Mitsubishi Motors to Participate in Voluntary Commitment To Enhance Consumer Safety

CYPRESS, Calif., Dec. 4, 2003 -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced that it is participating in a new voluntary industry-initiated safety commitment to enhance vehicle compatibility in front-to-front and front-to-side impact collisions.

"Mitsubishi Motors has a long history of making occupant safety a top priority, said Finbarr O'Neill, MMNA CEO. We are totally focused on what our customers want and need in their vehicles, and we will continue to provide innovative safety options to make them feel secure."

The new design & performance criteria, developed by technical experts from member companies of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, will drive the adoption of numerous safety enhancements, including supplemental restraint systems and revised front and side impact structures to enhance vehicle compatibility and occupant safety in front-to-front and front-to-side vehicle impacts. Mitsubishi Motors is among the sixteen automakers participating in the voluntary effort that includes DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and General Motors.

Mitsubishi Motors has conducted extensive studies and performed actual crash tests to evaluate the performance of its vehicles in relation to these new design and performance criteria. For front-to-front impact, MMNA's family of SUVs -- including the Montero, Montero Sport, Outlander and Endeavor -- currently meets the new design criteria. This is a significant step toward the 2007 deadline that will require 50 percent of every manufacturer's vehicle line to meet these criteria.

For front-to-side impact, Mitsubishi Motors has confirmed through actual crash testing that both the Montero with side air bags and the Endeavor with optional side air bags already meet the new performance criteria that go into effect in '07. Mitsubishi Motors fully embraces the new performance criteria and will continue to diligently improve the performance of its vehicles and their safety systems.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations of the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Mitsubishi Motors sells coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of nearly 700 dealers throughout North America. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.