AS a longtime Honda fan, I have been looking forward to the company's new mini-van.

It was recently selected to assemble a new fiberglass-body mini-van, insuring production into the 1990's.

Ford plans to begin production of a new mini-van, the Windstar, this spring, and to increase production of the Explorer over the next year.

Chrysler will build an electric version of its new mini-van to comply with California law, but it predicted that customers would spurn the vehicle.

Until Chrysler introduced its new mini-van this fall, car companies long overlooked what is proving to be a huge market for sliding doors on the left side.

If Ford had to start from scratch on a new mini-van, it would take almost five years before the vehicle could reach dealer showrooms.

In the next few years, it also plans to import right-hand-drive versions of its low-priced Neon and of a new mini-van.

For example, Toyota said that as part of its production increase, "The addition of three to four vehicles, including a new mini-van, will be considered."

Mr. Olson declined to confirm trade-press articles about a new mini-van, citing a policy against commenting on future products.

Honda executives in Japan have been gushing for a year about how innovative the new mini-van will be.