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Mitsubishi Motors Reports May Car Sales

3 June 1997

Mitsubishi Motors May Car Sales Total 15,559 Units

              Strong Demand for the New Montero Sport Continues

    CYPRESS, Calif., June 3 -- Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America,
Inc. (MMSA) reported May, 1997 sales of 15,559 units, off 11 percent from May,
1996 and reflecting some sluggishness in the new light vehicle market after a
very strong first quarter.
    According to Kevin Ormes, group vice president of sales and marketing for
MMSA, the addition of three all-new models and Mitsubishi Motors ongoing brand
image advertising campaign have significantly helped MMSA's sales performance
for the year, with calendar-year-to-date sales up nearly 9 percent versus the
same period in 1996.  Additionally, Mitsubishi Motors has enjoyed the success
of its Montero Sport mid-size sport utility vehicle with sales reaching 2,827
units in May, 1997.  "We're very pleased with the Montero Sport's performance
in the market.  May was a good month for us and we believe that its success in
the market will continue," said Ormes.
    Mitsubishi Motors' Mirage Coupe and Sedan sold well in May, 1997 with
combined volume reaching 2,185 units, up 7.4 percent over May, 1996.  "The
appeal of the Mirage has been growing and May's sales performance proves that
its value, style and performance set it apart from the competition," noted
Ormes.  Year-to-date combined Mirage sales are up 33 percent at 11,797 units
versus calendar-year-to-date 1996 volume.
    Sales of Mitsubishi Motors' Galant mid-size sedan reached 2,554 units in
May, 1997.  Inventory of the Galant has been considerably diminished due to
strong demand for the car since the beginning of the 1997 model year, with a
resulting shortage of availability of certain Galant models that have proven
to be more popular than anticipated.
    Reflecting a mild seasonal increase in demand, May, 1997 sales of
Mitsubishi Motors' Eclipse coupe reached 4,903 units, up 4.1 percent from one
year earlier.  Eclipse Spyder convertible sales totaled 1,118 units for the
month.  Sales of Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing America, Inc. (MMMA)-built
Mitsubishi-badged vehicles totaled 8,575 units in May, 1997, down from May,
1996.
    Mitsubishi Motors' luxury performance sedan, the Diamante, sold well in
May, 1997 with volume totaling 854 units.  Year-to-date Diamante sales volume
reached 5,371 units.  Ormes attributes the Diamante's combination of striking
exterior design, generous interior room and excellent performance to its
market desirability.
    Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc., was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of subcompact
coupes and sedans, mid-size sedans, sports coupes and convertibles, grand
touring sports cars, luxury performance sedans and sport utility vehicles.

                                        May '97        May '96       % Change
                                        Month/YTD      Month/YTD     Month/YTD

     Total Passenger Car Sales*  15,558/80,682  16,910/72,665  -8.0%/+11.0%
     Total Truck Sales**              1/   202     579/ 1,620 -99.8%/-87.5%
     Total Vehicle Sales         15,559/80,884  17,489/74,285  -11.0%/+8.9%
     U.S.-Built Vehicle Sales     8,575/46,035  12,674/50,315  -32.3%/-8.5%
     (Includes Eclipse/Galant)

    *  Above totals include sales of U.S.-built Mitsubishi Motors vehicles
    ** Truck sales include inventory stock only; MMSA discontinued the Mighty
       Max pickup truck early in 1996

SOURCE  Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc.