PORTLAND, OR – Freightliner LLC has reached an agreement to transfer ownership of its fire apparatus and emergency vehicles business unit, American LaFrance, to the New York-based investment firm, Patriarch Partners, LLC. Andreas Renschler, the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for the Commercial Vehicles Division, said, “Under the ‘Global Excellence’ initiative we are reviewing the portfolio of our commercial vehicle businesses and products. The sale of American LaFrance is a result of this process.” American LaFrance, the country’s fifth largest fire and emergency services vehicle producer, produces and distributes a comprehensive line of fire and emergency apparatus including chassis, aerials, ambulances, pumpers, rescues, and tankers. In addition to the purchase of all operating assets, Patriarch will maintain American LaFrance’s manufacturing facilities and corporate-owned dealer locations across the United States. The Ladson (South Carolina) corporate office building and assembly facility, that is not part of the sale, remains a DaimlerChrysler asset. It will be utilized, in part, by American LaFrance until 2007.