DaimlerChrysler AG Reports One Percent Decrease in U.S. Sales for Passenger Vehicles for December 2006

-- Chrysler Group Reports Sales of 190,415 Vehicles, a 1 Percent Increase for December 2006

-- Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Sales of 28,115 units for December 2006, boosting the company to its thirteenth consecutive year of sales growth.

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 -- DaimlerChrysler AG , the third largest U.S. auto maker, today reported total group sales of 218,530 passenger vehicles in the U.S. for December 2006, a 1 percent decrease compared to December 2005. For the full calendar year 2006, DaimlerChrysler U.S. passenger sales were 2,390,585, down 5 percent compared to the year before when 2,529,254 vehicles were sold. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

Chrysler Group, which consists of the Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge brands, posted sales of 190.415 vehicles in the U.S., an increase of 1 percent.

Following global sales growth of 4.7 percent to 2.83 million units in 2005, Chrysler Group launched 10 all-new vehicles in 2006, including some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the company's history. Reinforcing its position as America's favorite convertible company, the Chrysler Group is raising the roof on the convertible segment with the all-new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. The vehicle offers what no other convertible has offered before - three automatically latching convertible top options in vinyl, cloth or a body-color painted steel retractable hard top, all of which can be retracted with a push of a button on the key fob. The Chrysler Sebring Convertible achieves excellent fuel efficiency of 31 mpg and has Flexible-fuel Vehicle (FFV) engine availability, making the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible a solid contender.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported sales of 28,115 units for December, boosting the company to its thirteenth consecutive year of sales growth. The company closed the year with 248,080 units sold, an 11 percent increase over the previous record year in 2005.

Detailed vehicle sales information for MBUSA and Chrysler Group will be announced later today in separate press releases issued by the groups.

  December 2006 had 26 selling days while December 2005 had 27 selling days.

       DaimlerChrysler AG U.S. Sales Summary Through December 2006

                        Month Sales      %        Sales CYTD          %
                     Curr Yr   Pr Yr   Change   Curr Yr   Pr Yr     Change

  CHRYSLER GROUP     190,415  189,449    1 %   2,142,505  2,304,833   -7 %
  MERCEDES-BENZ USA   28,115   31,192  -10 %     248,080    224,421   11 %

  DAIMLERCHRYSLER    218,530  220,641   -1 %   2,390,585  2,529,254   -5 %
  Selling Days            26       27                306        307