AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaimlerChrysler will showcase its new six-passenger neighborhood electric vehicles and the upgraded 2006 Model Year line-up at the year's first major auto shows in Los Angeles and Detroit in January 2006.
The GEM line-up will be on display at both the 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
Consumers across the country will then have a chance to see the complete GEM line-up, when the "GEM Life '06 Tour" begins its cross-country schedule Jan. 24 in San Diego. California is the nation's largest market for neighborhood electric vehicles, including GEM. The 15-city tour wraps up in late March in North Carolina.
"All projections are for continued growth in the marketplace for neighborhood electric vehicles," said Larry Oswald, GEM CEO and Director of the GEM and Electric Vehicle Product Team for DaimlerChrysler. "GEM is already the industry leader in this market, and with these new models we are poised to broaden our leadership."
Zero emission GEM vehicles provide clean, quiet, efficient, affordable and fun-to-drive transportation as an alternative to conventional vehicles for short trip driving. Studies of GEM users have demonstrated that use of the all-electric vehicles can have a significant impact on air quality.
GEM vehicles are produced by Global Electric Motorcars, LLC, a wholly- owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler based in Fargo, N.D. More than 30,000 GEM vehicles are in use across the Untied States and internationally, in settings such as city centers, master planned communities, rural areas, military bases, local, state and national parks, industrial developments, airports and college and university campuses.
The 2006 GEMs are available at select Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep(R) dealers nationwide. Four models are currently available: the e2 two-passenger coupe; the e4 four-passenger sedan; the eL and eS which are two-passenger vehicles with cargo beds for light hauling. Pre-orders are being accepted for the all- new six-passenger models, the e6 and e6S, which begin production in April 2006.
Upgrades to the current GEM line-up include a heavier-duty drive system and 15 new options that enable owners to customize their GEM vehicles to best fit their driving and hauling needs.
