DaimlerChrysler Services kicked-off a two-day

sales training program with a course entitled "Mind of the Dealer" in June.

Originating in the DaimlerChrysler Services' Sales Education Team, the

sales workshop is an industry first, says the company. The workshop provides dealer relations

managers, sales managers and retail credit analysts with the knowledge of

how they can align their sales efforts with the dealer's needs to create

maximum value for the dealers business.

The first day of the workshop focuses on helping participants to better

understand the dealer's expectation of the sales people, how the dealer is

involved in major decisions and what challenges dealers face in growing

their business. Day two provides participants with a set of tools to

quantify the value of the financial and service offerings provided by

Chrysler Financial to the dealership.

"Listening to our dealers is extremely important. With the help of our

Sales Education Team, we are continuously increasing our understanding of

the dealers' concerns and needs in this highly competitive and rapidly

changing market," said Dietmar Exler, vice president of Chrysler Brands

Marketing for DaimlerChrysler Services. "In order to strengthen our value

proposition, our sales team must align their goals with the dealers' needs

-- only then can we offer outstanding service to our dealers," said Exler.

In determining how to structure the "Mind of the Dealer" workshop, the team

first compiled feedback received from more than 100 dealers. Data was

gathered from a cross-section of the Chrysler Financial dealer body

encompassing the single-point franchise dealer to the mega-dealer in order

to get the best mix of information. Second, a benchmark study of training

courses was compiled from top sales training companies. The course study

was completed with suggestions from a select outside training partner in

order to get into the mind of the dealer.

DaimlerChrysler Services' Sales Education Team offers courses to all three

brands, Chrysler Financial, Mercedes-Benz Credit and DaimlerChrysler

Services Truck Finance, in Canada, Mexico and in the U.S.

About DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC

DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC provides brand-specific

financing for automotive dealers' inventories and their retail consumers

and does business as Chrysler Financial and Mercedes-Benz Credit. As

DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance it also finances commercial vehicles

for affiliate products such as Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. The

company serves as the headquarters for the operations in the United States,

Canada and Mexico.