Auburn Hills, Mich., Jun 24, 2008  - Black Enterprise (BE) named 19 African-American owned Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge dealers to its 2008 annual “Top 100” automotive dealers list. Dealers made the list based on the following criteria: Revenue dollars; African-American ownership of at least 51 percent; and fully operational for the 2007 calendar year.
BE’s list included three Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships in the top 10. The top dealer, Gresham Dodge, was No. 3 on the list. The dealer, located in Gresham, Ore., boasted $435 million in revenues last year. Martin Management Group, in Bowling Green, Ky., was No. 4 and grossed $435 million in revenues and Winston Pittman Enterprise, in Louisville, Ky., made the list at No. 6 with $261 million in revenues.

In total, the 19 dealers grossed more than $2 billion* last year.

“Chrysler’s African-American dealers are an economic force in this country,” said Cecil Ward, Senior Manager – Network Diversity and Dealer Development. “This ranking is significant to Chrysler because it demonstrates the strength of our minority dealer network and, in this competitive environment, also is a testament to the hard work that many people have put into these dealerships.”

The BE 100 lists are widely recognized as the most respected measure of black-owned business performance. Overall, the lists total more than 250 businesses in the various areas, including industrial/service companies, auto dealerships, financial services firms, and advertising agencies.

This is the 36th year of the BE 100. The full list is in the June issue of Black Enterprise.

Press release via Chrysler