Approximately 82,600 DaimlerChrysler Corporation hourly and salaried represented employees who work in the United States on Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products will receive record profit sharing payments averaging $8,100.

``We congratulate our Chrysler group employees for an exceptional year resulting in a record setting profit sharing payment,'' said Jim Holden, President, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. ``With this all-time-high payment, we continue to lead the industry in rewarding our employees for their outstanding contribution to building our world-class cars, light trucks and minivans.''

``Each worker should feel very proud of this profit sharing payment,'' said Nate Gooden, Vice President and Director, DaimlerChrysler Department, UAW. ``This profit sharing payment is a reflection of our dedicated workforce and the partnership we have with the management of DaimlerChrysler.''

Since 1992, eligible Chrysler group U.S. hourly and salaried represented employees have received average profit sharing payments totaling $43,929.

Additionally, about 20,100 professional-administrative and management employees will be eligible for profit sharing payments based on the same formula.

Chrysler Corporation began offering profit sharing payments to employees in 1988. This year marks the eighth consecutive year DaimlerChrysler has distributed profit sharing payments to U.S. hourly and salaried represented employees.