DaimlerChrysler Green with Innovation for Earth Day 1999

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- To a casual observer, this Dodge Stratus appears to be the same mid-size sedan populating driveways and garages throughout the country.

But looks are deceiving, because this Stratus is made of materials that might otherwise be populating the nation's landfills and scrap heaps.

DaimlerChrysler is marking Earth Day 1999 with the unveiling of its CARE car, a prototype Dodge Stratus. From the tires to the tail lamps, the CARE Stratus represents DaimlerChrysler's commitment to the powerful potential of recycling. CARE is the Concept for Advanced Recycling and Environmental project.

"The automobile is the most recycled product and we're trying to set the bar even higher," says Ronald Boltz, DaimlerChrysler Vice President - Product Strategy and Regulatory Affairs. "More than 95 percent of all vehicles are recycled today. By comparison, aluminum cans are recycled at a rate of 51 percent and newspapers at 40 percent. No other product comes close.

"Even so, 75 percent of the total weight of each vehicle is recycled. We are committed to analyzing the remaining 25 percent and seeing if there isn't room to improve."
Concepts showcased in the "green" Stratus may find their way into production vehicles within the next five years as part of DaimlerChrysler's efforts to produce 85 percent recyclable products by 2002.

A pair of Stratus vehicles will debut on Earth Day, April 22, at the DaimlerChrysler Technical Center. One has an interior designed by the Lear Corporation of Southfield, Mich., and the other's interior is the work of Johnson Controls, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wis.

While it is common for a car's metal to be recycled, glass, plastics and textiles are more of a challenge. A little of everything in the Stratus CARE car is made from recycled materials: tires, seats, trim, floor mats and dozens of other components. Other parts with recycled materials include sun visors, fuel tanks, air bag systems, door handles, carpeting, fascias, mirrors and seat belts.

The project began eight months ago, when DaimlerChrysler issued a challenge to 24 suppliers to introduce new concepts and manufacturing processes using recycled materials at the same cost - or less - than traditional components, according to Susan Yester, Senior Manager, Vehicle Recycling Programs.

The work focused on assessing progress in three areas of recycling: design features that will improve the recyclability of components; greater use of recycled material content; and the use of resins, or plastics.

Engineers from DaimlerChrysler and its suppliers have begun testing for performance and endurance in a variety of climates and conditions and will continue those tests over the next year. The CARE cars already meet or exceed company criteria established for model year 2005, Yester added.

All of the suppliers volunteered their services - a contribution valued at approximately $3 million.

Throughout the process, suppliers worked with DaimlerChrysler engineers and purchasing officials to develop plans for the cars.

"Our suppliers rose to this challenge enthusiastically. They looked at this as an opportunity to show their technical expertise," Boltz says.

DaimlerChrysler is asking its suppliers to increase the amount of recycled materials used in their parts.

For example, among the items in the Stratus is plastic supplied by Recovery Plastics International (RPI) of Salt Lake City. RPI's plastics are created from "fluff," shredded residue taken from scrapped vehicles. Fluff typically heads for the landfill once other materials, usually metals, have been salvaged for reuse.