Minorities Help Offset U. S. Auto Sales Decline

While total new vehicle sales fell by 3% in 2007, minorities - African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans - picked up the slack for the auto industry. Last year, sales to minorities buyers accounted for 22.4 percent of the U.S. market, up from 22.3 percent in 2006, according to a recent study by R.L. Polk & Co., a Detroit based company, which analyzes new vehicle registrations. Hispanics, African Americans and Asian Americans accounted for 9.9%, 7.1% and 5.4% of new car retail sales, respectively. As the minority population continues to grow, the auto industry will need to make sure they're allocating their resources properly diversify their workforce, advertising and supplier base, reflecting the spending power of these groups. The above chart represents the most popular brands based on individual ethnic groups.