The people's bus.
[Image:Wontfalia]

By Gunnar Heinrich

It's been a number of years since Americans have been treated to the frequent sight of VW buses/campers, last known in the 1980s as the "Westfalia".

Volkswagen is set to revive the bus - in a way - by producing minivans in tandem with the Chrysler corporation.

As part and parcel of a plan that seeks to sell 1,000,000 VWs and Audis to Americans each year in the next decade, Volkswagen has established a joint partnership with Chrysler which will see VW minivans built for the American market at the same Windsor, Ontario plant that currently manufactures the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan.

Auto Insider's Christine Tierney reported that, "the minivan segment has shrunk by about a third in the past two years, prompting General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. to get out of the business. But industry analysts say it offers VW an opportunity to expand its lineup."

Still, VWs sold on Chrysler platforms may be a tougher sell.

[Source:Auto Insider]