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Five-Stars for 2005 Chrysler Group Minivans


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Chrysler and Dodge Minivans Earn NHTSA's Highest Frontal Crash Test Rating

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 6 -- With safety, security, and quality at the forefront of its design, the entire line-up of 2005 Chrysler Group minivans has earned the highest ratings -- five-stars for frontal impact crash tests -- from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Included in the five-star rating are the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country and the Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan -- both short-wheel base and long-wheel base versions.

NHTSA's five-star rating ranks the likelihood of injury in a frontal impact crash at 10 percent or less.

"From its inception, we developed our minivans with attention to safety, security, quality and family," said Deb Morrissett, Vice President - Safety and Regulatory Affairs. "Chrysler Group minivans have always been one of the safest vehicles on the road and the five-star rating is a compliment to the hard work of our engineers and designers that went into creating this safe vehicle."

Chrysler Group was the first company to introduce the minivan to the masses in November 1983. Since then, the list of Chrysler and Dodge minivan "firsts" has grown, and includes:

  *  First minivan to introduce a standard driver air bag (1991);
  *  First minivan with center high-mounted brake light (1991);
  *  First minivan to offer integrated child seat (1992);
  *  First minivan to offer standard passenger-side air bag (1994);

* First minivan in U.S. market to offer driver-side sliding door (fourth door) (1996);

* First minivan to offer power-up and power-down liftgate (2001);

* And, first minivan to offer Stow 'n Go(TM) seating and storage system with fold-in-the-floor second and third row seating (2004).

Additionally, the newest "first" includes a door alert, which activates when the power sliding doors or manual sliding doors are in operation, signaling that occupants are getting in or out of the vehicle. The door alert is standard on all 2005 Chrysler and Dodge minivans.

To date, Chrysler Group has sold more than 10 million minivans worldwide. The Chrysler Group continues to be the leader of this segment, with more than 34 percent of the minivan market.

Chrysler Group minivans are manufactured at Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and St. Louis Assembly Plant in Fenton, Mo.