August 5, 2004

Zero Co., Ltd.
Sumitomo Corporation
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.


Zero, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and CITIC Logistics to Jointly Establish Carrier of Finished Automobiles in China


Zero Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Seshi Iwashita), Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Motoyuki Oka), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Akimitsu Ashida), and CITIC Logistics Co., Ltd. (Beijing; Chairman: Wang Jianzhi) have recently agreed to set up a joint venture to provide the service of transporting finished automobiles throughout China. The JV is to be named Zero-SCM Logistics (Beijing) Company Limited. CITIC Logistics is China's major carrier in this field.

Earlier the four corporations had won the service to carry shipments (scheduled to begin in April 2005) from Dongfeng Motor's plant in Huadu (Guangzhou) to across China. Dongfeng Motor is a JV of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Dongfeng Motor Corporation of China.

The four corporations intend to undertake this service through the new JV, for whose operation they have already been licensed and approved by concerned government authorities. It is scheduled for corporate registration hopefully within August this year.

Foreign automakers in China strongly demand improved QCD (Quality, Cost, Delivery) from finished vehicle transport services. With a view to achieving this, the new JV will integrate the four partners' individual strengths, expertise and experience as it is designed to be China's first inland and ocean intermodal carrier of finished automobiles. It will combine Zero's auto delivery contractor functions, Sumitomo's network of logistics resources in China, MOL's ocean shipping capabilities, and CITIC Logistics' inland carriage capabilities.

The new JV will seek to win and build a portfolio of contracts, headed by the one with Dongfeng Motor, for shipment of finished vehicles in the automotive industry. It will develop and expand a continent-wide network of comprehensive automobile carrier services that excel in quality and cost competitiveness.

Profile of New Joint Venture

1. Corporate Name Zero-SCM Logistics (Beijing) Company Limited
2. Establishment (Scheduled for) August 2004
3. Headquarters Beijing, Chinas
4. Chairman Li WeiMin (President of CITIC Logistics Co.)
5. Capital 2.5 million US dollars (about 275 million yen)
6. Shareholders CITIC Logistics Co. (35%), Zero Co. (25%), Sumitomo Corp. (20%) & Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (20%)
7. No. of Employees 35 (planned for startup)


Profile of CITIC Logistics
CITIC Logistics Co., Ltd. is a transportation unit under the wing of CITIC Group, a prominent business group of China. The predecessor is CITIC Auto-Transport Co.,Ltd. (the name was changed in October 2003). It specializes in finished vehicles, plants,heavy loads, chemicals, and is one of China's largest non-automaker-owned carriers of finished vehicles.

1. Corporate Name CITIC Logistics Company Limited
2. Established October 2003
3. Headquarters Beijing, China
4. Chairman Wang Jianzhi
5. Capital 100 million yuan
6. Fleet 312 proprietary vehicles & 800 partnership vehicles