The company that invented the minivan 18 years ago celebrated the build of its 9 millionth minivan earlier today at its European manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria. Hundreds of Chrysler Group employees cheered as the 9 millionth minivan, a silver Chrysler Voyager, drove off of the line. “We sell nearly 600,000 minivans a year in more than 70 countries throughout the world," said Frank J. Ewasyshyn, executive vice president, Advance Manufacturing and general manager of Minivan Operations, who was working at the Windsor assembly plant when the first minivan was built. "The minivan market continues to be vibrant. Just last year, the segment climbed to an all-time high of more than 2 million sales worldwide. Our minivans continue to answer the call for utility, convenience and style.” With three minivan assembly plants, Chrysler Group has the capacity to build nearly 2,766 minivans every day, which translates into more than 115 minivans per hour, or nearly two minivans per minute. The minivan was introduced in November of 1983 at the company’s Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. Chrysler Group's formula for the minivan was simple: a garageable van, designed from the inside out, that offered easy entry and exit, chair-height seating, second seat access, low flat floor, removable seats and front-wheel drive. Over the past 18 years, the Chrysler Group enhanced the minivan formula by introducing numerous “firsts” into the segment including a driver-side sliding door, standard driver airbag, standard passenger airbag, integrated child safety seats, reclining child safety seats, grocery bag hooks, and a cab-forward design which allowed for more space and utility. The Chrysler Group was also first to offer the world's only electric-powered minivan, the EPIC (Electric Powered Interurban Commuter). The latest firsts featured in the company's all-new 2001 Chrysler and Dodge minivan lineup include a power up and down liftgate, removable power center console, pop-up rear cargo organizer and three-zone automatic temperature control. Even with more than 15 competitive nameplates from which to choose in the United States, Dodge and Chrysler continue to command more than 35 percent of the minivan segment. With 17 models, Dodge and Chrysler offer the greatest selection of minivans throughout a vast price range from $19,800 to more than $38,000 (U.S.). Industry-wide, minivans account for nearly 7 percent of all new vehicles sold in North America. Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, and Chrysler Town & Country are manufactured in St. Louis, Windsor, Ontario, and Graz, Austria.