On the product side, MMC continues to make its cars more environmentally friendly. The new Colt and Lancer Cargo-as well as the recently launched Grandis-gained ultra-low emission vehicle (U-LEV) certification from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while 80 percent of all gasoline vehicles sold in fiscal 2002 were low emission vehicles (LEVs), a 37 percent jump on fiscal 2001.

Other developments on the product front include further research and development efforts for fuel cell vehicles and cooperating with DaimlerChrysler to set up a network for collecting end-of-life vehicles across Europe.

The report also confirms MMC's ongoing commitment to reduce waste and promote recycling. Total energy use in terms of CO₂ emissions during production came to 506,000 tons of CO₂, down 1.7 percent on the previous year despite a 6.6 percent increase in production.

Waste resource recovery, meanwhile, reached 99.4 percent, achieving the company's mid-term target of more than 98 percent by the end of fiscal 2005 ahead of schedule. The company also maintained zero emissions from landfill waste at all domestic plants, a target first reached last year.

MMC achieved 34 of 35 targets set out for fiscal 2002 in its 5-year Environmental Sustainability Plan. The company spent 45.2 billion yen on environmental initiatives for the year, up 0.4 percent on fiscal 2001.

The report, which covers both MMC and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, is available in Japanese and English and has been uploaded to the company's website at www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/ECO-E. It is also available as hard copy using FSC-certified paper, soybean oil ink, and waterless-printing to reduce the environmental impact of printing.