The End of An Era: GM Kills the Minivan

[YSSMAN]

General Motors will likely bow out of the minivan business once production of its existing models ends, according to a report by the Detroit News. Rival Ford has already decided to scrap its minivan offerings early next year, with a new van/crossover based on the Ford Fairlane concept set to replace the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey in early 2008.

According to the newspaper, GM confirmed it had scrapped plans to build new minivan models that would have debuted as early as 2009. The company stopped short of saying it was ready to exit the segment entirely, but company insiders told the News there were no plans for new models after GM closes its last minivan-producing plant in Doraville, Ga.

It's unclear if GM plans to build a competitor to the van-like Ford Fairlane, or if its GMC Acadia, the Saturn Outlook, and Buick Enclave will be used to fill the gap. GM's Bob Lutz wouldn't comment on future product plans, but he admitted minivans represented a "declining segment," while crossovers with three rows of seating "can meet the same customer needs."

Good riddance is all I have to say. The outgoing Lambada minivans were garbage, there isn't any way around it. The styling was horrible, the build quality disappointing, and all together the models felt quite dated compared to the reasonably new Sienna and Odyssey. Sure, there were some good ideas in them... I particularly liked GM's decision to drop a hard-drive in them for music and videos (I believe a first for the industry?), but the products just sucked.

I would say that the Saturn turned out the best of the Lambada vans, the Buick and Pontiac easily the worst, but the sooner they get rid of them, the sooner GM can focus on other things that are "more important."

Replacements as they point out will be coming in the form of the GMT960 crossovers, but they are still going to need something else to compliment the sales of the SUV-like crossovers, maybe more of a European-based MPV. I'm all for the Vauxhall Zafira coming across the pond to better compete with the Mazda 5. Noting outrageous there, but offering enough space and functionality to keep most "soccer Moms" happy.

 

[Sage]

Those things are disgusting. What surprises me more than GM ever producing them is that people actually buy them – I’ve seen way more Chevy Uplanders than I care for. I guess it’s a pricing issue, but still, com’n!

 

[harrytuttle]

Replacements as they point out will be coming in the form of the GMT960 crossovers, but they are still going to need something else to compliment the sales of the SUV-like crossovers, maybe more of a European-based MPV. I'm all for the Vauxhall Zafira coming across the pond to better compete with the Mazda 5. Noting outrageous there, but offering enough space and functionality to keep most "soccer Moms" happy.

It seems that while people really could use the space afforded by real minivans, they simply can't stand the image and are long since spoiled by SUVs. I guess that explains the resurgence of MPVs: minivan-like space, SUV-ish appearance. Considering how popular the Zafira was in Europe, I'd like to see how it does here. Too bad Renault hasn't crossed over yet. Their Espace et. al. should do well...I think.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm all for the Espace! Obviously I would be pulling for the Zafira based on my liking for GM products, but anything is better than nothing. I quite like the current Mazda 5, as it still maintains some of the sporty nature of a car but also has the practicality of a small minivan.

The perfect vehicle?

...Well I wouldn't go that far, but here in America, they could be very popular with young families and other "practical" Gen-X and Gen-Y folks...

 

[GT4_Rule]

I don't think they should have quit the minivan business entirely. Just redesign it. WIth excellent products coming out from its plants these days, I'm sure they could've breathe life into their current lineup.

 

[Alex.]

they killed the minivan when they first started it

 

[YSSMAN]

Chrysler started the minivan, GM attempted to keep-up with things like the Astro and the Lumina MPV. Nearly 20 years later, GM realized it wasn't making them any money, as the follow-up to their most successful minivan (the Montana SV6) tanked faster than anyone had suspected.

Last I had heard, sales of the Odyssey and Sienna weren't particularly strong, but they are still some of the best minivans you could buy here in America. I myself am more of a fan of the Hyundai Entourage or the Mazda 5, but that may just be me.

...Anyway, most former GM minivan owners will probably be happy to know that the GMT960 "crossovers" will be far better suited to those tasks anyway...

 

[SlipZtrEm]

One thing I've always been confused about: The Espace was the first MPV/minivan in Europe, while we had the Caravan/Voyager/Town & Country (I don't know if they were all there the first year, but you get my point). So which really was "first"?

As far as I can tell up here both the Odyssey and Sienna are selling well, while the Quest, Entourage, and new Sedona aren't doing too well (though the last-gen Kia did quite well). I wouldn't group the 5 with those, since it's noticeably smaller, but I do agree that it's a nice car. It actually feels very close to the 3 it's based on . And while I agree minivans aren't exactly desireable, I'm pretty sure I'd grab any of them over a small or mid-size soft-roader. I see no advantages with the latter.

I really don't understand how the GMT960-based vehicles will be a suitable replacement; the Astro never really panned out .

 

[Pupik]

The outgoing Lambada minivans were garbage...

The forbidden minivan? Sorry, I got a good, but cheap laugh out of this, at 4am in the morning.

I know you meant lambda...Those GM minivans were almost exact copies of the 1993 Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager, which were outdated in about 12 months, anyhow. If you're going to copy, pick something better. And disguising them to look like SUVs is the worst example of face-lifting I've ever seen since Tammy Fay Baker.

 

[Philly]

When I was reading this, I was wondering why the Caravan would be scrapped. Then I realized that the Caravan was not GM. I had to stop and think for a couple minutes of what the GM minivan was. The disgusting Uplander finally apeared in my mind and I read on...

No, they definitly won't be missed.

 

[Firebird]

One thing I've always been confused about: The Espace was the first MPV/minivan in Europe, while we had the Caravan/Voyager/Town & Country (I don't know if they were all there the first year, but you get my point). So which really was "first"?

Caravan/Voyager was first, by a few months.

 

[usedHONDA]

I couldn't stand that Buick van .

 

[harrytuttle]

I'm all for the Espace! Obviously I would be pulling for the Zafira based on my liking for GM products, but anything is better than nothing. I quite like the current Mazda 5, as it still maintains some of the sporty nature of a car but also has the practicality of a small minivan.

If Renault were to return to the US (as they keep implying that they will), then their current success in F1 would mean it's the perfect time to re-create the Espace F1. Nothing would give minivan's a better shot in the arm than a breadbox that outruns a 911 Turbo.

Any new ideas (i.e., Zafira, Espace, et. al.) would re-invigorate the minivan/MPV market. I think it's only been stagnant because the focus of car companies has been just about everything else: sports cars/coupes, muscle cars, minivans that claim not to be minivans, SUVs, luxury SUVs....

The perfect vehicle?

From a purely logical point of view, yes. The MPV has everything that a family needs: economical, spacious, easy to drive, and actually honest about it's real off-road aspirations. The only thing it "lacks" is image, but that's something totally subjective anyway.