Camp Jeep®, one of the nation's largest and best-attended ownership gatherings, expands to two locations and dates next year, and will be open to not only Jeep owners but to the general public for the first time in the event's nine-year history. New dates and locations will be announced to consumers on the Jeep.com website and at 1-800-789-JEEP starting December 11.

Camp Jeep 2003 will be held at the Oak Ridge Estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Nelson County, Va., Thursday, June 26 - Saturday, June 28. Camp Jeep California will be held at Gardner Ranch in the Santa Inez Mountains north of Santa Barbara, Calif., Thursday, August 14 - Saturday, August 16.

"Camp Jeep is, arguably, one of the world's greatest owner celebrations. It's something that only Jeep would do," said Jeff Bell, Vice President-Jeep Division, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "Families come from all over the world to celebrate the Jeep spirit and what it stands for. It's only natural to make Camp Jeep available to both coasts and give people more of what they love about Jeep."

For the first time, Camp Jeep will open its doors to the public on the Saturday of each event at both locations. "People really have to see Camp Jeep and experience it for themselves to believe it," said Bell. "The pride our owners have for their vehicles and the fun they have is amazing. It begins with their passion for the outdoors and continues with the camp environment and music. We want to show 'non-Jeepers' what the fuss is all about!"

Camp Jeep recently won international recognition for "Best Program Generating Brand Loyalty" in the Marketing Agency Association (MAA) Worldwide 2002 GLOBES Awards. The event also won in the same category for Promo Magazine's annual PRO Awards earlier this fall.

One of the most popular highlights of the event is the Jeep 101 courses, designed to teach attendees basic off-highway driving and safety skills, and to demonstrate capabilities of the Jeep Liberty, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. Participants are paired with experienced guides as they negotiate steep downhill grades and encounter large rocks, log-crossings, sand and other off-highway obstacles. Once they have mastered the Jeep vehicle's capabilities, they can navigate various levels of 4x4 trails in their own Jeep vehicles.

Jeep owners also can visit the Engineering Village and participate in roundtable discussions with Jeep engineers and other guests to learn more about what distinguishes a Jeep brand vehicle from any other four-wheel vehicle in the world.

Camp Jeep 2003 and Camp Jeep California also will feature numerous lifestyle and family activities, live musical performances and a fireworks finale. Details will be released in a separate announcement.

Camp Jeep is one of several owner-loyalty programs created by the Jeep division of DaimlerChrysler. Jeep Jamborees, which began in the 1950s, are the original off-highway vacation. From the Maine Mountains to the famed Rubicon Trail, approximately 7,000 owners participate in the more than 30 Jamborees held each year. The excellent response to Camp Jeep led to the spin-off of Jeep 101. Jeep 101 driving courses are offered in cities across the nation to provide owners and prospective owners basic skills of safe, yet adventurous off-road driving.

Approximately 3,000 vehicles are expected to be registered for each Camp Jeep location in 2003. To date, approximately 55,000 people from 48 states have attended Camp Jeep.

From 1995-1998, Camp Jeep was held in Camp Hale, Colo. From 1999-2001, Camp Jeep was located at Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County, Va. In 2002, Camp Jeep was held at the White's Bar W Ranch near Branson, Mo. The event has sold out each year.

People can visit the Jeep website to find more information about Camp Jeep on the web at www.jeep.com (enter keyword campjeep) or call 1-800-789-JEEP starting December 11. Registration for both events will begin in January 2003. Registration fees are $325 per Jeep vehicle for participation in all Camp Jeep activities and $95 per non-Jeep vehicle for participation in the Saturday (last day), activities.