Photo: VW
The writing has been on the wall for a couple years now, but the Volkswagen Routan is finally dead. After years of slow sales and on-again, off-again production, Volkswagen finally made it official that the Chrysler-made Routan would be dropped from the lineup following the 2014 model year.
In all honesty, we thought the VW Routan was already gone, but the final nail in the coffin didn’t happen until today’s announcement. In a minivan segment that is experiencing some resurgent growth, the Routan has always been a sales failure, which has led to production of the van being halted twice. Even worse, the Routan was only available to fleet customers following the 2012 model year.
As such, Routan sales have tanked with just 1,102 Routans being sold through the first six months of 2014, including a single sale in June. This despite a minivan market that has been picking up in recent months with strong sales and the addition of newer models like the 2015 Kia Sedona and the seven-passenger Ford Transit Connect Wagon.
Volkswagen introduced the Routan for 2009 and rumors if its death began circulating within a couple years. It was built in Canada by Chrysler at the Windsor Assembly plant alongside the highly successful minivan duo of the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.
As widely expected, one of the most telling signs that the Routan was gone for good was the recent news that VW would producing a new three-row crossover at its Chattanooga, TN assembly plant. Production of this new crossover is expected to begin by the end of 2016.
As such, Routan sales have tanked with just 1,102 Routans being sold through the first six months of 2014, including a single sale in June. This despite a minivan market that has been picking up in recent months with strong sales and the addition of newer models like the 2015 Kia Sedona and the seven-passenger Ford Transit Connect Wagon.
Volkswagen introduced the Routan for 2009 and rumors if its death began circulating within a couple years. It was built in Canada by Chrysler at the Windsor Assembly plant alongside the highly successful minivan duo of the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.
As widely expected, one of the most telling signs that the Routan was gone for good was the recent news that VW would producing a new three-row crossover at its Chattanooga, TN assembly plant. Production of this new crossover is expected to begin by the end of 2016.
Google News