11 November 1998, Tokyo. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces that one of its main passenger car production units, the Nagoya Motor Vehicle Works, gained ISO 14001 certification of its environment management system from the Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI) on 9 November, thus becoming the first unit in the company to do so.

The ISO 14001 Environment Management System is an international standard and having a management system certified as conforming to the ISO 14001 standard means that the system has been recognized internationally as attaining a high level of environmental acceptability. For this reason, a large number of organizations and bodies in all sectors of the manufacturing industry are currently seeking certification.

The ISO 14001 series of international standards has been developed for incorporating environmental aspects into an organization's operations and product standards. The ISO 14001 standard specifies requirements for establishing an environmental policy and implementing procedures that promote an ongoing lowering of environmental impacts of products and services. The Nagoya Motor Vehicle Works comprises the Oye and Okazaki Plants: DIAMANTE, PAJERO iO and CHALLENGER passenger cars and small-size buses are assembled at the Oye Plant, and GALANT, LEGNUM, CHARIOT GRANDIS, RVR and other passenger cars at the Okazaki Plant. Both plants have gained ISO 14001 certification.

The Nagoya Motor Vehicle Works established its environmental management system by first conducting an environment impact assessment for the whole Works and identifying those facilities that capable of imposing a high load or impact on the environment. On the basis of the assessment, the Works installed management systems that promote waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation and the safe handling and disposal of chemicals.

Mitsubishi Motors sees the ISO 14001 certification of the Nagoya Motor Vehicle Works environmental management system as marking the first step in the company's environmental initiative. The company will continue to promote its environmental activities into the 21st century.

Mitsubishi Motors is currently seeking ISO 14001 certification of environmental management systems installed at its other works: the Kyoto Works and Mizushima Motor Vehicle works in 1998, and the Tokyo Motor Vehicle Works in 1999.