Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today announced that UAW Local 2488 members have ratified an agreement that dramatically improves the ability of the company's Normal, Illinois assembly plant to be a key player in the global success of Mitsubishi Motors.

"We are extremely pleased with this agreement," said MMNA President & CEO, Hiroshi Harunari. "It sends a clear message to customers and dealers that Mitsubishi Motors is committed to being competitive and successful in the U.S. market."

The agreement includes provisions guaranteeing that production will continue at the assembly plant in Normal, Illinois through August 2008. The pact also provides job security for approximately 1,500 current UAW workers through the end of the agreement period.

Shiro Futaki, the head of MMNA's manufacturing division, located in Normal, Illinois, praised the agreement as a symbol of his employees' teamwork and determination to succeed. "I appreciate that our employees have made a commitment to make a difficult personal sacrifice to improve the future of MMNA," he said. "This agreement continues a long tradition of partnership and cooperation between MMNA and the UAW. The leadership of both the UAW and MMNA recognize the tough issues facing us and we have worked together to solve them."

MMNA Manufacturing, its employees, and suppliers have enhanced their competitiveness this fiscal year -- beginning in April -- by working cooperatively to reduce component and manufacturing process costs, without compromising the quality of their vehicles and safety of customers. The new two-year labor agreement further improves the cost structure of the company by reducing worker wages and benefits. MMNA declined to provide a dollar figure for the bottom-line impact of any of these cost improvements.

"Our UAW partners recognize that adjustments to wages and benefits are one of the key factors in determining our long-term success," said Futaki. "MMNA fully appreciates the ability of the UAW to be flexible in reaching this agreement. We believe institutionally, the UAW has the workers' best interest at heart, including a realization that a strong and vibrant MMNA is in the long-term best interest of the employees," Futaki added.