Volkswagen has reentered the van-selling business in the United States, a market they had previously struggled to crack due to competition from SUVs and affordable minivans manufactured by Detroit and Japan. The last Volkswagen Transporter, known as the EuroVan, was sold in North America from 1992 to 2003. These vans are now a rare sight in junkyards as they were overshadowed by the popularity of SUVs and other minivan options.
Recently, a first-year EuroVan was discovered in a Denver-area junkyard. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that this particular van was originally intended for sale in Canada. It is not uncommon to find Canadian-market cars in US junkyards as they are legally allowed to drive in the US for one year before requiring proper registration. Since the EuroVan was manufactured in 1992, well before the 25-year importation limit, this van could have been imported legally after 2017.
Although the instrument cluster was missing from the EuroVan, the transmission type indicated that it was likely purchased across the border. While EuroVans with five-speed manual transmissions were available in the US, they were not popular among buyers. This particular van was equipped with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine producing 109 horsepower. However, due to its weight of nearly two tons, it fell in line with the traditionally slow VW Transporters.
An interesting observation made in the junkyard was the presence of spare engine parts inside the van. This often indicates that the engine had experienced problems, which likely contributed to the van’s fate of ending up in the junkyard.
Despite their rarity in junkyards today, EuroVans still have a dedicated following in the United States. In fact, there are two EuroVans parked on the street in the author’s Denver neighborhood. However, these vans may not impress the owners of the half-dozen Vanagon Syncros, a different Volkswagen model, who also reside in the area.
Although the EuroVan shares some characteristics with minivans, Volkswagen of America’s marketers have made it clear that it should not be classified as such. According to them, the EuroVan is anything but mini and is well-suited for tasks that require a larger vehicle than a Passat.
While Volkswagen faced challenges with selling vans in the US in the past, they have continued to produce and sell the Transporter for the European market. This indicates that they have not completely abandoned the van segment and are still invested in meeting the needs of their European customers.
In conclusion, Volkswagen’s reentry into the van-selling business in the United States with the EuroVan marks a new chapter for the automaker. Although their previous attempts to sell vans in the US were met with limited success, there is still a dedicated group of enthusiasts who appreciate and value these vehicles. With their continued production of vans for the European market, Volkswagen has demonstrated that they remain committed to meeting the diverse needs of their customers around the world.