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African American's on Wheels Mission: Diversity in the Auto Industry

9 December 1998

Diversity in the Auto Industry is the Mission of African Americans On Wheels

    DETROIT, Dec. 8 -- A thriving force for diversity in the
automotive industry, African Americans On Wheels (AAOW), part auto-buff
magazine, part chronicle of African Americans in the auto industry and part
consumer adviser, has held true to its mission of educating black consumers
and the auto industry on the black car-buying market.
    To reemphasize the magazine's mission and focus, the Washington, D.C.-
based AAOW recently moved to downtown Detroit, 65 Cadillac Square, 36th Floor.
"We believe that our new office in Detroit, the automotive hub, will
centralize our support and resource base and allow us to become more of an
integral piece of the automotive community," says publisher Randi Payton.
    Payton also says the move to Detroit provides an opportunity to "extend
AAOW's brand."  He says, "Our overall purpose is to increase African American
participation in every aspect of the automotive industry.  We seek to form
alliances with automakers, auto shows, suppliers, car clubs, aftermarket
manufacturers and distributors, auto-related organizations, etc.  We want
representation in all aspects of the industry," said Payton.
    AAOW has outstanding support from the automotive community with annual
revenues of $1.5 million including DaimierChrysler, Ford Motor Company,
General Motors Corporation, Toyota, Jaguar and other major automotive
companies.  Payton explains the massive support for AAOW.  "The industry
recognizes the purpose of AAOW as being good for the industry, not just
African Americans.  Diversity provides companies with a competitive edge."
    AAOW also spurs student education in the industry.  This year will mark
the establishment of the Edward Davis Scholarship Fund.  Administered by
Automotive Industry Diversity Efforts, a nonprofit Michigan-based organization
formed by AAOW, the fund will award scholarships to African American students
pursuing a technical college degree in the automotive field.
    Ed Davis, the first and only African American to be inducted into the
Automotive Hall of Fame, will be honored at a commemorative luncheon on
Jan. 7, 1999, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Riverview Ballroom of the Cobo
Convention Center.  The Ed Davis Tribute will be a kickoff for the scholarship
fund and is sponsored by AAOW, the National Association of Minority Automotive
Dealers (NAMAD) and major automotive companies.
    AAOW will also hold its third annual Urban Wheel Awards the same night
from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American
History.  The award ceremony, formerly named the Golden Wheel Awards, precedes
the public opening of the North American International Auto Show and honors
professionals and companies that pave the way for African Americans to achieve
success in the automotive industry.  More than 500 people attended this
invitation-only event in previous years.  Visit http://www.automag.com for more
information.