Volkswagen Routan

The Routan marked the start of Volkswagen's business strategy to offer additional vehicles specially developed for the U.S. market.{{cite web |url= http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2009/03/GB_2008.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2008_e.pdf |title=2008 Annual Report |page=182 |publisher=Volkswagen AG |access-date=2 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120722061829/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2009/03/GB_2008.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2008_e.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2012}} The introduction of the 2009 model year minivan resulted from a partnership that began in 2005 between Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler. Before the agreement, Volkswagen had no minivan model for the United States or Canadian markets. The Routan was sold only in North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico).{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=QUA123NvjZcC&q=Routan+Mexico&pg=PA285 |pages=284–285 |title=Developing International Strategies: Going and Being International for Medium-sized Companies |first1=Rudolf |last1=Grünig |first2=Dirk |last2=Morschett |publisher=Springer-Verlag |year=2012 |isbn=9783642247248 |via=Google Books |access-date=6 July 2022}}

The automaker's intent in outsourcing production of the Routan to Chrysler was to avoid the significant expense of developing its family-sized minivan.{{cite news|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/09/23/vw-routan-suv-crossblue/2856593/ |title=VW axes Routan van, mulls 7-passenger SUV replacement |first=James R. |last=Healey |newspaper=USA Today |date=23 September 2013 |access-date=2 March 2015}} VW announced in an early 2008 projection that the company intended for the Routan and other models to help achieve significant expansion of U.S. sales.{{cite web|title=VW Plans to Triple U.S. Vehicle Sales |publisher=Car & Driver |date=1 September 2007 |url= https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a17012474/vw-plans-to-triple-us-vehicle-sales-news/ |access-date=6 July 2022}} The Routan was Volkswagen's first van offered in North America since discontinuation of the Volkswagen Eurovan in 2003, and is not related to the European-market Volkswagen Touran.{{cite news |last=Vander Doelen |first=Chris |title=VW's Routan to roll off Windsor Assembly |newspaper=Windsor Star |date=22 January 2008 |url= http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/business/story.html?id=c728f842-dbdf-4a17-a637-88c7b33b8610 |access-date=2 March 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182818/http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/business/story.html?id=c728f842-dbdf-4a17-a637-88c7b33b8610 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}

In 2012, Volkswagen halted production of the Routan at Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario, plant despite having a production contract that ran through 2014. In January 2013, Volkswagen announced that there would be no 2013 retail model but held open the possibility that development may resume with a potential 2014 model. The 2013 Routan was reserved for fleet purchasers, and Chrysler produced 2,500 during the calendar year.{{cite web |url= https://s3.amazonaws.com/chryslermedia.iconicweb.com/mediasite/attachments/December-13_Month_PR.pdf |title=Chrysler Group LLC December 2013 Production Data |date=15 January 2014 |publisher=Chrysler Group |access-date=6 July 2022}}

Autotrader.com opined that industry observers wouldn't be surprised by VW's decision to drop the Routan due to its poor sales figures, and as most shoppers found no reason for selecting the Routan over the similar Dodge Grand Caravan or the Chrysler Town & Country, and the Routan's base price of nearly $28,000 was far more than the basic $21,000 Grand Caravan, while the Routan's list of equipment was less than included on the upscale Town & Country.

The Routan featured a rebranded version of Chrysler's hard-drive-based audio and navigation system—marketed by Chrysler as the MyGig system and by Volkswagen as the Joybox.{{cite web |title=Joybox - Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Trademark Registration |url= https://uspto.report/TM/77498677 |work=USPTO. report |access-date=30 November 2023}}{{cite web |title=VW Routan UConnect Radio |url= https://mygig-disk.com/touran.php |website=mygig-disk.com |access-date=30 November 2023}} Routans for 2010 offered optional Wi-Fi access, which was also provided in Dodge and Chrysler versions as UConnect Web.

The Routan was not offered with Chrysler's Stow'n Go nor Swivel'n Go seating systems. Instead, the second-row seats in the Routan feature the Easy Out Roller Seat system. As the Routan retains the underfloor recesses, it can be field-modified using Chrysler or Dodge parts to have Stow'n Go or Swivel'n Go seats.

At first, the Routan was available with the Chrysler 3.8 L V6 engine producing {{convert|197|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|230|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}}, and the 4.0 L V6 producing {{convert|251|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|259|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}}—with either engine mated to Chrysler's 62TE six-speed automatic transaxle with manual shift capability (See Ultradrive#62TE).

In 2011, the Routan was available with a new engine from Chrysler, the 3.6 L V6 producing {{convert|283|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|260|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}} mated to a six-speed automatic from Chrysler.

File:2009 Volkswagen Routan SE rear -- 09-28-2008.jpg

Volkswagen Group of America had projected for the Routan to gain at least five percent of the U.S. minivan market,{{cite news|title=Chrysler-built Routan has VW look |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first=Christopher |last=Boyce |date=7 February 2008 |url= http://business.highbeam.com/435553/article-1G1-174361244/minivan-vw-can-call-its-own-routan-being-built-chrysler |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160310003057/https://business.highbeam.com/435553/article-1G1-174361244/minivan-vw-can-call-its-own-routan-being-built-chrysler |url-status= dead |archive-date= 10 March 2016 |publisher=Highbeam |access-date=2 March 2015}} or 45,000 units of the 700,000 minivans sold currently. In January 2009, VW of America asked Chrysler Canada to stop production of the Routan during February after 29,000 Routans had been shipped to US dealerships. By July 2009, 11,677 units had been sold.{{cite web|title=Routan Bust? VW asks Chrysler to stop building minivans for February |website=autoblog.com |first=Chris |last=Paukert |date=30 January 2009 |url= https://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/routan-bust-vw-asks-chrysler-to-stop-building-minivans-for-febr/ |access-date=6 July 2022}}

Volkswagen de México markets the Routan alongside the Transporter (formerly marketed locally as the Eurovan), replacing the European-built Volkswagen Sharan minivan in the autumn of 2008.

Volkswagen Canada began selling the Routan in the autumn of 2008. Like its United States counterpart, VW Canada had yet to feature a minivan in its vehicle lineup since the discontinuation of the Eurovan. For the four months that the Routan minivan was on sale in Canada in 2008 (September through December), the company sold 335 units. The only engine available was the 4.0 L. The 3.8 L was not available in Canada.{{cite press release |title=Volkswagen Canada December 2008 and full-year 2008 sales |publisher=Volkswagen Canada |via=Newswire Canada |date=5 January 2009 |url= http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2009/05/c5215.html?view=print |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110609223217/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2009/05/c5215.html?view=print |archive-date=9 June 2011 |access-date=6 July 2022}} An evaluation of 2011 Canadian-market models described the Dodge-based minivan as "one of the best on the road and the VW version is a real bargain compared to buying a well-optioned Chrysler version" and that includes a nicer interior as well as sportier suspension and steering.{{cite book |last1=Spencer |first1=Zack |title=Motormouth: The Complete Canadian Car Guide |date=2010 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9780470964163 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mV7UM5t9cKIC&dq=Routan+suspension&pg=PT401 |via=Google Books |access-date=6 July 2022}}

At the 2013 North American International Auto Show, Volkswagen revealed the Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept SUV. The automaker is considering a seven-passenger SUV based on the show car as a replacement for the Routan. The production SUV, called Atlas, was launched in 2017 as a 2018 model.

"Volkswagen recalled 20,676 examples of the 2009–2010 Routan minivan to replace their key fobs and ignition switches." "In these vehicles, it's possible that if the switch is jarred, the key can be jostled out of the Run position. If this happens, the engine shuts off, and the airbags, power steering, and power brakes are all deactivated, which is a safety problem."{{cite web|url= https://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/16/volkswagen-routan-ignition-switch-recall/ |title=Volkswagen recalls 20k Routans to replace ignition switch |first=Chris |last=Bruce |date=16 April 2015 |website=autoblog.com |access-date=6 July 2022}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• {{imcdb vehicle|make=VW|model=Routan|VW Routan}}
• [http://www.vw.com/routan/en/us/ Volkswagen of America Routan Website]
• [http://mx.volkswagen.com/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/es_mx/models/Routan.html Volkswagen Mexico Routan Website]
• [http://www.vw.ca/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/en_ca_qu/models/Routan.html Volkswagen Canada Routan Website]

{{VW}}

{{Volkswagen (North America) timeline 1980 to date}}

Category:Cars introduced in 2009

Category:Cars discontinued in 2014

Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles

Category:Minivans

Routan

Category:2010s cars