---
title: "Chrysler’s 2017 Town & Country Is the First Hybrid Minivan"
description: "The grocery getter ditches the faux wood paneling for an outlet."
date: "2015-12-08"
modified: "2015-12-08"
authors:
  - name: "Max Goldberg"
    job_title: "Associate Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/max-goldberg"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/1194/chryslers-2017-town-country-is-the-first-hybrid-minivan"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Chrysler News"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Chrysler"
  - "hybrid"
---

# Chrysler’s 2017 Town & Country Is the First Hybrid Minivan

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/120815_townandcountry_hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The crossover may be king, but Fiat Chrysler of America still has faith in mom’s minivan. Despite initial reluctance to add electric cars to the FCA lineup, [FCA’s Sergio Marchionne](<https://www.fcagroup.com/en-US/governance/board/Pages/sergio_marchionne.aspx>) announced a [plug-in hybrid drivetrain to the next generation of Town & Countr](<https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/12/08/chrysler-town-country-dodge-grand-caravan/76966834/>)y. The CEO believes the [Town & Country](<https://www.chrysler.com/en/town-country/>) will be a sound testing platform for the new drivetrain.

Reupping the Town & Country is not a no-brainer. Domestic competitors Ford and General Motors have long-since left the minivan segment. But FCA, who invented minivans with the Dodge Caravan in 1984, feels they can still sustain adequate sales to legitimize the production of the Town & Country (as well as new variants of the storied Caravan).

![120815\_townandcountry\_art\_1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/120815_townandcountry_art_1.jpg>)
**2015 Chrysler Town & Country**

According to [Tim Kuniskis](<https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/chrysler/2015/12/05/2017-chrysler-minivan-coming-dodge-not-leaving-yet/76745544/>), head of passenger car brands for FCA, minivans still make up 3% of the automotive industry—enough to warrant investment. However, FCA has no plans to introduce the hybrid drivetrain into the [less expensive Caravan](<https://www.dodge.com/en/grand_caravan/?sid=1037056&KWNM=dodge+caravan&KWID=43700005809871675&TR=1&channel=paidsearch>). Instead of having the Caravan upgrade alongside its segment sibling, it will not get a refresh. It will, however, continue production in Windsor, Canada, to fill out the lower price bracket until FCA decides the Caravan has run its course.

The next generation Town & Country is expected to make its debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show in January. Although the next-gen T&C will go on sale at the beginning of 2016, don’t expect to see the hybrid version until later this year.

## Author
Before working at *The Drive*, Max Goldberg raced the streets of Westchester in an ambulance as a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He has boundless enthusiasm.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/maxems>)