Chrysler Group's 'Matchmaker' Achieves Bottom-Line Results For Minority and Tier One Suppliers

Minority Suppliers Have Generated $110 Million in New Business Since 2000 with More Than $40 Million to Local Detroit Firms

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 25 -- Three years after the formation of Chrysler Group's "Matchmaker" program, minority and Tier One suppliers are seeing tangible results -- in the form of $110 million in new business opportunities. Established by Chrysler Group in 2000 as a method to pair minority and Tier One suppliers, "Matchmaker" encourages networking and the development of long-term partnerships.

Last year, Michigan-based companies such as Bartech, Saturn Electronics and Aldez "matched" with other companies and generated more than $40 million collectively in new business. Participating Tier One suppliers include SPX Filtran, Eaton Corporation and Henkel Surface Technologies.

"The purpose of Matchmaker is simple -- to offer minority suppliers a forum in which they can interact with larger Tier One suppliers," said Tom Sidlik, Executive Vice President - Chrysler Group Procurement and Supply. "It's designed to help suppliers at all levels establish long-term relationships. It provides the exposure and experience minority suppliers will need to improve their scale and impact in the global marketplace. Matchmaker also ensures that we have minority companies representing every possible business and production arena."

At the "Matchmaker" event, all of the participating suppliers display their products and services at booths throughout the DaimlerChrysler Technology Center. This program allows minority suppliers to meet Tier One suppliers to determine if there are future business opportunities. It also helps Tier One suppliers maintain the Chrysler Group mandate of six percent minority supplier content.

More than 2,000 attendees from the supplier community are expected to attend.

Chrysler Group is an industry leader in developing opportunities and programs for minority business enterprises. In addition, to "Matchmaker," its Minority Enterprise Initiative (MEI), helps minority suppliers improve technical abilities and expand their capabilities to supply volume goods and services.

Suppliers in the MEI program have increased their business with Chrysler Group an average of 26 percent, which represents more than $200 million in new business for minority companies. In addition, the MEI program has generated more than $95 million in new capital loans for suppliers through Comerica Bank.

Chrysler Group has been recognized by the Michigan Minority Business Development Council for the past three years as "Corporation of the Year" and was honored this year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council with its prestigious "Leadership Award." In 2002, Chrysler Group's minority supplier sourcing dollars were more than $3 billion, which was about 11 percent of its total purchases.

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