GM cancels plans to develop new minivans

DETROIT, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- General Motors Corp., the big Detroit automaker, is putting its much-maligned minivans out of their corporate misery.

The No. 1 automaker confirmed publicly that it scrapped plans to build new minivan models that would have debuted as early as 2009, The Detroit News said Wednesday.

"We do believe it is a declining segment," GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Tuesday. "Our new crossovers, Acadia, Outlook and Enclave with their three rows of seats and economical V-6 engines, can meet the same customer needs, minus the 'Soccer Mom' stigma."

And when GM closes its last minivan factory, the Doraville, Ga., plant, it will be completely out of a business it has been in since 1985, the newspaper said.

Instead, the company will focus on crossover vehicles that blend the features of cars and sport utility vehicles.

GM has been selling four models of minivans and all have received poor quality ratings.