News Releases

05/12/2008

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez Tour Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. Los Angeles Manufacturing Plant

- - Site Visit Marks One of Two California Companies Selected as Part of Invest in America Week Events; Hitachi Automotive Only Company Selected in the State in its Industry - -

TORRANCE, Calif., May 12, 2008 – Today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and United States Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez toured Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc.- Los Angeles Plant, a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., which distributes and remanufactures electrical and electronic automotive components and service parts for major OEM, industrial and high performance aftermarket customers. The visit marked one of two California companies that were selected and included as part of Invest in America Week, May 5-9, featuring events spanning the United States.

Invest in America Week highlights the importance of foreign direct investment (FDI) for U.S. jobs and economic growth through a series of events in 12 states across the country. Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc., was the only automotive company selected in the state to participate in Invest in America Week events.

The plant tour with Governor Schwarzenegger and Secretary Gutierrez was led by Taiji Hasegawa, Chairman for Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc.

Following the tour of the 85,000 square-foot remanufacturing plant, a press conference was held with Governor Schwarzenegger and Secretary Gutierrez. Also, private tours were conducted with community leaders and Junichi Ihara, Consul, Consulate General of Japan for Los Angeles and Naoyuki Kawagoishi, Vice Consul, Consulate General of Japan for Los Angeles

Commenting on the tour, Mr. Hasegawa said, “We were honored to host Governor Schwarzenegger and Secretary Gutierrez at our facilities and be selected as a company committed to foreign and direct investment in the United States and recognized as an environmentally responsible company.”

“Hitachi takes great pride in being a global and cutting edge innovative leader. Furthermore, we believe in environmental preservation and economic growth, all with a primary focus on our society as a whole.”

Additionally, Mayor Frank Scotto, City of Torrance attended the event and declared May 12, 2008 as “Hitachi Day” in Torrance.

Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. remanufactures starters, alternators, ECU’s (electronic control units), mass air flow sensors, electronic throttle bodies, and distributors. The company remanufactures parts from OEM and aftermarket customers. The parts are disassembled, cleaned, reassembled and tested to OEM specifications. Material cores that do not pass the specifications before, during or after the assembly process are recycled.

Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc., subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., manufactures, remanufactures and markets a broad range of electrical and electronic automotive products for all major automotive original equipment manufacturers worldwide. The company was established in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, in 1985. Today, approximately 1,100 employees support operations in Kentucky, Los Angeles, and Detroit. For more information, visit www.hitachi-hap-la.com.

Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. and its affiliated companies in the U.S., includes Clarion Corporation of America (http://www.clarion.com/us/en/top.html); Tokico (USA), Inc. (www.tokicousa.com); Unisia Steering Systems (www.unisia-ss.com); and Unisia of Georgia Corporation, employ approximately 2,600.

Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit www.hitachi.us.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 384,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007) consolidated revenues totaled 10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.

Invest in America promotes and supports foreign direct investment in the United States, contributing to U.S. job creation, innovation and competitiveness.

The Department of Commerce created Invest in America in 2007 as the first federal-level U.S. investment promotion effort in a generation. Invest in America provides support for state governments’ investment promotion efforts in all 50 states and Invest in America Week activities to showcase the benefits of foreign investment in America.