite all the retooling work that will be necessary to prepare for assembling the next generation of Dodge muscle cars. Total investments in Windsor amount to $1.89 billion.
Chrysler, which is committed to becoming an all-electric brand by 2028, will show in 2024 a different concept than the Airflow we’ve already seen, previewing the production model of Chrysler’s first EV that’s scheduled to launch in 2025.
