Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors Expand OEM Supply Arrangement for Mini-Vehicles

Tokyo January 17, 2005; (JCNN) - Nissan Motors, and Mitsubishi Motors have announced an agreement between the tow companies in which Mitsubishi will supply Nissan with an additional mini-vehicle on an OEM basis starting in the first half of fiscal year 2005.

Under the expanded OEM agreement, Mitsubishi will supply Nissan with a total of 36,000 eK series mini-passenger cars, in addition to the 20,000 Minicab mini-commercial vehicles it currently supplies to the company. Nissan has been selling the Minicab, which features both a truck and van version, under the Clipper name since October 2003. Nissan will receive two versions of the eK series from Mitsubishi: the eK WAGON and the eK SPORT.

With the eK addition, Nissan, which also sells the Moco mini-passenger car, will now have three mini-vehicle models in its product lineup, allowing the company to broaden its new customer base. Mitsubishi Motors, by increasing the types of models it supplies on an OEM basis, will be able to raise the number of mini-vehicles that it produces and enhance productivity.

Mitsubishi has supplied Nissan with a total of 33,300 Minicabs between October 2003 and December 2004.

Mitsubishi released the eK WAGON in October 2001 and the eK SPORT in September 2002. The eK WAGON has sold a total of 301,700 units as of December 2004 and the eK SPORT has sold a total of 55,700 units.