Mercedes-Benz said it has been promoting its 19 ethnic minority-owned stores through social media campaigns in a new initiative after the social justice uprising.
“The past year has brought about significant change for many of us,” Keri Floyd Kelly, director of diversity and inclusion for Nissan Group of the Americas, said in a statement to Automotive News around the one-year anniversary last month of Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. “At Nissan, that change included a thorough and thoughtful examination of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion led by the leadership team, and a vow to be more aggressive, comprehensive and transparent in our actions.”
Lester said NAMAD will continue to hold automakers accountable and hopes that the various commitments around diversity and inclusion made since Floyd’s death don’t fall by the wayside.
“Before, we’ve always asked, ‘What’s your plan? And what do you want to do in writing? What’s your goal? What’s your vision for diversity and inclusion?’ ” Lester said. “Now we have press releases, we have statements from the heads of these corporations that have expressed what their vision is, what is acceptable, what their goal is and what’s not acceptable to them. And so we use that as a blueprint, not to hold it against them, but hold them accountable, and helping them try to create a blueprint for success.”
