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Mitsubishi Motors Posts 46 Percent Gain in Monthly Sales

2 July 1998

Mitsubishi Motors Posts 46 Percent Gain in Monthly Sales; YTD Sales Thru June Nearing 100,000 Units

    CYPRESS, Calif., July 1 -- For the second month in a row,
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. has posted sales in the 20,000 unit
range and today announced a 46 percent increase in total vehicle sales for
June, versus June of 1997.  With the company's U.S.-built vehicle sales alone
nearing 12,000 units for the month, Mitsubishi Motors anxiously awaits the
arrival of its all-new '99 Galant, also built at its Illinois manufacturing
plant and currently being shipped to Mitsubishi Motors' dealerships.
    "The Galant has always been one of our largest volume products," said
Pierre Gagnon, executive vice president and chief operating officer.  "Our
dealers are doing a great job of clearing out our current inventory as they
wait for shipments of the newly styled Galant to hit their regions."  June
sales of Galant neared 5,000 units and Gagnon expects the new Galant to reach
sales of about 60,000 units in its first calendar year.
    With the launch of the new Galant, the company will also be introducing an
entirely new ad campaign that previews a new brand positioning for Mitsubishi
Motors.  "The time has never been better for Mitsubishi Motors to break out of
its mold," said Gagnon.  "The '99 Galant definitely has a more stylish and
performance oriented look than its 'look-alike, drive-alike' competitors in
the mid-size sedan segment, and the new campaign provides a motivating spirit
that embodies the direction that we as a company are moving toward."  The new
ad campaign coincides with the official launch of the new Galant, slated for
August 1st.
    Sales of Mitsubishi Motors' sport utility vehicles, Montero and Montero
Sport, are also showing a 19 percent increase in year-to-date sales, reaching
more than 21,000 units through June.  "Montero Sport has been a very strong
competitor in the mid-size SUV market, with consumers enjoying the combination
of distinct style and ruggedness it brings to its class," said Gagnon.
    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.

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

    Passenger Car
     Sales*             16,110/75,489     10,753/76,662        +50%/-2%
    Sport Utility
     Vehicles**          3,965/21,092      2,993/17,766       +32%/+19%
    Trucks***                     0/0             5/207     -100%/-100%
    Total Vehicle Sales 20,075/96,581     13,751/94,635        +46%/+2%

    Note: U.S.-Built
     Vehicle Sales      11,901/52,056      7,553/53,588        +58%/-3%
    (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