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Mitsubishi Motors' U.S. Sales Up 43% for August

2 September 1999

Mitsubishi Motors' U.S. Sales Up 43% for August

            Strong Montero Sport, Eclipse and Galant Sales Produce
                     Best August Sales in Company History

    CYPRESS, Calif., Sept. 1 -- Mitsubishi Motor Sales of
America, Inc. (MMSA) had its best sales month so far in 1999, as well as its
best-ever August, with sales of 25,928, up 43 percent over the prior year:

    -- Year-to-date sales for MMSA are up 22% over the prior year, a total of
       159,379 units
    -- Montero Sport sales were up 101% for August; with 5,094 units sold,
       this is the best sales month ever for the mid-size sport utility
       vehicle
    -- Galant sales reached 7,896 units, a 91% increase for the mid-size sedan
       over August 1998
    -- Eclipse coupe and Spyder convertible sales totaled 6,280, a 12%
       increase; the company continues an orderly "sell-down" of 1999 model
       inventory in preparation for the advertising launch of the all-new 2000
       model which begins next week
    -- Sales for most other Mitsubishi Motors' vehicles increased in August
       over the prior year, including the Diamante luxury performance sedan
       (up 37%); Mirage compact sedan and coupe (up 12%); and Montero luxury
       SUV (up 14%).

    "Our sales gains continue to outpace a very hot market, resulting in
significant increases in market share, and more importantly, demonstrating the
continued success of our U.S. turnaround strategy," said Pierre Gagnon,
executive vice president and chief operating officer for MMSA.  "With the best
ever sales for any August in our history, and a 22% sales increase for the
year, it's obvious consumers have chosen to 'wake up and drive' our sedans,
coupes and SUVs as alternatives to the competition."
    Gagnon added that the $45-million advertising launch of the all-new
Eclipse -- which began this week with 15-second "teasers" on national TV to be
followed by heavy rotation of 30-second Eclipse commercials beginning
September 7 -- will bring more attention to the Mitsubishi brand in the U.S.
In addition, the automaker's Galant was rated #1 in the September, 1999 issue
of Car and Driver magazine in a test of eight $20,000 mid-size sedans;
recently chosen by The Auto Channel as its "sedan of the year"; and, selected
by edmunds.com as the best "bread and butter sedan."
    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.

                               August '99      August '98      % Change
                               Month/YTD       Month/YTD       Month/YTD

    Passenger Car Sales*    20,343/125,000  15,199/103,155   +33.8%/+21.2%

    Sport Utility
     Vehicles**               5,585/34,379    2,961/27,060   +88.6%/+27.0%

    Total Vehicle Sales     25,928/159,379  18,160/130,215   +42.8%/+22.4%

    NOTE: U.S.-Assembled
     Vehicle Sales
     (includes Eclipse,
     Eclipse Spyder,
     Galant)                 14,176/83,750    9,739/70,814   +45.6%/+18.3%

    *  Above totals include sales of U.S.-assembled Mitsubishi Motors
       vehicles
    ** Includes Montero Sport and Montero