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From: emma@uw-june.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 85 Vettes and Chev minivan
Message-ID: <1345@uw-june>
Date: Mon, 30-Apr-84 14:30:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: uw-june.1345
Posted: Mon Apr 30 14:30:19 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 1-May-84 08:10:41 EDT
References: <89@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Organization: U. Washington, Computer Sci
Lines: 16

About the Chevy minivan-- it has a conventional, front-engine
rear-drive layout.  Reports are that it is a downsized normal van,
unlike the Toyota, Chrysler, and Ford products which are a new vehicle
class.  So I'd guess that it will have a market niche of its own, a
size notch above these other guys.

As to product planning, that's always been Chrysler's weakest point.
The '75 Cordoba sold three times the estimates.  LeBaron convertible
sales the first year were completely supply-limited.  Now, the van
plant is working three shifts and nowhere near meeting demand.  On the
other end, we all remember the '81 Imperial (did they sell any at all)
and the product introduction for the K cars, which nearly finished off
the company.  Lee has the engineering and marketing back, quality is
almost there; estimating new product demand is the next big challenge
for Mopar.

-Joe P.