New CEO Matt McAlear painted a rosy picture of the future and promises we'll learn more in May
29 minutes ago
by Stephen Rivers
- Chrysler says minivans are making a comeback as SUV prices keep climbing.
- Updated Pacifica is now being positioned as both luxurious and adventurous.
- The brand’s CEO still won’t say what’s next, but promises more news in May.
It’s been about a week since Chrysler unveiled its new and improved Pacifica. While it’s not what we’d call revolutionary, the brand clearly thinks it’s on the right track. New CEO Matt McAlear, who recently stepped in for Chris Fuell, believes the Pacifica is positioned for a new resurgence in minivan sales. While he didn’t divulge what else Chrysler might build in the near future, he does say more details are coming next month.
That confidence lands in an awkward spot. Chrysler’s entire lineup currently revolves around a single idea, the minivan, and that naturally raises questions about what comes next. The numbers don’t help quiet that conversation either. In the first quarter, Chrysler moved 25,423 Pacifica and Voyager models, a 28% drop compared to the same period last year.
More: Chrysler Says The 2027 Pacifica Is The Future Face Of The Brand, And That’s The Problem
In an interview with CNBC, McAlear struck an optimistic tone. “We absolutely see the minivan market growing, and we believe there’s an opportunity for Chrysler to continue its growth year over year.” Notably, the brand was up in 2025 over 2024, but failed to reach its sales figures of 2023 last year. In fact, 2024 saw fewer sales for Chrysler than any year in the last decade, so growth from 2024 to 2025 shouldn’t be all that shocking or impressive.
Try that in most three-row SUVs, and you’ll realize why minivans are often better. Beyond sheer usability, minivans still hold advantages in fuel efficiency, ease of driving, and price. Edmunds data puts the average minivan at $48,269, well below the $77,215 average for large SUVs. The catch is scale. Minivans remain a small slice of the market, inching from 1.7% in 2017 to just 2.4% in 2025. That’s not the kind of growth you build an entire brand around, which leaves Chrysler in a tricky spot.
McAlear was cautious not to let on too much about what the brand was planning. All he said was that Chrysler has “a lot of things in the works.” We’ll learn more at the brand’s investor day on May 21.
Context:
Chrysler's minivan sales dropped 28% in Q1 despite CEO's optimism about market growth.
Context:
The brand's survival depends on expanding beyond minivans, which represent only 2.4% of the auto market.
Context:
Minivans average $48,269 compared to $77,215 for large SUVs, highlighting their value proposition.