DaimlerChrysler Receives Corporation of the Year Honor by National Minority Supplier Development Council for the Second Consecutive Year

* DaimlerChrysler receives its fourth Corporation of the Year award from the NMSDC for its business development leadership
* DaimlerChrysler recently receives Corporation of the Year awards from two other minority supplier organizations
* 2005 minority sourcing equaled $3.8 billion, which represents 13 percent of total annual supplier

   AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the fourth
time, DaimlerChrysler has received the Corporation of the Year award from
the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) for its
long-term commitment and business development leadership of minority
suppliers. The award was presented at the NMSDC's annual awards gala last
night held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The Company has
received the NMSDC Corporation of the Year award four times: in 1986, 1993,
2000, and 2006.
   This is the third minority supplier organization to honor
DaimlerChrysler as Corporation of the Year in 2006. The recognition also
was presented by the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC)
on October 2, in Detroit and the Canadian Aboriginal Minority Supplier
Council (CAMSC) on October 12.
   "Even in today's tough economic challenges, DaimlerChrysler remains
committed to creating real economic growth, development initiatives and
global opportunities for our minority suppliers," said Tom Sidlik, Member
of the Board of Management and Executive Vice President of Global
Procurement and Supply - DaimlerChrysler. "We accept NMSDC Corporation of
the Year award as mutual partners working diligently with our minority
suppliers to strengthen our competitiveness and build broad global
opportunities for all of us."
   DaimlerChrysler spent $3.8 billion with minority suppliers in 2005,
which represents 13 percent of its total purchasing and an increase of $400
million from the previous year. In the last seven years, DaimlerChrysler
has more than doubled dollars spent with minority suppliers, from $1.7
billion in 1998 to $3.8 billion in 2005. This significant increase
demonstrates its long-term commitment to the economic development and
growth of its minority suppliers, in addition to distinguishing
DaimlerChrysler as an industry leader in minority supplier development.
   "DaimlerChrysler has actively supported minority suppliers for 23
years, and we will continue to create innovative programs and opportunities
that leverage their sustainability and growth," said Peter Rosenfeld,
Executive Vice President - Procurement Supply, Chrysler Group. "We
recognize the value in having a supply base that mirrors our company and
customer base."
   The primary objective of the NMSDC is to provide a direct link between
top American companies and minority-owned businesses. NMSDC is one of the
country's leading business membership organizations. It was chartered in
1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for
minority businesses of all sizes. The NMSDC Network includes a national
office in New York and 39 regional councils across the country.
   There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including
most of America's largest publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-owned
companies, as well as universities, hospitals and other buying
institutions. The regional councils certify and match more than 15,000
minority owned businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) with
member corporations which want to purchase goods and services.
   "For the past 23 years, DaimlerChrysler has worked with NMSDC to build
robust programs to meet and exceed the needs of our minority suppliers,"
said Jethro Joseph, Senior Manager of Minority Supplier Development -
Chrysler Group.