LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
DAMON LESTER, CHAIRMAN
DAMON LESTER, CHAIRMAN
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Since 1980, The National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) has proudly taken a leadership role as advocates for diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the automotive industry. Our organization collaborates with local, regional and national policy-makers as well as domestic and international manufacturers to establish business protocols which are meaningful, equitable and sustainable for our nation’s minority entrepreneurs and employees currently and potentially working within the automotive industry in America
Since 1980, The National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) has proudly taken a leadership role as advocates for diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the automotive industry. Our organization collaborates with local, regional and national policy-makers as well as domestic and international manufacturers to establish business protocols which are meaningful, equitable and sustainable for our nation’s minority entrepreneurs and employees currently and potentially working within the automotive industry in America
We appreciate your interest in NAMAD and invite you to actively support our commitment to ensuring economic diversity and parity remain a priority for the automotive industry by becoming a member. Together, we can maintain progress in ensuring all Americans have equitable access to business growth opportunities in one of our nation’s most significant economic sectors.
We appreciate your interest in NAMAD and invite you to actively support our commitment to ensuring economic diversity and parity remain a priority for the automotive industry by becoming a member. Together, we can maintain progress in ensuring all Americans have equitable access to business growth opportunities in one of our nation’s most significant economic sectors.
PURPOSE + MISSION
PURPOSE + MISSION
NAMAD’s objective is to pursue the meaningful presence and participation of minority businesses and diverse employees across all aspects of the automotive economic sector, including:
NAMAD’s objective is to pursue the meaningful presence and participation of minority businesses and diverse employees across all aspects of the automotive economic sector, including:
- Increasing the number of minority-owned dealerships in communities across America.
- Advocating workplace and supplier diversity in the automotive manufacturing environment.
- Supporting minority engagement in the automotive retail sales and service sectors.
- Increasing the number of minority-owned dealerships in communities across America.
- Advocating workplace and supplier diversity in the automotive manufacturing environment.
- Supporting minority engagement in the automotive retail sales and service sectors.
We are committed to developing strategic relationships and advocating for the advancement of business policies and practices that ensure diversity and economic parity remain a priority in all aspects of the American automotive industry.
NAMAD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area.
We are committed to developing strategic relationships and advocating for the advancement of business policies and practices that ensure diversity and economic parity remain a priority in all aspects of the American automotive industry.
NAMAD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area.
THE HISTORY
THE HISTORY
The automotive industry has grown to become one of the most important industries in the United States. According to a recent report from the Center for Automotive Research, the automotive sector has historically contributed 3 – 3.5 percent to the nation’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry directly employs over 1.7 million people engaged in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and supplying parts and components to assemble, sell and service new motor vehicles. Additionally, the industry is a huge consumer of goods and services from many other sectors. As a result, it’s difficult to imagine manufacturing surviving in this country without the automotive industry.
Unfortunately, minority representation in the automotive industry, specifically in the numbers of minority dealership owners and operators, has not maintained pace with changes in American demographics and consumer purchasing trends. This is particularly significant given the U.S. Census Bureau’s projection that by 2043, the current “majority” demographic will become the minority population.
The automotive industry has grown to become one of the most important industries in the United States. According to a recent report from the Center for Automotive Research, the automotive sector has historically contributed 3 – 3.5 percent to the nation’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry directly employs over 1.7 million people engaged in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and supplying parts and components to assemble, sell and service new motor vehicles. Additionally, the industry is a huge consumer of goods and services from many other sectors. As a result, it’s difficult to imagine manufacturing surviving in this country without the automotive industry.
Unfortunately, minority representation in the automotive industry, specifically in the numbers of minority dealership owners and operators, has not maintained pace with changes in American demographics and consumer purchasing trends. This is particularly significant given the U.S. Census Bureau’s projection that by 2043, the current “majority” demographic will become the minority population.
ADDITIONALLY, NAMAD’S RESEARCH INDICATES THAT:
32% of all new vehicles are purchased by minorities.
Only 6% of American automotive dealerships are minority-owned.
95% of minority dealers are first-generation ownership.
Growth of minority dealerships has not fully recovered from peak numbers in 2019 before the economic downturn.
30% of all new vehicles are purchased by minorities.
Only 5% of American automotive dealerships are minority-owned.
95% of minority dealers are first-generation ownership.
Growth of minority dealerships has not fully recovered from peak numbers in 2005 before the economic downturn.
Clearly, much work remains to be done to drive diversity and inclusion levels higher in the automotive industry and NAMAD appreciates the opportunity to take a leadership role in the process.
For more historical perspective, please see our documentary videos, “Making Tracks: History of Minority Dealers”
With the arrival of the first automobile in the late 1890’s, it is estimated there were between 250 & 300 manufacturers that came into existence during the early 1900’s. Many such as Ford, GM and Chrysler had staying power while the vast majority went out of business. Some manufacturers established their own sales outlets while others elected to seek out independent business entrepreneurs who could best represent their products in the marketplace.
Click below to learn more about the history of the pioneering African-American men and women who elected to pursue a business career as franchised new car dealers within the automotive industry.
Clearly, much work remains to be done to drive diversity and inclusion levels higher in the automotive industry and NAMAD appreciates the opportunity to take a leadership role in the process.
For more historical perspective, please see our documentary videos, “Making Tracks: History of Minority Dealers”
With the arrival of the first automobile in the late 1890’s, it is estimated there were between 250 & 300 manufacturers that came into existence during the early 1900’s. Many such as Ford, GM and Chrysler had staying power while the vast majority went out of business. Some manufacturers established their own sales outlets while others elected to seek out independent business entrepreneurs who could best represent their products in the marketplace.
Click below to learn more about the history of the pioneering African-American men and women who elected to pursue a business career as franchised new car dealers within the automotive industry.