Chrysler Group's Brampton, Ontario Plant Launches All-New Dodge Charger, Begins Third Shift

-- Third shift underway, creating more than 950 new jobs -- Dodge Charger to be built alongside award-winning Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum -- Additional $203 million invested to ready plant for Charger production

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 19 -- The Chrysler Group is bringing the famous Dodge Charger back into the product lineup with the start of a third shift at the Brampton (Ontario) Assembly plant. Dodge Charger will be produced alongside its siblings, the award-winning Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum. Charger production began in April. Production of the Chrysler 300 SRT-8 also began in April, and production of the Magnum SRT-8 will begin next week.

"Three of the biggest news-makers in the Chrysler Group vehicle lineup are produced at Brampton, and we are implementing new operating procedures to make the plant even more productive, while improving quality," said Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President - Manufacturing. "This is our third plant running three shifts, and that ability to maximize our manufacturing resources also helps to improve productivity."

In addition to Brampton, the other two plants that run three shifts are the Windsor (Ontario) Assembly Plant, which builds the Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country and Chrysler Pacifica, and the Warren (Mich.) Truck Assembly Plant, which produces the Dodge Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota.

At Brampton, the addition of a third shift created approximately 950 new jobs. It was implemented to not only increase the plant's capacity, but also improve its flexibility to accommodate production of the company's family of rear-wheel drive sedans. Off of one platform, the workers at Brampton are building the Chrysler 300, Chrysler 300C Touring for Europe, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger, including all of the model variants such as the 300C, rear- wheel and all-wheel drive variations, and high performance SRT models, and the Magnum police cruiser.

In preparation for the launch of the Charger, Chrysler Group invested $203 million into the plant. That includes $68 million to transform assembly operations and $57 million to upgrade stamping operations. This was in addition to $1 billion to prepare the Brampton facility for production of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum.

Over 100,000 potential customers have expressed an interest in the Dodge Charger, and more than 26,000 customers have already ordered the vehicles. Featuring modern coupe styling with four-door functionality, American rear- wheel-drive muscle car genes, available HEMI(R) V-8 performance and a host of standard safety and security technology, the 2006 Dodge Charger captures the essence of Dodge Chargers from the 1960s, '70s and '80s in a modern interpretation.

The Charger, which will begin arriving in dealerships this spring, will be available for the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $22,995.