Manufacturing News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2004

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Participates
In Kawasaki Jet Ski® Watercraft Loan Program

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

RIVERDALE, N. DAK—-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a new multipurpose tool to use this year—a Kawasaki JET SKI© watercraft.

The 2004 JET SKI STX™-15F watercraft, which were provided by Action Cycles Kawasaki of Minot, will enable Corps employees to conduct surveys and observations of the multiple species at Lake Sakakawea, and respond to water emergencies.

The Corps’ Mike Morris says, “The JET SKI watercraft have been phenomenal tools in helping us accomplish our environmental surveys and other responsibilities here at the Garrison Project. Our four-person survey teams are able to do the monitoring of the nest sites in the shallow water areas and around sandbars on both Lake Sakakawea and on stretches of the Missouri below Garrison Dam. The use of these JET SKI watercraft provides a low impact, less intrusive approach in monitoring the least terns and piping plovers.”

Morris, the Garrison Project natural resource specialists, adds that the use of the JET SKI watercraft has been so successful that besides the units loaned by the dealership, the Corps has purchased additional personal watercraft.
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 the applications described by the Corps of Engineers," 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 the Corps’ water missions at Lake Sakakawea 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. Action Cycles 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