History
The Routan resulted from a 2005 partnership between Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler. Prior to the agreement, Volkswagen had no minivan model for the United States or Canadian markets. 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. 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.
As with its rebadged variants the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, 2009 Routan models were recalled in June 2010 for a fire hazard stemming from an improperly routed wire harness.
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 there would be no 2013 model but held open the possibility that development may resume with a potential 2014 model.
Read more about this topic: Volkswagen Routan
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