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Mitsubishi Motors Sport Utility Sales Remain Hot - Company Shows 81 Percent Increase in SUV Sales

3 February 1998

Mitsubishi Motors Sport Utility Sales Remain Hot - Company Shows 81 Percent Increase in SUV Sales

    CYPRESS, Calif., Feb. 3 -- Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America,
Inc. (MMSA) today announced total vehicle sales of 15,088 units for the month
of January, with sales of its Montero Sport mid-size sport utility vehicle
beginning the new year with a strong sales surge of more than 80 percent.  The
company anticipates Montero Sport sales to substantially increase throughout
the 1998 calendar year and overall sales to grow following the recent launch
of fresh new print and television advertising.
    According to Kim Custer, director of public affairs and corporate
communications, the company's 1998 television ads accompany a new print
campaign just beginning its national launch.  "Our new commercials evoke the
personality of our company and the products we sell," said Custer.  "With
warmth and honesty, we hope to convey the spirit and confidence embodied by
our cars and our customers."  New advertisements for Montero Sport, Diamante,
Galant, as well as Mitsubishi Motors' full product line, have already received
a favorable response.
    Sport utility vehicle sales as a whole have shown a considerable lift for
the company and following its first full year of sales, Montero Sport has
helped to lead the SUV segment for Mitsubishi Motors, showing an 81 percent
increase over January SUV sales last year.
    Eclipse sales, including both the sports coupe and convertible, reached
nearly 4,500 units for the month, with Galant sales following at slightly more
than 4,100 units.  An all-new 1999 model Galant will make its world
introduction later this week at the Chicago Auto Show during a unique, live,
televised consumer reveal an Saturday, February 7th.  The new Galant, which
will be built in the company's Illinois manufacturing plant specifically for
the North American marketplace, is expected to enter dealerships this summer.
    Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles,
including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles.

                                   Jan. '98        Jan. `97      % Change
                                  Month/YTD       Month/YTD     Month/YTD

    Passenger Car Sales*      11,768/11,768   14,258/14,258     -17%/-17%
    Sport Utility Vehicles**    3,320/3,320     1,832/1,832     +81%/+81%

    Trucks***                           0/0         179/179   -100%/-100%
    Total Vehicle Sales       15,088/15,088   16,269/16,269       -7%/-7%

    Note: U.S.-Built
     Vehicle Sales             8,581/ 8,581    9,700/ 9,700 -11.5%/-11.5%
    (Includes Eclipse/Eclipse Spyder/Galant)

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

SOURCE  Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc.