'Auto Trends' Talks Sales Trends with IHS' Minority Auto Analyst Marc Bland

Are automakers ads, marketing, etc. reflective of today's multicultural car buyers and their spending power? Find out this year's car-buying trends and more, as IHS's analyst Marc Bland joins us to recap this year's sales.

To hear the show on one of our FM affiliates this weekend, click here.

African American Design Pioneer Honored

As you have probably become aware, we have a certain bias for minority car designers, since there are so few. Ed Welburn, who serves as GM's vice president of Global Design, recently received the inaugural Nicola Bulgari Award for outstanding contributions to preserving America's automotive heritage through education, restoration or collecting classic cars. This award was given to Welburn in conjunction with the grand opening of LeMay - America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

The award in named for jewelry magnate Nicola Bulgari (featured on the left), vice chairman of the Bulgari Group and an avid collector of American cars.

Welburn is considered one of the African American pioneers in the field of automotive design. Welburn is responsible for putting his seal of approval on every vehicle GM builds around the world.

Acura Reignites Light-Skin, Dark-Skin Stereotype with Ad

Many of you may have seen this ad from the Super Bowl earlier this year, which involved an African American dealer attempting to sell a vehicle. Besides the Acura NSX hybrid concept featured, the ad seemed pretty uneventful until the entertainment show, TMZ, unveiled an ugly side of this commercial, which truly drudged-up old feelings of the colorline not only within the African American community, but in the majority community.

Check out this TMZ report, clicking here. Since this report was released, the folks from Acura have issued the following apology.

We apologize to anyone offended by the language on the casting sheet used in the selection of actors for one of our commercials.

We sought to cast an African-American in a prominent role in the commercial, and we made our selection based on the fact that he was the most talented actor. 

The casting sheet was only now brought to our attention.  We are taking appropriate measures to ensure that such language is not used again in association with any work performed on behalf of our brand.

This just further highlights the cultural insensitivity, when there is a lack of diversity within the marketing departments of these major companies. Just wondering: was America really ready for a Herman Cain? Or is President Obama easier for America to accept because of his skin color? Based upon the individuals who were the key drivers behind the Acura ad, we know what call they would have made. 

African Americans, Seat Belts And Losing Another Rising Star

It should be no surprise that African Americans are less likely to use their seat belts -- when compared to other groups. How many times have you ridden with someone who just refuses to use their seat belt. I no that this may be a poor analogy for some, but I liken this to not using protection. It may not feel good but its bound to ( or in most cases) prevent an accident from occurring. The 2008 National Occupant Protection Use Survey shows seat belt use continues to be lower for African American occupants than for other groups, although there has been a slight uptick. In 2008, seat belt use among African Americans was at 75 percent, increasing by 4 percent to 79 percent in 2009. However, for the entire country the belt rate use was 84 percent in 2009, climbing by 1 point in 2010 to 85 percent.



These statistics unfortunately continue to prove true for African Americans. In another sad story, a promising young scholar and athlete along with members of his family loss... to continue reading the post click here..........