Chrysler Group Leads Industry With SUV and Truck Side Curtain Air Bags

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 7 The Chrysler Group is leading
the way in air bag safety by becoming the first manufacturer to offer side
curtain air bags on a full-size pickup and the first to offer side curtain air
bags in the majority of its 2002 sport-utility vehicles sold under the Jeep(R)
and Dodge brands.
    For the 2002 model year, 75 percent of Chrysler Group SUV and truck models
will be available with side curtain air bags.
    "This is an excellent example of our company taking a new technology and
bringing it to market in affordable and nontraditional applications," said
Bernard Robertson, Senior Vice President-Engineering Technologies and
Regulatory Affairs.  "While all of our vehicles are designed to meet side
impact guidelines, we feel that these new side curtain air bags can further
help reduce head trauma.  In all of these vehicles, the side curtain air bags
are a supplemental safety feature but an important part of our holistic
approach to vehicle safety."
    The 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty, as well as the Dodge Durango and
the all-new Dodge Ram Regular Cab and Quad Cab Pickups, will be offered with
side curtain air bags that deploy from the headliner and cover most of the
glass area in both the first and second rows of the vehicle.  The curtains
offer supplemental protection from head injuries to outboard passengers in
both rows in the event of a side impact.  Unlike front air bags, side curtain
air bags are triggered independently of each other.
    The Chrysler Group currently offers front-seat mounted side air bags on
all high-volume passenger cars and the Chrysler PT Cruiser.  The Dodge Stratus
and Chrysler Sebring sedans were some of the first affordable sedans to offer
side curtain air bags.
    The Chrysler Group reminds drivers to insure that all occupants are
properly restrained.

    ON THE INTERNET

    Visit DaimlerChrysler's Media Services Web Site at
    http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com for additional DaimlerChrysler news.