Grand Caravan, Town & Country and Pacifica Production Being Curbed
According to a Reuters report, DaimlerChrysler Canada will be temporarily shutting down its Windsor, Ontario minivan and crossover SUV assembly plant in an attempt to thwart slower than usual sales.
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| DaimlerChrysler Canada will be temporarily shutting down its Windsor, Ontario assembly plant, "to keep inventory levels managed on minivans." (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
Mary Beth Halprin, Chrysler spokeswoman, stated Friday that the reason for next week's idling was a need "to keep inventory levels managed on minivans." The shutdown is not expected to continue for more than one to two weeks maximum.
The facility produces the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country minivans, as well as the all-new Chrysler Pacifica crossover SUV, normally at a capacity of 1,325 units per day.
While the Chrysler Group minivans, although down in sales slightly, continue to be segment leaders and among Canada's top selling vehicles, the Pacifica has reportedly not caught on as quickly as the company's execs would have liked since arriving in showrooms in March.
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| Although enjoying a surge in sales last month, the Pacifica has reportedly not caught on as quickly as the company's execs would have liked. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
The Pacifica's less than stellar sales come despite being priced thousands less than many competitors while offering more standard features and top-tier build quality. Pacifica production takes up 25 percent of the Windsor assembly facility's output.
On the positive, a surge in Pacifica sales last month as reported by Chrysler could point to a buying public that is seeing the new crossover's value proposition, enhanced recently by sales incentives.
Meanwhile, Chrysler's minivans are fighting a fierce battle against competitors that have finally started to imitate the domestic automaker's successful formula, and in some cases beat it at its own game. New vans from Ford, Toyota and Nissan, join Honda's respected entry eroding Chrysler's market share, which is showing year-to-date sales through September down 9 percent.