Minivans Stable: Utilitarian small van isn't going away

摘要

The shine gradually is fading for the front-wheel-drive minivan as sales decline and marketers decide the "soccer mom" image doesn't cut it on the sales floor anymore. Minivan sales peaked in 1999 and 2000, when they reached 7.7% of the North American light-vehicle market, and since have fallen steadily to a 9-year low of 6.6% in 2003, according to Word's data. The numbers suggest cross/utility vehicles have sapped the most sales away from minivans, as well as from other segments. Since 2000, CUV share has climbed from 3% to 9.7%.