MHI and Hitachi Agree in Principle to Cooperate in

Social infrastructure, such as power systems and railway systems, is expected to expand as a market, particularly in emerging countries. Even in developed nations and regions, which already have a certain level of social infrastructure, there is demand for upgrading social infrastructure supported by advanced information and telecommunications systems.

Railway systems, which are a form of green mobility, are winning increasing recognition as a means of transporting large volumes of passengers and freight with a small environmental impact. As a consequence of this, there are active moves in a host of regions around the world, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Central and South America, to build new railway systems or extend existing ones, or make systems faster with improved railcars and systems. The overseas railway systems market is thus continuing to grow.

Today's agreement seeks to capitalize on these sorts of market trends. MHI and Hitachi will work together as appropriate in a broad range of fields in overseas intra-city railway system projects, ranging from marketing to design, manufacturing, procurement, engineering, construction, installation, maintenance and development. With their complementary product lineups, MHI and Hitachi will respond to various railway system needs in the urban transportation field. The mixed product lineups include conventional commuter trains for subways and other systems; new transportation systems such as automated people movers (APM) and light rail transit (LRT); and monorails.

MHI and Hitachi each boast advanced product lineups, technologies and know-how concerning entire railway systems, as well as their individual constituent elements, including railcars, signaling systems, telecommunications, power systems and tracks. Above all else, the two companies have earned the trust of markets, MHI for its technological development capabilities, overseas project record, plant engineering know-how, and wide range of partnerships, and Hitachi for its railway systems hardware and software development capabilities, and system engineering strengths.

Under this agreement, MHI and Hitachi aim to leverage each other's experience and expertise to actively develop the railway systems business overseas.