 News of October 5, 1999
Page 1 of 4
DaimlerChrysler
Gets Conceptual with its Popular Minivans
. |
DaimlerChrysler, which sells more minivans worldwide than any
other manufacturer, has unveiled a trio of concept minivans to meet consumer lifestyles.
Their development is a balancing act to satiate buyers' ever-evolving tastes: capitalize
on the strengths that are a hallmark of the minivan, while expanding in style and
performance to fit the growing wants and needs of consumers.
. |
| "We are the leader in the minivan segment and we
continue to have plenty of new and exciting ideas for the minivan market", says Kevin
M. Tourneur, senior manager of DaimlerChrysler minivan operations. A special report looks
at how DaimlerChrysler is expanding minivan loyalty by adapting to consumer lifestyles.
The goal: Grow with customers and the changes in their lives. |
Plymouth Voyager XG
Photo: DaimlerChrysler |
| Growing the Market |
| No one disputes DaimlerChrysler's dominance of the North American minivan
market. The company introduced the first minivan in 1983 and has never relinquished its
hold on sales. Today, approximately 40 percent of minivan sales in the United States --
more than 600,000 vehicles worldwide -- are Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth minivans, what
Chairman Robert J. Eaton calls the "crown jewels" of DaimlerChrysler Corp. |
Dodge Caravan R/T
Photo: DaimlerChrysler |
| DaimlerChrysler works hard to learn what North American
consumers want in their minivans. In creating the three concept minivans, the minivan
platform team explored everything from ESPN2 to golf carts and Chrysler muscle cars of the
1960s. The objective: study consumer lifestyles and life stages and pattern a minivan that
complements the various stages of work and play in a person's life. DaimlerChrysler
minivans traditionally appeal to three groups of consumers. The Plymouth Voyager is an
entry-level minivan. Buyers typically range anywhere from 30 to 54, with a household
income stretching from $30,000 to $70,000. That makes the Voyager, at
under $20,000, a good fit for the family budget, as well as the family's needs. The Dodge
Caravan is the company's minivan stronghold. It is the world's best-selling
minivan, appealing to middle-age drivers whose annual paycheck is a nudge over the $50,000
mark. Up to 50 percent of the company's minivan sales are in this arena, accounting for
300,000 Caravan purchases a year. The third offering is the Chrysler Town and
Country, which has growing appeal with drivers who enjoy the luxury of a sedan
but want the versatility of a minivan. Town and Country buyers have the highest income of
DaimlerChrysler minivan owners, and have shown they are eager to pay for such luxuries as
plush carpeting and heated leather seats trimmed with suede.
|
50
Years of Audi in Ingolstadt: Recollections
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| Ingolstadt - Audi is presenting its more recent history in the form of an
exhibition: in the presence of the Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Edmund Stoiber and the
First Mayor of Ingolstadt, Peter Schnell, Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman of the Board
of Management of AUDI AG, today officially opened an exhibition entitled "50 Years of
Audi in Ingolstadt: Recollections" in the Parade Hall, in Ingolstadt's Klenzepark.
"The exhibition is a tribute to our home city of Ingolstadt. Our ties with this place
now extend back 50 years - a period on which we can look back with pride and
satisfaction," Paefgen. |
 Audi's Oldtimer Cars
Photo: Audi |
.
From October 2, 1999 to November 28, 1999 a large selection of both classic and modern
cars, motorcycles and other exhibits will be on show. The key landmarks in the progress of
both the company itself and its products are illustrated vividly by means of photographs
and quotations, providing a vivid insight into the way the plant has evolved over the
years. The exhibition is rounded off by Audi's latest models. The exhibition is open every
day from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Entrance is free. |
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