February 14, 2002

Toronto Auto Show
2004 Chrysler Pacifica to be built in Windsor

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Toronto, Ontario - DaimlerChrysler announced that the all-new 2004 Chrysler Pacifica, first shown at the Detroit auto show last month, will be built in DaimlerChrysler Canada's Windsor, Ontario assembly plant - the same plant where Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans are built. DaimlerChrysler is investing approximately $460 million in the Windsor plant to build the Pacifica, and production will begin in early 2003.

The Pacifica concept vehicle was unveiled by DaimlerChrysler Canada Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ed Brust. "Nearly 20 years ago, Chrysler created a huge, new market segment when the first front-wheel-drive minivan was built at Windsor Assembly", Mr. Brust said. "Now, nearly ten million minivan sales later, we're about to launch another new segment called Sports Tourer..Innovative packaging and proportions, including three rows of seats, car-like handling and all-wheel-drive make Pacifica unlike any other vehicle in the marketplace", Mr. Brust said.

While the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica will be built in the same plant as the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, the new vehicle will not be built on any of the company's minivan platforms. Pacifica will be built on its own unique new platform and will share only five per cent of its components with the minivans.

Opened in 1929, DaimlerChrysler Canada's Windsor Assembly Plant has produced more than five million minivans since the first MagicWagon was built there in November, 1983. Current employment at Windsor Assembly is 5,400.

More News from the show....