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Belvidere, Illinois Family Takes Delivery of the One Millionth Neon - And It's Free!

19 March 1998

Belvidere, Illinois Family Takes Delivery of the One Millionth Neon - And It's Free!

    BELVIDERE, Ill., March 19 -- The one millionth Neon -- a
Cranberry Red, four-door Dodge Neon -- rolled-off the assembly line at
Chrysler Corporation's Belvidere Assembly plant earlier this morning
amid the cheers of hundreds of the plant's employees.  But no cheer was louder
than that of its proud new owner -- Gordon Keast of Belvidere, Ill. -- when
told that his new "purchase" was being paid for in full by Chrysler.
    Immediately after the Neon was driven through a "Thanks a Million" banner,
Mr. Keast was presented with his keys "free of charge" by Gary Henson, Vice
President - Manufacturing, Chrysler, in a ceremony attended by the plant's
employees and local dignitaries, including the Honorable Charles Box, Mayor of
Rockford, Ill.
    "Reaching the one million milestone for Neon vehicle production, coupled
with the recent completion of $90 million in investments in the facility, has
certainly given the workforce and the local community a whole lot to be proud
of," said Henson.  "It clearly demonstrates the success of Neon in the
marketplace -- both nationally and internationally -- along with Chrysler's
continued confidence for the future."
    When the Keasts placed their order for a new 1998 Neon from Burton Motors
in Belvidere, it signaled the milestone achievement for one of America's most
popular and fun-to-drive subcompacts.  Neon production began at Belvidere
Assembly in late 1993 and remains Chrysler's only small car production
facility in the United States.
    Sales of the Neon subcompact have seen a resurgence this year.  Dodge Neon
sales for the 1998 calendar year currently stand 16 percent ahead of the same
period last year, while Plymouth Neon sales are tracking 10 percent ahead of
year-ago totals.
    In addition, the Neon R/T, introduced last fall, was recently named one of
The New York Times "Ten Best Buys."  Other awards for 1998 include Compact
Sport Magazine's "One of Eight Great Drives," and American Women Motor Scene's
"Ten Most Likely to Succeed."
    Belvidere Assembly employs 3,320 people working on two eight-hour
production shifts.  They produce 1,064 Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler (left- and
right-hand drive) a day at the plant.

SOURCE  Chrysler Corporation