Kawasaki to Provide Suzuki with Two Additional Units as Alliance Grows

IRVINE, Calif.--Sept. 5, 2003--

Suzuki Will Soon Be Announcing Their Versions of the 1600 Mean Streak(R) and Prairie(R) 700 4x4 to Their Dealers

Following the recent debut of Kawasaki's and Suzuki's co-developed 250cc four-stroke motocross model, the two-year-old Alliance between the brands will again be evident as Suzuki introduces two Kawasaki-produced models.

Suzuki retailers will be given the opportunity to have their branded versions of both the Kawasaki Vulcan(R) 1600 Mean Streak(R) motorcycle and Kawasaki's Prairie(R) 700 4x4 all-terrain vehicle (ATV).

"This further exemplifies the intent of the two companies when they entered into the Alliance," said Kawasaki's Tom Orbe, vice president, marketing.

"It is another step in the maturation of the agreement that has proven to be so successful for both brands' dealers, as well as for the consumer," continued Orbe.

Suzuki will receive the Kawasaki products that are each second-generation efforts of highly successful models -- both in terms of sales floor performance and meeting customer expectations.

Kawasaki helped to create the "muscle cruiser" segment of the motorcycle market with the original 1500 Mean Streak, winning accolades from journalists for its street fighter image, powerful engine and sportbike handling.

In the important ATV market, Kawasaki's Prairie 700 4x4 ATV is an enhanced version of the industry-leading Prairie 650 4x4, which was the first ATV to be powered by a V-twin engine and set new standards of power, handling and performance for the four-wheel drive utility segment. The new Prairie 700 4x4 features even more engine displacement and refinements, and editors are proclaiming it to have further raised the bar.

The Suzuki branded model of the Kawasaki 1600 Mean Streak will be produced at the Kawasaki plant in Akashi, Japan. The Suzuki model of the Prairie 700 4x4 will be built by Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing (KMM) in Lincoln, Neb., making it the first alliance product manufactured in the United States.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., (KMC) markets and sells at wholesale Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, JET SKI(R) watercraft, MULE(TM) utility vehicles, power products and small engines. Kawasaki's tagline, Let the good times roll(TM), is recognized worldwide for the spirit of fun, adventure and high performance that characterizes the Kawasaki recreational vehicle lines. Kawasaki product lines are sold through a network of more than 1,500 independent retailers. The company and its affiliates employ nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with approximately 400 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters.