Mitsubishi Motors Announces Production, Sales and Exports for February 2006

Tokyo, Japan, Mar 24, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export results for February 2006. Total global production totaled 120,252 units, an increase of 10.2 percent from the year ago period. Japanese production of 69,628 units represented a 28.6 percent increase from February 2005.

Total sales in Japan came to 27,148 units, a robust 26.9 percent increase year-on-year due to continued strength in the new models Outlander and i. Outlander sold 3,127 units in February and was the top selling SUV in Japan in three of the four full months (November 2005 - February 2006) since its launch on October 17, 2005. i sold 6,025 units in February, against a monthly sales target of 5,000 units. February was the tenth consecutive month of year-on-year sales growth for the domestic market. Total sales for passenger cars were 20,683 units, a strong 145.6 percent of the volume for the same period last year, while commercial vehicle sales decreased to 6,465 units, or 90.1 percent of the February 2005 total.

Overseas production for February declined to 50,624 units, or 92.1 percent of the amount manufactured in the year ago period. European production was down 22.2 percent year-on-year to 5,205 units, mainly due to the ceasing of production of Pajero Pinin. Asian production totaled 34,530 units, an 8.4 percent decline over the previous period, and production in North America remained stable at 6,991 units, or 98.7 percent of the February 2005 production.

Total exports from Japan declined slightly to 27,968 units, a 2.8 percent decrease from the year ago period. Exports to Europe increased to 10,350 units, a 20.1 percent gain year-on-year. Exports to Asia rose to 2,889 units, or 133.4 percent of the export volume in the same period last year, while exports to the North American market fell to 2,330 units, 33.8 percent of the volume for February 2005.