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Mitsubishi Motors Posts Largest Sales Month This Year

3 June 1998

Mitsubishi Motors Posts Largest Sales Month This Year - New Advertising Effort Increases Showroom Traffic

               Company's Vehicle Sales Top 19,000 Units for May

    CYPRESS, Calif., June 2 -- Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America,
Inc. (MMSA) today announced total sales of 19,315 units, an increase of 24
percent over May 1997 sales.  The company attributed its strong sales showing
to positive consumer reaction to new broadcast advertising aired nationally
through May on behalf of MMSA's 41 MDAAs (Mitsubishi Dealer Advertising
Associations).
    Over the past several months, the company has worked closely with its
dealers to develop more consistency in its advertising message so that all
levels of advertising -- national, regional and local -- reinforce the same
message about the company and its products.  The current advertising campaign
was prepared by Deutsch, Inc., of New York and Santa Monica, Calif., who is
currently preparing the advertising campaign to launch Mitsubishi Motors' most
important new model, the completely redesigned 1999 Galant mid-size sedan.
    According to Katy Bremer, vice president of marketing, the MDAA
advertising campaign was the first step in Deutsch's challenge to create an
advertising message that embodies the spirited nature of Mitsubishi Motors'
products, and to capture the attention of consumers who are seeking not only
value and reliability, but a distinct personality in the vehicles they intend
to purchase.
    "We believe the positive reaction to the current MDAA advertising campaign
bodes well for the very creative approach we're taking to launch the 1999
Galant," said Bremer.  "We've always had the products to set us apart.  Now,
we'll have an advertising message that does the same thing."
    The company's sporty Eclipse remained its strongest seller for the month,
helping to achieve record May Eclipse sales of nearly 6,500 units for both the
coupe and Spyder convertible combined.  Bremer noted that monthly sales of the
Montero Sport mid-size sport utility, surpassed company objectives reaching
nearly 4,100 units.
    With the company preparing to launch the '99 Galant, it is pleased with
the current sales of 3,600 units of 1998 Galants in May, which supports an
orderly sell-out of existing inventory.  The all-new '99 Galant is expected to
enter dealerships later this summer and Bremer contends that it will be a
stylish departure from "look-alike, drive-alike" competitors within the mid-
size sedan segment.
    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.


                                   May '98         May '97       % Change
                                  Month/YTD      Month/YTD      Month/YTD

    Passenger Car Sales*       14,955/59,379   12,267/65,909   +21.9%/-9.9%
    Sport Utility Vehicles**    4,360/17,127    3,291/14,773  +32.4%/+15.9%
    Trucks***                            0/0           1/202    -100%/-100%
    Total Vehicle Sales        19,315/76,506   15,559/80,884   +24.1%/-5.4%

    Note: U.S.-Built
     Vehicle Sales             10,182/40,155    8,575/46,035  +18.7%/-12.8%

    (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