First-quarter sales of minivans in 2015 were down 12%, and the segment's share of the industry's new vehicle volume tumbled to 2.8% from 3.4% in the first-quarter of 2014, a period in which total minivan volume had risen 5%, year-over-year.
Two key factors are at play in the minivan segment's U.S. decline in early 2015. Primarily, a retooling of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plant in Windsor, Ontario, is disrupting the sale of the two vans that led the category at this time a year ago and throughout the 2014 calendar year.
Second, the discontinuation of the Mazda 5 spells the end of America's true, one-vehicle "mini"-van category. 5 sales were basically cut in half in the month of March, a drop of nearly 1000 units.
| Minivan | March 2015 | March 2014 | % Change | 2015 YTD | 2014 YTD | % Change |
| Chrysler Town & Country | 5,489 | 13,242 | -58.5% | 19,874 | 28,994 | -31.5% |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 5,960 | 14,165 | -57.9% | 16,918 | 32,025 | -47.2% |
| Honda Odyssey | 11,142 | 11,008 | 1.2% | 27,088 | 27,832 | -2.7% |
| Kia Sedona | 3,638 | 641 | 468% | 7,670 | 1,539 | 398% |
| Mazda 5 | 1,063 | 2,016 | -47.3% | 4,003 | 4,988 | -19.7% |
| Nissan Quest | 905 | 1,559 | -42.0% | 2,289 | 3,319 | -31.0% |
| Toyota Sienna | 12,855 | 11,027 | 16.6% | 32,723 | 26,087 | 25.4% |
| Volkswagen Routan | — | 209 | -100% | — | 797 | -100% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 41,052 | 53,867 | -23.8% | 110,565 | 125,581 | -12.0% |
The signs of life in the industry are readily observable. Kia's launch of the third-generation Sedona resulted in a sales spike for the category's newest entrant, but even with a 468% improvement in March, for example, the Sedona was only the fifth-ranked nameplate in a seven-nameplate (and shrinking) category. Nevertheless, it's a well-received product, and if the category doesn't completely dry up and disappear – which it won't – Kia is setting the stage for a gradual ascent. For now, the Sedona's 8.9% March market share and 6.9% first-quarter share place the Kia well back of the segment leaders.
The Toyota Sienna's best-selling status required no asterisks in March. Not only did the Sienna outsell the individual FCA nameplates, Grand Caravan and Town & Country, but it outsold the pair as a combined duo. Sienna sales are up 25% in 2015, a refreshed year for the third-generation Sienna, and March volume jumped 17% to 12,855 units, 1406 better than the Chrysler/Dodge tandem managed. The Sienna was America's best-selling minivan in each of the four months leading up to March, as well.
Honda Odyssey sales have declined slightly in early 2015 but perked up marginally in the month of March, specifically. 2014 ended with a 5% Odyssey decline and a three-year low in terms of U.S. volume. (Sienna sales rose to a seven-year high in 2014.)
Regardless, both the Sienna and Odyssey have an opportunity to grab greater sales in 2015, at least with potential Chrysler/Dodge buyers who weren't looking for the absolute least expensive minivan in America.
Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures.
The post U.S. Minivan Sales – March 2015 YTD – Cain's Segments appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
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