DaimlerChrysler's Minority-Owned Suppliers Collaborate Globally

- Black-Owned South African Businesses Make Contact with American Minority Business Owners - DaimlerChrysler AG, the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Corporate Council on Africa Lead Collaborative Efforts - Minority-Owned Businesses Forming Partnership

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 28 -- Fifteen of Chrysler Group's minority-owned suppliers participated in the South African business opportunity mission in November 2004 in an attempt to pair minority suppliers with black-owned South African suppliers. The opportunity introduced business leaders to other executives, trade organizations and government officials at stops in Johannesburg, Pretoria and East London.

Following the mission, Chrysler Group's Diversity Supplier Development team worked with its Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to help construct new business ventures. One-third of those participating companies have formed a partnership known as South Africa Holdings, LLC.

"The mission of South Africa Holdings is to develop a solid business relationship with black-owned South African enterprises to provide goods and services to the automotive industry in that nation," said Tom Sidlik, DaimlerChrysler's Executive Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply. "Such efforts will create jobs, both in the U.S. and South Africa and allow minority suppliers to compete globally."

Sidlik encouraged global business and political leaders to explore business opportunities in Africa at the 2005 U.S. - Africa Summit last week in Baltimore.

He discussed the ways in which DaimlerChrysler AG, DaimlerChrysler South Africa, the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Corporate Council on Africa are engendering collaboration following a trade mission last fall to South Africa. His remarks were made as moderator of a workshop titled "Launching a Business Opportunity Mission to South Africa" aimed at helping minority and black-owned suppliers in both the U.S. and South Africa identify global opportunities.

"The combined efforts by all parties involved will provide long-term benefits for improved business development in both the U.S. and South Africa," said Sidlik, member of the Board of Management for DaimlerChrysler AG - Global Procurement and Supply. "We are proud to help minority-owned suppliers become more globally competitive; a win-win for all."

Last year, DaimlerChrysler was among industry leaders in minority procurement. In 2004, Chrysler Group spent $3.3 billion with minority suppliers, which represents 12 percent of its total purchasing spend, an increase of $300 million from the previous year. Since 1983, the Company has sourced more than $27 billion to minority-owned companies.

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