Under the direction of CEO Mary Barra, General Motors has become an increasingly diversified company, including boasting the most minority-owned dealerships in the United States. However, upon closer inspection, it appears as though many of these dealers don’t have clear succession plans in place. To this end, the Detroit-based automaker has launched the GM Lineage Program to aid the children of its diverse dealer network in succeeding their parents.
According to a report from Automotive News, an inaugural class of 18 individuals met in Orlando, Florida for the GM Lineage Program, which allowed them to network with General Motors’ leaders and gain exposure to the Detroit-based automaker’s brands and programs.
Notably, participants were paired with a current second-generation dealer mentor who would answer any questions they may have.
The foundation of the dealer diversity unit “is recruitment, retention, growth and succession planning because it’s not just about today,” Dealer Diversity Relations Director Tia Hardeman claimed in a prepared statement. “We obviously have to be very forward thinking and looking into the future. We want to make sure that we prepare them for the rigorous business of automotive and make sure that they will be great General Motors dealer partners like their parents are today.”
Following the conclusion of the business meeting, GM surveyed those who attended on their experience. One participate responded that their perspective on the way in which dealerships are run had been changed.
As a reminder, General Motors formally launched a minority dealer program back in 1972, becoming the first automaker to do so. As of the end of the 2022 calendar year, The General boasted 329 minority-owned dealerships, 26 of which had been added over the course of 2022. Thus far, 10 minority-owned dealerships have been added to the tally in 2023.
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Comments
How nice that we ensure prosperity for some, while driving others to poverty because they do not have a certain quality outside their control.
GM lies about treating people equally. They treat their older dealers like crap and the new dealers like prima Donna’s.
Minorities? Is this based on the global population? If not, it certainly should be.
This is about as extreme discrimination as you can have. GM says it wants equality but will now make choices based on race? Equality is fine but this is the opposite.
Mary must go.