Manufacturing News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 17, 2006

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATES
IN KAWASAKI JET SKI® WATERCRAFT LOAN PROGRAM

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

SANTA BARBARA, CA—-The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has new lifesaving tools to use this year ? two Kawasaki STX™-15F JET SKI® watercraft.

The 2006 JET SKI watercraft, which were provided by Kawasaki of Santa Barbara in Goleta, will enable fire rescue personnel to reach distressed boaters, swimmers, and respond to other water emergencies.

Battalion Chief and Water Rescue Coordinator Mike McIntosh says, “The intended use for the Personal Water Craft would be as part of the Fire Department’s Water Rescue Tema. As a team resource the PWC would be used to provide emergency rescue services on the various waterways within Santa Barbara County. Due to existing mutual aid agreements the PWC could also be used to provide assistance to other jurisdictions within the State of California.”

The STX-15F watercraft is powered by a 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.(KMC) "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 Santa Barbara County and surrounding areas 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. Kawasaki of Santa Barbara arranged this loan and will service the vessel for the duration of the loan period.

This year marks the 17th anniversary of Kawasaki’s law enforcement loan program. Since the program’s inception in 1989, over 1450 individual agencies in all fifty states have borrowed in excess of 5,400 JET SKI watercraft, valued at more than $34 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.

KMC markets and sells at wholesale Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft and utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,500 independent retailers, with an additional 8,400 retailers specializing in power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with more than 350 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters.

Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.™”, is recognized worldwide and the brand is aggressively carrying its heritage of leading-edge power, performance and exhilaration 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.