S&P Assigns Ratings to DaimlerChrysler Auto Trust 2001-A

    NEW YORK, March 13 Standard & Poor's today assigned its
ratings to DaimlerChrysler Auto Trust 2001-A's $1.5 billion asset-backed notes
(see list).
    The ratings reflect credit enhancement in the form of 3.50% of initial
overcollateralization; 3.25% subordinated asset-backed certificates; a 0.25%
fully funded reserve account; and about 1.0%-2.0% in excess spread.  The size
of the yield supplement overcollateralization amount (YSOA) was $49 million
compared with $133 million in the previous transaction.  This reduction was
the result of discounting loans below 4.75% at 4.75% for this transaction
compared with discounting loans below 7.5% at 7.5% for the previous
transaction.  Discounting the low interest rate loans by an amount less than
the cost of funds and servicing reduced the overall excess spread for this
transaction.  In addition to the above credit enhancement, the ratings on the
2001-A securitization are based on the extensive amount of data obtained from
Chrysler Financial Co. LLC, the solid credit quality of the underlying pool of
automobile loans, a sound legal structure, and about 9% in total credit
enhancement.
    This is Chrysler Financial's first term securitization of the year, which
consists of $1.5 billion in triple-'A' rated securities and $426 million of
retained notes, certificates, and overcollateralization, backed by just under
$2.0 billion in auto loan receivables.  All credit enhancement is measured as
a percent of initial securities, which is defined as the initial balance of
the class A-1 through class A-4 notes plus the $60.5 million initial principal
balance of subordinated asset-backed certificates.
    Until the class A-1 notes are paid in full, all monthly collected funds
will be used to pay the servicing fee, note interest, replenish the reserve
account, and pay principal on the class A-1 notes until paid in full.
Thereafter, monthly principal will be applied sequentially to the remaining
securities while maintaining overcollateralization at 4.0% of the remaining
discounted pool balance with the remainder being released to DaimlerChrysler
Retail Receivables LLC.
    The reserve account will be fully funded at 0.25% at closing and the
specified reserve account balance will remain at this level as long as the
securities remain outstanding.  Thus, as the receivables amortize, the reserve
account will grow as a percent of assets outstanding.  The reserve account
will be used to pay shortfalls in interest, pay principal on the notes if a
class is not paid in full on its legal final payment date, and to pay-down
notes if overcollateralization is depleted.
    Chrysler Financial, with a total serviced retail auto portfolio of
$33.8 billion, experienced improved loss and delinquency results during 2000.
Net losses have improved to 0.78% of the average gross retail contracts
outstanding in 2000 and delinquencies have improved to 1.71% at year-end 2000,
Standard & Poor's said. -- CreditWire

    NEW RATINGS ASSIGNED

    DaimlerChrysler Auto Trust 2001-A

    Issue                                                 Rating
    Class A-2 $790 million 4.98% asset-backed notes       AAA
    Class A-3 $370 million 5.16% asset-backed notes       AAA
    Class A-4 $340 million 5.40% asset-backed notes       AAA