Manufacturing News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2004

Austin Police Department Participates
In Kawasaki Jet Ski® Watercraft Loan Program

Contact:
Freeman/McCue Public Relations
John Donaldson
(714) 557-3663 ext 219

AUSTIN, TEX.—-The City of Austin Park Police Department has new lifesaving tools to use this year— two Kawasaki JET SKI® watercraft including a STX™-12F and the all new STX™-15F watercraft.

The 2004 JET SKI watercraft, which were provided by Woods Fun Center Kawasaki in Austin, will enable police rescue and patrol officers to reach distressed boaters, swimmers, and respond to other water emergencies.

Austin Park Police Sergeant Michael Wade says, “In past years we have used the JET SKI watercraft for many different aspects of our patrol and they have been a very big success. Not only have they assisted with supplementing our lake patrol, we have received such good feedback from our kids and the general public who attend our summer programs because we wer able to display them as ano9ther tool that officers us in keeping people safe as well as fighting crime.”

The STX-15F watercraft is powered by a new, 1,497cc four-stroke engine that meets the California Air Resources Board 2008 emissions requirements, the most stringent marine engine emissions regulations in the U.S. boating industry. Other advanced technological features of this JET SKI watercraft include greatly increased fuel economy, Smart Steering?, a quieter exhaust sound, and a long and wide, comfortable seat that holds up to three people. The craft’s extra-stable hull and automatically retracting step make boarding easy, even in deep water.

"These JET SKI watercraft are ideally suited to rescue situations," said Roger Hagie, director of public affairs for Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. "They're quick and maneuverable, and they have no exposed propellers or other moving parts on the outside of the hull that could harm a swimmer. In addition, JET SKI watercraft have a very shallow draft, which enables them to operate in low levels of water that might restrict other boats. We hope JET SKI watercraft can make a significant contribution to water safety in and around Austin in the coming months."

Following successful use of JET SKI watercraft by life-saving and marine enforcement agencies throughout the United States, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., implemented an ongoing loan program that allows Kawasaki dealers to provide watercraft to qualified agencies across the country for periods of up to one year. Woods Fun Center arranged this loan and will service the vessel for the duration of the loan period.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Kawasaki’s law enforcement loan program. Since the program’s inception in 1989, approximately 1428 individual agencies in all fifty states have borrowed in excess of 5,000 JET SKI watercraft, valued at more than $30 million. Statistical surveys completed by past agencies show that each season hundreds of lives are saved by the use of the loaned watercraft.

JET SKI is the registered trademark of Kawasaki's brand of personal watercraft. Personal watercraft are vessels that are powered by a water jet pump and carry between one and three passengers who sit, stand or kneel on (rather than inside) the vessel's hull.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., (KMC) markets and sells at wholesale Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, JET SKI® watercraft, MULE™ utility vehicles, power products and small engines. These product lines are sold through a network of more than 1,500 independent retailers. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with approximately 400 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters.

Kawasaki’s heritage of creating high-performance recreational vehicles and its tagline, “Let the good times roll.™”, are recognized worldwide. With its illustrious history of breaking performance barriers with such product lines as the world renowned NINJA® sportbikes and JET SKI® personal watercraft, Kawasaki is aggressively carrying this heritage of pioneering leading-edge design and performance products into the 21st century.

Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of recreational products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.

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For an electronic version of this press release, email j.Donaldson@freemanmccue.com