May 29, 1998

Automotive Almanac of Japan 1998 - Now On Sale -

Tokyo -- The Japan Motor Industrial Federation, Inc. (JMIF) today released its Automotive Almanac of Japan 1998, the latest edition of its annual guidebook on Japan's automotive industry for international distribution. This English guidebook, focusing primarily on export models, is designed to publicize the Japanese automotive industry among overseas readers.

Printed in an A4-size format, the guidebook runs to 290 pages. This year's edition marks the 39th volume of the guidebook that JMIF has published every year since 1960. The contents have been suitably compiled to create a full-fledged automotive almanac. Besides presenting the export models of Japan's vehicle manufacturers and the models they build overseas, the guidebook also includes various directories and a wealth of statistical data. The domestic price of the guidebook is ¥2,000 (including consumption tax but excluding postage).

The guidebook is organized into two principal sections. One is a catalog section featuring photographs of passenger cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles, and the other section comprises detailed specification tables. The catalog section presents 393 photographs of export models and models produced offshore, while the table section lists the specifications of 1,438 vehicles. Another highlight of the guidebook is a color frontispiece introducing 33 major models. This year's edition features articles that explain the need for more environment-friendly automotive technologies and highlights of the 32nd Tokyo Motor Show.

Industry highlights of the previous year are chronicled, and corporate profiles are presented of thirteen Japanese vehicle manufacturers (including their overseas subsidiaries and affiliates), along with an introduction of related industrial organizations which are JMIF members, and statistics on domestic and overseas vehicle production and vehicle exports from Japan. This extensive information makes the guidebook an indispensable reference for overseas automobile fans and anyone involved in the automotive industry.

JMIF distributes the guidebook through appointed bookstores, and also as public relations material to automotive industry associations overseas and to public bodies such as diplomatic and consular offices. Persons wishing to purchase a copy of the guidebook should contact the following address:
Contact: Nippan IPS Co., Ltd.
  3-11-6 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0072, Japan
  Tel: +81-3-3238-0708
Fax: +81-3-3238-0707
E-mail: ips05@nippan-ips.co.jp

Overview of the Automotive Almanac of Japan 1998 (Vol. 39)

1. Date of release May 29, 1998  
2. Volume printed 5,000 copies  
3. Price ¥2,000 (including consumption tax)
4. Format A4-size, 290 pages  
5. Language English  
6. Contents �Frontispiece (33 pages) Color photographs of each domestic manufacturer's leading models.
  �Feature articles (18 pages) (1) The Need for Environment-Friendly Automotive Technologies
(2) The 32nd Tokyo Motor Show Highlights
  �Catalog (80 pages) Color photographs of export vehicle models 393 models (387)
Passenger cars 153 models (150)
Motorcycles 94 models (91)
Commercial vehicles 146 models (146)
Auto bodies 12 items (16)
Parts/machinery 48 items (48)
Note: Numbers in ( ) indicate the respective number presented in last year's guidebook .
�Specification tables (67 pages) Detailed specifications of export
vehicle models 1,438 models (1,388)
Passenger cars 534 models (504)
Motorcycles 247 models (244)
Commercial vehicles 478 models (468)
Buses 140 models (134)
Trucks/cranes 39 models (38)
Note: Numbers in ( ) indicate the respective number presented in last year's guidebook .
  �Corporate profiles (29 pages) Brief introduction of each domestic vehicle manufacturer, including its history, major products,
locations of head office and production plants (including overseas facilities) and overseas subsidiaries
and affiliates.
  �Industrial organizations (7 pages) Descriptions of five industrial organizations: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA),
Japan Motor Industrial Federation, Inc. (JMIF), Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA),
Japan Auto-Body Industries Association, Inc. (JABIA) and Japan Automotive Machinery and
Tool Manufacturers Association (JAMTA)
  �Japanese automotive industry highlights in 199.7 (5 pages)
  �Directories (24 pages) Industrial organizations/related organizations Vehicle manufacturers
Manufacturers of auto parts, auto bodies, machinery and tools and tires
  �Statistics (8 pages) Domestic vehicle production, new vehicle registrations, ownership,
unit sales, exports and imports
  �Advertisements, etc. (19 pages) Color and monochrome advertisements 22 companies (31 in last year's guidebook)
Other information