Murfreesboro, Tenn.-Based City Auto Mitsubishi Donates Vehicles to Rutherford County Schools for Student Driver Training

• City Auto Mitsubishi to donate two Mitsubishi SUVs
• Mitsubishi Motors North America partnering with City Auto to fund donation as part of national "Community Utility Vehicle" charitable donation program
• Rutherford County Schools comprised of 52 schools in Rutherford County, Tenn., serves more than 50,000 students

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. and FRANKLIN, Tenn., Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a unique partnership, Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based City Auto Mitsubishi (City Auto) and Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today handed over the keys to two new Mitsubishi SUVs, one a 2024 Outlander Sport and one a 2024 Eclipse Cross, to Rutherford County Schools (RCS) in Tennessee. These two vehicles will be used in RCS' in-school driver-training program, which offers a mix of classroom and in-car learning, all to help develop better, safer and more road-aware young drivers.

"From day one, when we opened the doors to City Auto Mitsubishi, we always said our commitment to our community was the reason we're in business," said Jordan Norton, general manager of City Auto Mitsubishi. "Today's donation is a gift to the whole community, as these local roads are the ones our team's families drive daily. We are so proud to be able to play a part in helping young drivers start their journey as safely and with as much training as possible with this donation."

RCS is unique in that, while many school districts have been forced to cancel driver-education programs because of funding, RCS has found ways of continuing this vital and potentially life-saving program. The district has worked not only with local companies like City Auto and MMNA, but has also secured other corporate donations for nearly $60,000 that was used for behind-the-wheel simulators.

"Rutherford County Schools prioritizes creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience while learning skills that will benefit them for a lifetime," Director of Schools Dr. Jimmy Sullivan said. "This partnership with City Auto and Mitsubishi Motors is a shining example of how community partners work together to support student learning with real-world application. Around the country, driver training programs have fallen by the wayside as a victim of ever-tightening budgets. At RCS, we have worked tirelessly to find a way to keep this critical program alive in our system, and it is through the incredible generosity of City Auto and Mitsubishi Motors' CUV program, as well as others, that we've been able to keep this key aspect of our curriculum."

The Community Utility Vehicle (CUV) program is a key component of MMNA's larger corporate social responsibility program, itself known as "Driving Confidence – Driving Community," which is based on the idea that a series of small, localized efforts can add up to a huge impact. Other CUV donations have been made to Nashville-area organizations Tucker's House, Community Resource Center and Charis Health Center. Prior to the company's relocation to Franklin, Tenn., the CUV program also partnered with Las Vegas-based Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, and Dallas-based Record the Journey.

"Since MMNA moved its national headquarters to Franklin in 2019, we have been committed to supporting our immediate community and the surrounding counties where our employee team lives," said Katherine Knight, SVP, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer, for MMNA. "When our partners at City Auto mentioned this program to us, we were immediately captured by the ability to make a difference with our Community Utility Vehicle program in Rutherford County Schools. We are excited to see these two Mitsubishi CUVs working hard to do just this."

For more information on the full lineup of Mitsubishi vehicles, visit MitsubishiCars.com.
For more information on MMNA, visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

ABOUT CITY AUTO
With dealerships in Memphis, Tennessee, and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, City Auto has an established reputation for honest service and quality since 1986. Celebrating its 40th year in business, City Auto has expanded adding locations in Huntsville, Alabama and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our unique culture means we offer a great environment not only for our customers but also our store teams.

City Auto's community commitment goes well beyond business. The company actively supports civic and nonprofit organizations, encouraging employees to engage in volunteer work and fundraising. City Auto has partnered to support key initiatives like United Way of South Central Tennessee, Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County, the formation of the Methodist Sickle Cell Research Center in Memphis, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the ALS Foundation, and the United Way of the Mid-South. City Auto is an active member of the Chambers of Commerce in the communities in which it operates as well as being accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

ABOUT RUTHERFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS
Rutherford County Schools is the premier provider of PreK-12 education in Rutherford County and consistently ranks among the top school districts in Tennessee, outperforming national benchmarks in several key areas. As one of the fastest-growing districts in the state, RCS is the fourth largest, following Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.

Since the 2002-2003 school year, RCS has expanded by more than 20,000 students, bringing total enrollment to over 52,000. Despite rapid growth, the district has remained a model for academic excellence, strategic planning, and safety initiatives. The district's mission is to invest in every student, every day.

ABOUT MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing, and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. MMNA's recently announced five-year business plan – "Momentum 2030" – outlines the brand's mid-term intentions for product and business transformation. MMNA will expand and refresh its vehicle lineup in the U.S. with one new or completely refreshed model to debut each year between now and 2030. Powered by a selection of advanced-technology internal combustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electrics, the product line will nearly double from today's four vehicles. Momentum 2030 also includes a vision for a modernized retail sales model and plans for network expansion and sales growth.

MMNA has its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, and New Jersey.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Contact
CITY AUTO:
Lynsey Freeman
Marketing Director
[email protected], 615-703-4250

RUTHERFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS:
James Evans
Chief Communications Officer
[email protected], 615-893-5812

MITSUBISHI MOTORS:
Jeremy Barnes
Senior Director, Communications and Events
[email protected], Mobile: 714-296-1402

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.