Mitsubishi Motors Announces Production, Sales and Exports for January 2006

Tokyo, Japan, Feb 24, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export results for January 2006.

Total global production was 106,749 units, an increase of 4.7 percent from January 2005. In Japan, 55,582 units were produced in the month, 10.5 percent more year-on-year.

Total sales in Japan came to 17,600 units, a 9.9 percent increase on the previous period's figure due to the strong debut of the new concept minicar "i", which sold over 2,300 units in one week after its January 24 launch. Shortly into February orders for "i" surpassed 10,000 units. This is the ninth consecutive month of year-on-year sales growth for the domestic market. Total sales for passenger cars were 13,264 units, 115.2 percent of last year's volume, while commercial vehicle sales saw a small decrease to 4,336 units, or 96.4 percent of the January 2005 total.

Overseas production for the month was stable at 51,167 units, or 99.1 percent of the amount manufactured in the same period last year. European production was down 9.4 percent compared to last year's volume, to 5,587 units. Asian production totaled 35,935 units, a small decline of 4.0% over the previous period, and production in North America increased 14.8 percent year-on-year to 6,507 units.

Total exports from Japan rose 33.1 percent over last year's volume to 29,621 units. Lead by continued strong sales growth in Russia, exports to Europe increased to 10,262 units, or 166.7 percent of the export volume for the same period last year. Exports to Asia declined to 1,929 units, or 59.6 percent of last year's total, while exports to the North American market rose to 2,911 units, or 136.2 percent of the volume for the year before period.