Chrysler to Increase Production of PT Cruiser To Help Meet Demand

      Company to increase output of its Toluca Assembly Plant by 80,000
            units, for a total of 310,000 units worldwide annually

  Eurostar builds PT Cruiser prototypes to prepare for summer launch

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 23 In
response to continued worldwide demand for the Chrysler PT Cruiser, the
Chrysler Group will again add production for one of its most innovative,
segment-defining products by increasing the output of its Toluca Assembly
Plant in Mexico by 80,000 units annually.

    "The success of the PT Cruiser carries on the Chrysler Group's tradition
of inventing -- and leading -- new product segments," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche,
Chrysler Group President and CEO.  "The added production will help close the
gap between supply and customer demand for this highly versatile vehicle."

    "Among the many scenarios we studied to gain incremental volume of PT
Cruiser, this was the best business decision," Zetsche added.  "This is
another example of our continued investment in innovative products that
represent the strength and future of this company."

    The company will invest $300 million to increase output by 80,000 units at
Toluca beginning in the autumn of 2002.  However, North American customers
should notice more PT Cruisers at dealerships this summer because all of
Toluca's current production capacity of 180,000 vehicles will be allocated to
North American markets.  The Chrysler PT Cruiser's second production site, the
company's Eurostar facility in Graz, Austria, will build 50,000 units for
international markets.  By the end of 2002, total PT Cruiser production will
reach 310,000.

    "Toluca is in the best position to increase production to help meet the
continued North American demand, while Eurostar will support Europe and other
international markets," said Gary Henson, Executive Vice President --
Manufacturing.  "In order to react quickly to the demands of our customers, we
need the ability to maximize opportunity among our worldwide operations."

    Since the market introduction in March 2000, Chrysler has sold more than
175,000 Chrysler PT Cruisers worldwide, and received more than 25
international awards.  The vehicle is sold in 58 countries around the world.

    Chrysler Group announced plans to add Eurostar as a second PT Cruiser
production site in March 2000 -- just weeks before the first vehicles arrived
to dealerships.  The Eurostar facility, which also produces the Chrysler
Voyager, is currently building prototype PT Cruisers, as it prepares to launch
the vehicle this summer.  Work will begin immediately in Toluca in preparation
for the autumn 2002 line-speed increase.