GEM Electric Vehicle Company Names Richard J. Kasper President and COO

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 25, 2002; Richard J. Kasper has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of Global Electric MotorCars, LLC, effective December 1, 2002.

Global Electric MotorCars, LLC, located in Fargo, North Dakota, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler Motors Company LLC. The company manufactures and markets GEM neighborhood electric vehicles, the best-selling street-legal electric vehicles in the United States.

Mr. Kasper is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Global Electric MotorCars. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Kasper was with the Jack Kent Cooke organization in Los Angles, California. Mr. Kasper will be based in Fargo, North Dakota, where GEM manufacturing and administrative facilities are located.

Mr. Kasper will succeed Kenneth R. Montler, who has been President and Chief Operating Officer since August 1998. Mr. Montler is leaving to pursue other professional interests.