Rumor: Chrysler Portal Going Into Production as Electric Minivan

A new report published by Automotive News indicates the Portal concept, which was first shown at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, will go into production in 2020 as a battery electric minivan. It won’t replace the Pacifica, with Chrysler instead choosing to sell the two vans alongside each other.

FCA’s intention to put the Portal into production could be at least partially inspired by its partnership with autonomous driving company Waymo. The Google subsidiary already operates a fleet of autonomous Pacifica Hybrid prototype vehicles and has plans to put another 62,000 of the self-driving vehicles on US roads. There have been whispers that FCA and Waymo may reach a deal to eventually put its autonomous tech into FCA vehicles, and the Portal, an electric people mover, would be well-suited to adopt such innovations. Who knows? Waymo might even want to use such a vehicle for its self-driving taxi service one day.

SEE ALSO: You Can Now Buy a Blacked Out Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The Chrysler 300 sedan, meanwhile, will go out of production in 2020, AN reports. This was to be expected, with the American automotive industry now turning its back on small cars and sedans as consumers flock to trucks, SUVs and crossovers. FCA was among the first automakers to adjust its sedan strategy, canceling the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart in 2016 in order to free up production space to make other vehicle types. The Dodge Charger, which shares a platform with the 300, will continue on, with a redesigned version of the sedan expected to debut next year.

The Chrysler Pacifica is due to get a redesign in 2020 as well, with a next-generation version allegedly slated to arrive in 2024.

[Source: Automotive News]

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