Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors and Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., President and Founder, Rainbow PUSH Coalition relax in the green room prior to a panel discussion – on the positive effects of an all-Inclusive ethnic minority business environment during the 15th Annual Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit. (Photo by William Sanders/Sanders Studios International)

15th Annual Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit puts major focus on ethnic inclusion

DETROIT - The Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project, offered up an impressive parade of speakers for the 15thAnnual Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit. This year’s theme was “Driving Ethnic Inclusion in the Global Automotive Expansion.”

The Summit was held at the MGM Grand Detroit Events Center. The Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit is the only conference that delves deeply into the automotive industry as it relates to people of color.

Rainbow PUSH founder Rev. Jesse L. Jackson stated, out of 19,000 auto dealerships in the U.S., only 272 are African-American owned. And that represents a decline of about 500 from nine years ago. "That is despite the fact that the automotive industry has been rebounding since the Great Recession," said Jackson

In a global marketplace, a company that employs a diverse workforce is better able to understand the demographics of the marketplace it serves and is better equipped to thrive in that marketplace than a company that has a more limited range of employee demographics. Companies that leverage diversity will have a competitive advantage. Without a strong corporate strategy, that inherently promotes the integration of diversity and inclusion, many companies are doomed to fail.

Marc Bland, head of diversity and inclusion for Polk, cited numbers from the international market research firm, saying that of all automakers, the top selling brand to “ethnic consumers,” or African American, Asians and Hispanics, was Toyota with a volume of 286,586 cars. Honda was a distant second at 196,950 units, followed by Nissan at 138,922 and Ford at 136,550. The figures were based on 2014 sales through June.

Top automotive leaders, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, government officials, community leaders, advertising agencies and media outlets will assemble at the Summit to share expert insight, strategies, trends and solutions regarding the automotive global expansion and the many benefits of an all-inclusive, ethnic minority business environment.

Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., president and founder, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, hosted Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors; and Dave Zuchowski, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America at the Business and Education Awards Luncheon. Award-winning journalist Ed Gordon will serve as panel moderator.

Barra, who received a standing ovation upon being introduced as the first female CEO of a major automaker, said that diversity was key to GM delivering what its customers want. The only way to make good on such a delivery is inclusion of all people, regardless of race or gender, she said.

“Each time minority consumers purchase vehicles they are creating a socio-economic paradigm with the auto industry that cannot be ignored,” says Rev. Jackson. “Automakers must institutionalize diversity practices throughout their companies in order to attract and retain talent, pay closer attention to its suppliers, distributors and dealers; share in the billions of dollars spent on advertising and marketing and respect the African American consumer.”

The day ended with a Networking & Awards Reception honoring Living Legends and Emerging Leaders in the automotive industry.