Rainbow PUSH Evaluates State Of African Americans In Automotive Industry
Reverend Jesse Jackson and Automotive Industry Thought Leaders Convene On Strategies for Better Diversity Results for African Americans
DETROIT, Sept. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project, an initiative of the Citizenship Education Fund, will be gathering with industry leadership today to assess the diversity environment and outcomes for African Americans in the automobile industry. This year's conference, Refocusing Diversity on Ethnic Minority Growth, is meant to highlight the inconsistency between the inclusion we envision and the results we can measure, with an intent to resolve the disparities that prevent African Americans from fully participating in the industry. The Global Automotive Summit is the only event of its kind that addresses the automotive industry from the perspective of people of color.
Joining the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. as key speakers at the conference are:
- Alan Batey, executive vice president and president, North America, General Motors Company
- Robert Young, group vice president Supplier Engineering Development and Cost Planning, Toyota Motor North America Inc.
- John Martin, senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing, Nissan North America, Inc.
- Uwe Ellinghaus, chief marketing officer, Global Cadillac, General Motors Company
- Tom Peyton, assistant vice president of Marketing Operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
- Dr. David Thomas, professor of management, dean of the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
Together with more than 400 attendees they will address some of the industry's challenges which, left unresolved, will have wide reaching effects on the industry's future prospects. Today more than half of all public school children are from ethnic backgrounds. As our nation becomes more multicultural, African Americans will make up a larger share of new vehicle volume growth, which is already nearly double overall industry growth (9.4% versus 5%). Based on average transaction prices for a new vehicle, African Americans contribute more than $35 billion to automaker revenue. Despite this level of contribution as buyers, we've witnessed the number of African American dealers decline 65% in the past 10 years. "African Americans are the only group not recovered from the recovery," said Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. "While there's an increasing respect for African American customers and companies, respect without economic parity is as the Bible says, '…a noisy gong or clanging cymbal,' we must demand our fair share, so we can fully participate." Record vehicle sales last year is in part due to the large numbers of ethnic buyers. Maintaining that momentum requires candid discussions on parity and partnership made possible by forums like the Rainbow PUSH Automotive Summit.
About Rainbow PUSH Coalition
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a progressive organization protecting, defending and expanding civil rights to improve economic and educational opportunity. The organization is headquartered at 930 E. 50th Street in Chicago, IL. For more information about the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, please visit www.rainbowpush.org. Follow Rainbow PUSH Coalition on Twitter: @RPCoalition; follow the Global Automotive Summit on Twitter: @RPCGAS2016 and use the hash tag #RPCGAS2016 to join the conversation.
SOURCE Rainbow PUSH Coalition Automotive Project
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