Chrysler Group Named Among "Top 50 Companies Creating Opportunities for Multicultural Businesses"

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 23, 2013 / 3BL Media/ PRNewswire/ --

• Company selected in online election involving more than 1.3 million diversity business owners
• "Election" was conducted by DiversityBusiness.com, "the nation's leading multicultural B2B online website"
• Since 1983, Chrysler Group has purchased more than $47 billion from minority-owned suppliers

Chrysler Group LLC has been named to DiversityBusiness.com's 13th annual list of the 50 best companies providing opportunities for multicultural businesses.

Inclusion on the list this year was the result of an online election which involved more than 1.3 million multicultural business owners. Voters were asked to answer 10 questions about candidate company performance such as volume, consistency and quality of business opportunities these companies provide to minority-owned businesses. 
DiversityBusiness.com "is the nation's leading multicultural B2B online website."

"Chrysler Group is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of our supplier diversity program this year," said Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President - Purchasing & Supplier Quality, Chrysler Group LLC. "We remain as committed as ever to creating opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses because we believe that a diverse supply chain leads to better, more innovative products for our customers."

Chrysler Group's has a longstanding commitment to increasing purchasing from minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned suppliers. The Company's supplier diversity goals require that 10 percent of a Tier 1 supplier's procurement buy is sourced to certified minority suppliers. Indeed, since 1983 the Company has purchased more than $47 billion from these suppliers.

Chrysler Group announced early this year that it spent $2.1 billion with approximately 200 minority suppliers in 2011, representing 8.5 percent of its total annual purchasing. Overall, the Company purchased $31 billion in direct and indirect parts, materials and services in 2011.

The Company has also been a leader in launching breakthrough programs that stimulate more purchasing from minority-owned businesses, such as its annual Matchmaker program. Matchmaker is a unique event that provides minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses access to Chrysler Group's Tier 1 suppliers and to decision makers in the Company's procurement organization. As the premier networking trade event in the automotive supplier community, this past year's Matchmaker event grew to more than 2,400 participants, including 270 minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and majority-owned Chrysler Group suppliers.

Chrysler Group continues to support several organizations that assist Tier 1 suppliers with achieving their minority sourcing goals. These organizations include the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. In addition, Chrysler Group supports veteran-business ownership through membership with the National Veteran-Owned Business Association.

"While other awards and 'Top' lists crown companies for metrics such as overall economic growth and returns to shareholders, the DiversityBusiness.com Top 50 List is an indicator of which organizations provide the most business opportunities for diversity-owned companies," said Kenton Clarke, CEO of DiversityBusiness.com. "Organizations that consistently buy the most products and services from diversity businesses, and that sustain the most mutually beneficial business relationships with their multicultural suppliers, should be recognized not only by the business community but also by the general public."

About Chrysler Group's leadership commitment to diversity, inclusion and diverse talent development
In 2012, the Detroit Free Press named Chrysler Group as one of the best places to work in the state of Michigan. Chrysler Group also has been named one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine 13 times, and has been recognized six times by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as one of the country's leading companies supporting diversity and inclusion of LGBT employees.

Chrysler Group was named among the nation's "Top Supporters" of Engineering Programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the past three years, recognizing the Company's efforts to develop, recruit and hire talented students pursuing technical careers at the nation's minority-serving institutions.

Over the years, a long line of Chrysler Group employees have received important professional recognition from various diversity organizations, including Black Engineer of the Year, Women of Color, HENAAC Great Minds in STEM and others, reflecting the Company's strong commitment to developing its diverse workforce.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, all-new Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles. 

For more information, please visit the Chrysler media site at http://www.media.chrysler.com. 

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