Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America Enhances Partnership with The Cobalt Group; Will Provide Industry-Leading Cobalt Nitra E-Business Tools to its Retailers

    SEATTLE--Sept. 5, 2002--The Cobalt Group, the leading provider of e-business software and services to the automotive retail market, has renewed its partnership with Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc., (MMSA) as a preferred Mitsubishi Web Site provider, the company announced today.
    MMSA Retailers will have access to Cobalt's powerful Nitra(R) e-business tools to manage their MMSA-endorsed Web sites. This will provide Mitsubishi Retailers with more flexibility and control over their online marketing efforts while at the same time providing consistent brand identity for Mitsubishi across its dealer network. It also will ensure a seamless consumer shopping experience between MMSA's corporate site, www.mitsubishicars.com, and its dealerships.
    "By renewing our partnership with Cobalt, we are providing Mitsubishi Retailers with the tools they need to sell more cars and better serve their online customers," said Chris Marshall, e-commerce marketing manager for MMSA. "Nitra is a great example why Cobalt is a recognized market leader in e-business technology for the automotive retail market and a preferred provider of services to our Retailers."
    Cobalt Nitra is the first J2EE-based enterprise software platform developed specifically for the automotive retailing industry. It enables manufacturers and dealers to easily manage and maintain their online retailing programs from anywhere at anytime and gives them increased flexibility in branding their dealerships online through convenient access to manufacturer-provided images and text.
    "We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Mitsubishi and are particularly excited to introduce Nitra as an e-business solution for their retailers," said Terry Smail, Executive Vice President of Global Client Services of The Cobalt Group. "This industry-leading technology provides retailers with unparalleled flexibility and control over their Web sites enabling them to sell more cars and services to their customers."
    Nitra's flagship applications -- Cobalt Website Manager for Nitra, Cobalt Marketing Library Manager for Nitra and Nitra User Administration -- offer the most comprehensive site management, publishing, storage and administration capabilities in the industry.

    About The Cobalt Group

    The Cobalt Group (www.cobaltgroup.com) works exclusively in the automotive retail market to help manufacturers and dealers develop integrated e-business programs by leveraging its industry-leading technology, broad range of services and deep domain knowledge. As the automotive e-business leader, Cobalt is uniquely positioned to help its customers maximize their overall operating efficiencies and profits.
    Cobalt offers a broad range of products and services developed specifically for the automotive marketplace including enterprise software for manufacturers and dealers; customer relationship management (CRM) software applications; online automotive commerce applications; the industry's largest OEM parts locating and marketing service; and dealership e-business best practices training, consulting, and process compliance analysis.
    Cobalt operates a dealer network larger than any other technology provider in the automotive retail industry including 12,000 franchised dealers and 72 of the 100 largest dealer groups. Cobalt is the only software technology provider ever endorsed by 16 manufacturers and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).
    With headquarters in Seattle, Cobalt has offices in five U.S. cities, and a field sales and services force in 30 states, including all major U.S. metropolitan sales areas (MSA).

    About Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America

    All Mitsubishi Motors North American sales, finance, manufacturing, research and development operations are overseen by Mitsubishi Motors America, Inc. which will be consolidated into Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) early in 2003. Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1981 by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles, including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of more than 580 dealers in the United States. For more information about Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the Web site at www.media.mitsubishicars.com.