AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chrysler Group positioned new incentives to take advantage of consumer apprehension about Toyota vehicles involved in recalls and sales suspensions.

Specifically, Chrysler is offering current Tundra, Tacoma and Sienna owners an additional $1,000 trade-in bonus cash with the purchase or lease of any new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge car or Ram truck.

Furthermore, the manufacturer also announced $1,000 bonus cash for all Toyota returning lessees who purchase or lease a new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge car or Ram truck vehicle.

The incentives are valid through March 1 and part of a strategy the automaker explained as "tactical incentives to encourage customers to try us again."

Fred Diaz, president and chief executive officer of Ram Brand, noted that "the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty is Motor Trend's Truck of the Year and the Ram 1500 is our most awarded truck ever.

"Chrysler invented the minivan and with more than 65 minivan-first innovations has the best minivans in the marketplace with the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country," Diaz continued.

"Dodge has sold more minivans than any other manufacturer, and combined with the Town & Country has more than 42 percent market share in the minivan segment," Diaz added.