DaimlerChrysler announced a new set of sales incentives, including a $1,500 or lower long-term financing rates on the 2001 Jeep Cherokee SUV and the elimination of a $1,500 rebate and low finance rates on its 2000 Cherokee and 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs. Yahoo News has the entire story.

DaimlerChrysler also announced its September, 2000 sales figures as follows:

Consolidated DaimlerChrysler Corporation sales in the United States totaled 245,290 versus same month 1999 sales of 236,279, a gain of four percent. Strong minivan, sport utility vehicles and truck sales propelled the Chrysler Group's sales of 219,966 units, setting an all-time September record and a gain of five percent compared with 1999. Mercedes-Benz also reported an all-time best September with strong E-Class sales of 4,853 and total sales of 16,952, up 12.7 percent versus 15,038. Freightliner reported sales of 8,372 units.

                                     September 2000        September 1999
    Total Chrysler/Jeep®/Dodge SUV       170,864               142,632
    

Finally, 68-year-old Ron Szymanski, a retired Jeep worker is leading a drive to build a Jeep museum in Toledo, Ohio. The Toledo Blade reports:

A 1964 Jeep fire truck and a slew of photos marking the brand’s progress. A painting and prints with World War II scenes used by the former Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., for advertising. One of the last CJ-7 Jeeps, a 1980s precursor to today’s Wrangler, built in Toledo.

Those are some historic items Ron Szymanski, a 68-year-old retired Jeep worker, wants to see preserved in a museum devoted to the Toledo-born brand.

"I’ve been trying to get a museum going since the 1970s," said Mr. Szymanski, who worked at Toledo Jeep Assembly from 1962 to 1998 and is the volunteer curator for the plant’s collection of vehicles and other items.

"There’s tremendous automotive history here in Toledo."
 
Mr. Szymanski is among a group of community members working to raise public support - and eventually funds and other donations - for a Jeep museum in Toledo. The group expects by month’s end to have preliminary work finished on a feasibility study, part of which will deal with northwest Ohio economic development associated with a Jeep museum, said Robert Smith, the group’s free-lance planner.

Before getting permission to use the Jeep name, the museum group will have to assure DaimlerChrysler AG that it has have a good strategy and community support for the museum, Mr. Smith said.