2020 was a rollercoaster year for many minority dealers. To continue the conversation regarding diversity in automotive and to look ahead at 2021, we spoke with Damon Lester, President of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers or NAMAD. For those who are unfamiliar, the association advocates for diversity and inclusion throughout the automotive industry. Today, we’re diving into NAMAD’s to-do list for 2021, and other trends on the horizon for the automotive industry.
In this segment, Lester and anchor Jim Fitzpatrick briefly discuss the impact that 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic had on the automotive industry overall. The pair also tackle the role OEMs play in appointing minority dealers, how diversity increases dealers’ bottom line, and the minority training programs that NAMAD offers.
The conversation then moves to NAMAD’s 40th-anniversary celebration and the great strides they have made over the past four decades. Lester also discusses the association’s targets for 2021, how they provide financing assistance for minority-owned dealerships, and the recent unrest on capitol hill.
Damon Lester has served as the president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers since 2007 and has provided key testimony to Congress on numerous occasions on behalf of dealers nationwide. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Americans Well-informed on Automobile Retailing Economics.
