'Auto Trends' Black History Spotlight: Two Of The Highest-Ranking Black Executives In Auto History Recently Shattered Glass Ceilings

 

Chris Reynolds (Photo Credit: Toyota)

Over the past two months, two Black auto executives in the industry have cracked through the thick glass automotive ceiling making history in industry.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Chris Reynolds, who is currently the executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Toyota Motor Corporation, will be retiring a the end of May to assume a new role. Reynolds will join Toyota's global Board of directors. In this role, he will serve as a member of the Board's Audit and Supervisory Committee in addition to his duties as a Board member, according to a press release. This board overseas both Toyota and Lexus. 

'Auto Trends' Talks One-On-One with Ford's First Black Female Car Designer (Two Shows)

 

Emeline King designed the interior of the 1994 Ford Mustang. (Photo Credit: EK)

As we celebrate Black History Month, Auto Trends with Jeffcars.com, a multicultural syndicated automotive program, shines the high beams on Emeline King, Ford Motor Company’s first Black female car designer. King, who was hired in 1983, was one of the first Black female car designers in the auto industry. Marietta Kearney Ellis, who was hired one-year earlier by General Motors, was the first in the industry.

Currently, there are approximately 30 Black car designers globally. Black car designers barely make up a fraction of this exclusive club of creative innovators. In fact, one has a better chance of being drafted at .03%, according to sports sources into the NBA, than becoming an automotive car designer.  

Racing Pioneer Willy T. Ribbs Talks Family, Race And New Netflix Film "Uppity" With SiriusXM's 'Auto Trends'



Like baseball’s Jackie Robinson, Willy T. Ribbs found himself in the thick of it too, dealing with the intersection of race and sports. As we embark upon Black History Month, the racing pioneer joins SiriusXM’s Auto Trends with JeffCars.com for a wide-ranging, must-hear two-part conversation.

In pursuing his dream to become a race car driver, Ribbs never allowed the hue of his skin tone to hinder his ‘drive,’ no pun intended. In fact, the racing legend was known as the Jackie Robinson of the racing world.

During our riveting talk, just like in his recently released Netflix documentary entitled, ‘Uppity,’ Ribbs gives us permission to ride along with him, as he shares the bumps, road blocks and unpaved trails he encountered on his path to becoming the first black person to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

The Mindset Of A Self-Made Black Millionaire: Steve Hightower Talks About His Drive To Create A Billion Dollar Petroleum Business On SiriusXM’s 'Auto Trends'

To kick off our third anniversary on SiriusXM’s Auto Trends with JeffCars.com, we’re honored to have Steve Hightower, the CEO and president of Hightowers Petroleum, a privately-owned, Ohio-based company. 

While we’ve had an opportunity to talk to a host of entrepreneurs and barrier breakers over the years, Hightower, whom we consider to be a ‘master teacher,’ has his eyes set on becoming a part of a super elite club, where individuals like Reginald F. Lewis paved the way in the eighties. Lewis, who died from brain cancer at the age of 50, was the first Black person to create a Billion dollar organization.

Chicago's NBC 5 Highlights During 6PM News How Kia and JeffCars.com 'Drives' Black History Month to the Classroom

One of the high school students from Chicago's Proviso West, who was the recipient of Kia's car designer Brian Peterson rendering, during a classroom activity.

Raymond Taylor of Kia University speaks to Chicago's Proviso West about electric and hybrid technology and its relationship to STEM and the Kia Niro, the brand's only dedicated hybrid.  

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Check out the video footage from the news coverage featuring Niro interior car designer Brian Peterson and event organizer and editor Jeff Fortson.