Hitachi Automotive Products Launches Full Line of Import Starters and Alternators for U.S. Market

    TORRANCE, Calif.--Nov. 12, 2001--Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd. today announced it will enter the automotive aftermarket with a line of import application rotating electrical products, xincluding starters and alternators.
    The Hitachi products that will be offered in this product line include both remanufactured alternators and starter motors for import vehicle applications. The product line includes vehicle coverage for not only Japanese vehicles but European vehicle applications as well. Primary vehicle lines include Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Volkswagen, plus others, with models available for applications from model years 1970 through 2000.
    "Consumers are more savvy and value conscious than ever before. Because customers demand a premium product at a very competitive price, it is necessary to bring value to customers in new, innovative ways that will ultimately increase their profitability," said Hank Ide, vice president and general manager, Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. -- Los Angeles. "Today's market demands that companies add value and not cost to their product. Adding value has always been a top priority at Hitachi, which is why we are well positioned to bring value and quality to the aftermarket. Our goal is to make Hitachi the premium brand of choice for all of our customers. We want our customers to feel a bond with the Hitachi brand born from the promise of value, inherent in the Hitachi brand and the quality that we have always delivered."
    Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. manufactures, remanufactures and markets a broad range of electrical and electronic automotive products for all major automotive original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Hitachi is a standard of quality in the OE market place and after extensive market research, will bring its OE quality products directly to the aftermarket.

    About Hitachi:

    Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc., manufactures and re-manufactures high quality electrical and rotating electrical automotive products for vehicle manufacturers such as: GM, Ford, Mazda, Honda, Jaguar, Nissan, Toyota, Saturn, Isuzu, Subaru, Suzuki, Aston Martin, Opel, Fiat, Renault, Volvo and Saab. For more information, visit http://www.hap.com.
    Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. , markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics and semiconductors, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi.com.
    Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2000 (ended March 31, 2001) consolidated sales of 8,417 billion yen ($67.9 billion/a). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.

    (a) At an exchange rate of 124 yen to the dollar.