APRIL MARKS CONTINUED SALES SUCCESS FOR MITSUBISHI MOTORS COMPANY’S TURNAROUND STRATEGY REAPING REWARDS WITH 23 PERCENT YTD INCREASE CYPRESS, Calif., – Entering the month of May with five months of consecutive sales increases behind the company, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA) announced a 23 percent increase in year-to-date sales, along with the expectation of continuing its strong sales pace for the rest of the year. April ’99 sales reached nearly 16,400 units, showing a 21 percent increase over the same period last year, and a year-to-date total of more than 70,000 units. According to Pierre Gagnon, executive vice president and chief operating officer for MMSA, the company’s strategy for creating enhanced brand awareness is succeeding. "The positioning of the newly designed ’99 Galant, coupled with a consistent brand image campaign, is bringing a new kind of customer into our showrooms," said Gagnon. "While the new Galant continues to sell in strong numbers, it’s also created an enormous opportunity to increase buyers for the entry-level Mirage, which is a great product at a great value." Combined year-to-date sales of Mirage 4-door and Mirage Coupe are up 77 percent. Mitsubishi Galant While seven of the last eight months have shown monthly sales increases for MMSA, Gagnon believes the company’s real strength is in its future. With the onset of the all-new 2000 Eclipse preparing to hit showrooms later this summer and a significantly improved Montero Sport scheduled to launch at the same time, both vehicles along with Galant, create a trio of core products that consistently increase in popularity. The current Montero Sport continues to sell in record numbers for the company, with April sales reaching more than 4,000 units and marking a 30 percent year-to-date increase. Gagnon will be speaking later today at the monthly Motor Press Guild reception in Southern California, where he will be sharing the successful turnaround strategy Mitsubishi Motors has implemented and the aggressive advertising campaign which has helped to move the company’s most recognizable products from individual successes into a more consistent awareness of the brand.