Chrysler Group Helps Families Focus on Turning Drive Time Into Family Time

- New "Seatbelt Sessions" tips booklet gives parents the tools to maximize time spent in the family vehicle - Celebrate Family Day on September 27 - Communications tips and safety resources available online at http://www.ChryslerGroupFamilyDay.com

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 22 -- Families today are feeling the pressure on their time spent together. Seventy percent of parents said that most of the time spent with their children outside of the house is on the road, according to a recent study conducted by Chrysler Group, the long-standing leader and inventor of the ultimate family vehicle -- the minivan -- and Harris Interactive(R), a worldwide market research and consulting firm. In support of Family Day and to help parents capitalize on time spent in the vehicle, Chrysler Group created "Seatbelt Sessions," communications tips for families on the go.

The study also revealed that families spend an average of 1.3 hours in their vehicle everyday. The "Seatbelt Sessions" tips booklet coaches parents that are busy driving between work, appointments and extracurricular activities, how to maximize this time to bond with their children and teach safe driving habits. Tips offered include:

- Use drive time to ask questions of children, tell them how proud you are of them, ask for advice and show that they value their children's opinions

- Be a good listener and allow kids to use time in the vehicle to vent and blow off steam -- talk about what happened to them during the day and discuss the challenges they have to deal with

- Since teens learn by example, teach driving safety and help them gain driving experience and maturity before they hit the road

"A vast number of parents and their children today are dramatically overcommitted with work, school, social and other organized or structured activities," said Christine MacKenzie, Vice President of Corporate Research at Chrysler Group. "Having a quiet chat on the way to school or soccer practice can make a world of difference. We designed our minivans to be 16 percent quieter than previous models so families don't have to compete to communicate."

Family Day was created by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University to promote parental engagement as a simple, effective way raise healthier children. Family Day takes place on every fourth Monday in September -- the 27th in 2004. Parents can download copy of the tips booklet and learn more about Family Day online at http://www.chryslergroupfamilyday.com/

Chrysler Group Minivans

Chrysler Group introduced the minivan in 1983. Since then it has sold more than 10 million minivans in 72 countries, introduced 50 minivan-first features and earned more than 150 awards industry-wide. The new 2005 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan minivans are more than 16 percent quieter than previous models and offer another minivan-first -- the new Stow 'n Go(TM) seating and storage system with fold-in-the-floor second-and third row seats. The seating configuration goes from seven seats to two in less than 30 seconds, and when the seats are in the upright position, 12 cubic feet of storage space becomes available.