MITSUBISHI MOTORS PRESIDENT SONOBE AND COO ECKRODT UNVEIL NEW RECREATION VEHICLE IN TOKYO, 2001-06-20 (photo)

Mitsubishi Motors Corp President and CEO Takashi Sonobe (R) and Executive Vice President and COO Rolf Eckrodt, from DaimlerChrysler, unveil a new-generation recreation vehicle Airtrek, the "first Mitsubishi car based on DaimlerChrysler's quality management system," in Tokyo June 20, 2001. Domestic sales commenced on Wednesday starting at 1.70 million yen ($13,840) for a 2-litre engined version of the Airtrek, which is to be sold in North America in autumn 2002 and in Europe in late 2002. As a top Japanese auto exporter to China, whose government decided on Tuesday to impose punitive tariffs on some Japanese import goods, Sonobe said Mitsubishi is preparing its product line and currently rebuilding its strategy for the Chinese market. ES/DL