VW asks Chrysler to stop building minivans for February

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Feb. 1, 2009

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/rout ... -for-febr/

Routan Bust? VW asks Chrysler to stop building
minivans for February

by Chris Paukert on Jan 30th 2009 at 3:29PM


Evidently, early consumer feedback suggests that Fahrvergnügen
is not spelled "R-o-u-t-a-n." Volkswagen has reportedly asked
Chrysler Canada to temporarily halt production for the month of
February on its new ported-over minivan.

Initial Routan sales have been slow, with the Windsor Star reporting
that around 29,000 units have been shipped to dealers, but only a
few thousand have actually been sold. The production stoppage
should help stem the supply overage somewhat, but all signs point
to the Routan having a rough road ahead – and not just because of
the increasingly dire economic climate. VW's Brooke Shields "Routan
Boom" ad campaign appears to have drawn more quizzical looks and
outright scorn than potential buyers, and critics are questioning how
well the vehicle lines up with VW's brand image.

If nothing else, the Routan clearly has the finest interior of any
model in the Chrysler minivan family and a quick spin by this
author suggests that it's the best driving, too. Still, those positive
aspects don't appear to be enough to guarantee homes for the 300
or so Routans leaving the plant each day.
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