Chrysler equals 13 million minivans
(September 11, 2010) Chrysler reached a big milestone in August selling its 13th-millionth minivan.
Chrysler officially invented the segment on Nov. 2, 1983, when the first minivan rolled off the line at Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, where Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan models are still made.
The first generation, known as the "Magic Wagon," was garageable, had front-wheel drive, could carry a 4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood and seated seven. The current platform is the fifth generation, and is sold in more than 80 countries worldwide.
A Chrysler official put together some "fun facts" about the mininvan numbers. What does 13 mllion minivans mean, exactly?
• 13 million minivans, at an average length 16-feet (the current generation is 16.9 feet long), lined up bumper to bumper would stretch across the United States from New York to Los Angeles more than 16 times.
• All 13 million minivans lined up bumper to bumper would wrap around the earth's equator 1.58 times.
• The 13 million minivans could take all the residents of the three largest states — California (37 million), Texas (25 million), New York (20 million) and the nation's 10th largest state, North Carolina (9 million) on a trip to Disneyland.
• The 13 million minivans could transport 13 million hockey teams of five skaters, a goalie and a coach, to their next game.