Frank J. Ewasyshyn, Chrysler Group Manufacturing Chief, to Receive Engineering Honor in Toronto

Third Major Honor This Year for Executive Vice President of Manufacturing

* Ontario (Canada) Professional Engineers Gold Medal is for public service, technical excellence and outstanding professional leadership * Maintenance Foreman becomes head of Manufacturing * Shingo Academy, Wu Award also earned this year

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 17 -- Frank J. Ewasyshyn, Chrysler Group's Executive Vice President - Manufacturing, is being honored with the Professional Engineers Gold Medal. The Professional Engineers Gold Medal is the premier award of the Ontario Professional Engineers Awards program, which is administered by Professional Engineers Ontario and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. It recognizes conscientious commitment to public service, technical excellence and outstanding professional leadership. It is the third major manufacturing/engineering award Ewasyshyn has earned this year.

"The drive and persistence of Frank Ewasyshyn have led to many outstanding accomplishments in the automotive manufacturing industry and in society," said Marta Ecsedi, Chair of the Professional Engineers Awards Committee. "Mr. Ewasyshyn stands as an engineer who has made a difference to many others and truly exemplifies the level of excellence befitting recognition with the profession's premier award, the Professional Engineers Gold Medal."

"When you boil down an automotive company, manufacturing is at its core. So much of the Chrysler Group's recent success, therefore, is due to the tremendous contribution Frank's team is making day in and day out," said Tom LaSorda, President and Chief Executive Officer - Chrysler Group. "Equally important, his expertise in advanced technology has put Chrysler Group manufacturing at the forefront of meaningful innovation in our assembly, powertrain and stamping facilities."

Ewasyshyn was named Executive Vice President - Manufacturing in May 2004. He is responsible for all of Chrysler Group's assembly, stamping and powertrain manufacturing operations, totaling more than 30 facilities worldwide. Ewasyshyn, born in Windsor, Ontario, joined Chrysler Corporation in 1976 as a Maintenance Foreman and has worked his way to the top manufacturing post responsible for 60,000 Chrysler Group employees.

Ewasyshyn's current challenge may be one of his greatest. He is charged with implementing a culture change in Chrysler Group's Manufacturing operations in which a greater focus is put on assembly line operators, while managers are shifted to a coaching and supportive role.

Mr. Ewasyshyn intends his tenure as Chrysler's manufacturing chief to be people focused.

"I have always been fascinated with machines, but I have never lost sight of their purpose: to improve the lives of people," said Ewasyshyn. "In accepting this award I share it with all of the people I have learned from in the past, and will collaborate with in the future."

The Gold Medal is the third major manufacturing honor bestowed upon Ewasyshyn this year. In the spring he was inducted into the Shingo Prize Academy which recognizes dedication to the pursuit of lean, world-class manufacturing and is managed by the Utah State University College of Business. And in the summer he was awarded the 2005 Wu Manufacturing Leadership Award for his commitment to advancing the manufacturing industry from the Shien-Ming Wu Foundation, named after the late University of Michigan professor.

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) is the voice of engineers and the engineering profession in Ontario. The Society works to advance the professional and economic interests of the province's 66,000 engineers by advocating with governments and by offering professional development and valued member services.

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) administers the Professional Engineers Act by licensing professional engineers, and setting standards for and regulating engineering in Ontario so that the public interest is served and protected. Rigorously educated, experienced, and committed to a Code of Ethics that puts the public interest first, licensed professional engineers can be identified by the P.Eng. after their names.

Ewasyshyn will receive the Gold Award sculpture at the Ontario Professional Engineers Awards Gala this week in Toronto, Ontario. The Gold Medal sculpture provides a fitting tribute to the honor: its design represents the forces of nature, harnessed by engineers for the benefit of society.