"Collaboration with our supply base has been a critical component in our ability to bring 16 new or significantly refreshed vehicles to the marketplace in the past year. Without the strong support of our supplier partners, we would not have been able to accomplish such a feat in such a short amount of time," said Dan Knott, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President of Purchasing and Supplier Quality and host for the ceremony.

"The companies we recognised today exemplify the top level of supplier performance, a level we encourage all suppliers to strive for. On behalf of the entire Chrysler Group enterprise, I would like to thank these companies, their management teams and the thousands of employees who have dedicated themselves to excellence."

2011 Chrysler Group Supplier Award Recipients

Gentex Corporation: mirrors (Zeeland, Mich.)

Ground Effects Ltd.: Mopar accessories (Windsor, Ontario)

ILJIN Corporation: roller bearings, suspension components (Seoul, South Korea)

Laird Technologies: telematics (Holly, Mich.)

Magna International: interior, stampings, exterior ornamentation, driveline components (Aurora, Ontario, Canada)

Mando Corporation: steering systems (Pyongtaek-City, Kyunggi-Do, South Korea)

Ryan Industries: seat components - Diversity Supplier Development (Wixom, Mich.)

Schaller Corporation: stampings (Chesterfield, Mich.)

TRW Automotive: braking systems, supplemental restraint systems, steering systems (Livonia, Mich.)

Union Pacific Railroad; transportation and logistics (Omaha, Neb.)

Wieden + Kennedy; advertising (Portland, Ore.)

Award recipients were selected based on an evaluation of each company's External Balanced Scorecard - a rating system that evaluates supplier performance in areas such as quality, delivery, cost, warranty and partnership - and input from Chrysler Group senior leadership.