LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--March 21, 2002--Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ - news) and leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today that it achieved the overall number one market share position for copiers in the U.S. in 2001, for the fourth consecutive year, while expanding its lead on a year-over-year basis, according to the final results of market studies completed this month by Gartner Dataquest.(a)

The Dataquest research studies focused on market share for color, and for black-and-white copiers of both digital and analog technology, combined, including PC copiers and copiers in Segments 1-6, which range in speed from 11 to 90+ copies-per-minute (cpm).

The 2001 results also mark the 19th time in the last 20 years that Canon has held the total number one position in the U.S., and 15th consecutive year Canon Color Laser Copiers (CLC) have held the top spot in color. Overall, 557,296 Canon black-and-white copiers were sold in the U.S. in 2001, giving the Company a commanding 34% of the market, or share growth of 2.2%. Canon widened its lead in the total U.S. market to 19% points from 7% points on a year-over-year basis over its nearest competitor.

In color laser copier shipments, Canon placed first with 14,316 unit shipments and 34% share.

``Canon U.S.A is extremely pleased with the results of the 2001 Gartner Dataquest study, which clearly show our strong performance in color and monochrome copiers for corporate and production environments,'' said Tod Pike, senior vice president of Marketing, Canon U.S.A. Imaging Systems Group. ``In delivering innovative, best-in-class document solutions, and by working closely with our development partners and distribution, we are optimistic about our future as we continue to focus on growth applications.''

``Given the macroeconomic conditions in the U.S. this past year (2001), compounded by the events of September 11th, Dataquest felt that the copier market would be more severely affected. Nevertheless, Canon U.S.A., its subsidiaries and dealers retained its number one position in 2001. To its credit, the Canon imageRUNNER and CLC series units continued to lead the monochrome and color spaces. These will continue to be the areas of greatest opportunity for copier vendors in the forthcoming years,'' said Don Dixon, senior analyst with Gartner Dataquest.

Segments 2-4: The Digital Corporate Market
In the growing digital corporate office, represented by black-and-white copier products within Segments 2-4 (21-69 copies-per-minute), Canon ranked number one in total shipments, with 129,849 units and 22% share. Canon imageRUNNER digital copiers address Segments 2-4 with several award-winning products, including the imageRUNNER 2200, 2800, 3300, 400, 5000, and 6000 models.

In high-volume Segment 4 Digital (41-69 copies-per-minute), Canon imageRUNNER 5000, 550, 600, and 6000 achieved the number one position in 2001, with 43,292 units and 20% share

PC Copier Dominance - 70% U.S. Market Share in 2001
Canon continued its PC Copier market dominance in 2001 at the number one spot among combined analog and digital unit totals, with 230,918 unit placements and 70% share. With a renewed commitment to the small office/home office market and new digital PC model introduced last November, Canon's unit shipment figure, according to Gartner Dataquest research, is more than three times its nearest competitor.

(a) Source - Gartner Dataquest ``Digital Document and Imaging Group Integrated Document Output (Copier, Printer, Fax)--Database'', 5 March 2002.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is an industry leader in professional and consumer imaging solutions and, through its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ - news), is a top patent-holder of imaging technologies. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers (color and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and facsimile machines; camcorders, cameras and lenses; and semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon U.S.A. employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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