Volkswagen Routan not moving out of showrooms, future remains fuzzy

Posted: Apr 20, 2009
Filed under: Industry News, Volkswagen

The Volkswagen Routan, a minivan produced by Chrysler for V-dub, is selling so slow that not a single unit has been produced since December. The production of the Routan takes place at Chrysler’s Windsor, Ontario plant.

“We launched Routan at the worst moment,” Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America told Automotive News.

Jacoby said that no decision has been made to produce a second-generation of the Routan, which was introduced to the market in Sept. 2008. Typically, a vehicle has at least a four or five year lifespan.

Of the 22,037 units produced by Chrysler, Volkswagen has only sold 5,582. No word one when production will resume at Windsor but we’re guessing it will be when the Routan starts moving out of the showrooms.

Dealers are offering 0 percent for 60 moths and $325 monthly payments for a lease to boost sales. Volkswagen loyal customer receive a $500 loyalty cash-back.

By: The Daily Auto Editor

Related Posts:

  1. Volkswagen Routan customers can now get in-vehicle Wi-Fi
  2. Stop having babies: Volkswagen asks Chrysler to stop building Routan for a month
  3. Video: Brooke Shields says baby boom due to ‘German engineered’ VW Routan
  4. 2008 Chicago Auto Show: Volkswagen Routan breaks cover
  5. VW minivan to be called the Routan

Tags: ,


  • It seems o me that the new Chrysler van platform is a good one, be it labeled as a VW or Chrysler/Dodge product. Possibly some other marketing ploys should be attempted.
  • zermatt
    Isn't a Routan something you have to see a proctologist for?

    Like: He had a really nasty Routan from having such a poor diet, but the doctor was able to treat it with about 11 laser treatments.
  • kabluey
    It's not a bad time for a cheap minivan!

    It's a bad idea for VW!

    VW should've spent the money on producing a sexy crossover that's affordable and is a great value....duh..
  • if rebadging was their only option, they should have at least increased their 'hitting %' by dealing w/ Toyota (Sienna) or Honda (Odyssey).

    otherwise, pen their own model from ground up
  • Carlos de Vasconcellos
    The questions were and are: Why would Volkswagen have the bad taste to sell a re-badget Chrysler Minivan? Why would Volkswagen wish to enter a market segment that has been in decline for years? Why would Volkswagen spend a single penny to market an inferior Chrysler product, thereby endagering it's own reputation? Who could have gotten up one day in Wolfburg and though: "Gee, what we need is a mini-van for sale in the US and we can get Chrysler to build it for us and all we need to do is slap on our VW badges and make tons of money!"
  • Bobmarley
    As long as they can move those last 17,000 units off their lots they should be fine as long as they learned their lesson
  • HyBrad
    A self-fulfilled prophecy ... really, who would want to buy a re-badge Chrisler product. I am very surprised that VW would taint and alienate their existing clientele with such a silly practice.
blog comments powered by Disqus