DaimlerChrysler AG Reports Sales Increase in U.S. Passenger Vehicles Sales for 2004

* Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Highest Sales Month on Record, Achieving Eleventh Consecutive Year of Sales Growth

* Chrysler Group Sales Increase Nine Percent Unadjusted, Five Percent Adjusted for December 2004

NEW YORK, Jan. 4 -- DaimlerChrysler AG , the third largest U.S. auto maker, today reported U.S. passenger vehicles sales for December 2004 as well as for the complete calendar year 2004. All sales percentage figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

Total group sales were 225,887 passenger vehicles in the U.S. for December 2004, up eleven percent compared to December 2003. For the full calendar-year 2004 DaimlerChrysler U.S. sales were 2,427,634, up three percent compared to the year before when 2,346,168 vehicles were sold.

Chrysler Group, which consists of the Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge brands, posted December sales of 199,280 vehicles in the U.S., an increase of five percent. Adjusted for the number of selling days, sales for Chrysler Group actually rose nine percent compared to the same month one year earlier. Total Chrysler Group sales for 2004 are 2,206,024, up three percent compared to the full year 2003.

For the month of December, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) posted sales of 26,607 vehicles, an increase of 23% compared to December 2003 when 21,621 vehicles were sold. This marks the highest sales month in MBUSA history. For the full calendar year, MBUSA sold 221,610 vehicles compared to 218,717 in 2003, posting its eleventh consecutive year of sales growth.

Detailed vehicle sales information for MBUSA and Chrysler Group will be announced later today in separate press releases issued by the groups. December 2004 had 27 selling days, while December 2003 had 26 selling days.

    DaimlerChrysler Corporation U.S. Sales Summary Thru December 2004

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

  CHRYSLER GROUP     199,280   182,831   5%(9%*)  2,206,024  2,127,451  3%
  MERCEDES-BENZ       26,607    21,621    23%       221,610    218,717  1%

  DAIMLERCHRYSLER    225,887   204,452    11%     2,427,634  2,346,168  3%

  Selling Days            27        26                  308        307

  *unadjusted

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