An empowering journey begins
Nissan Americas shares its first diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) report
Nissan is currently energized by Ambition 2030, our long-term vision for empowering mobility and beyond. As part of this goal to make mobility cleaner, safer and more inclusive for all, we are pushing ourselves to think beyond the typical conventions of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In doing so, we're working to foster inclusivity among employees, customers and partners, at every step of the journey.
To demonstrate our commitment to creating greater cultural understanding and more inclusive opportunities for everyone, Nissan is sharing its first DEI report for the Americas region. It's an acknowledgement of where we are today, and a roadmap of where we want to go as we aim to empower our entire network.
The full 2022 DEI report, available to download here, details our values, our progress and our aspirations for the future across the Nissan Americas region, which includes nearly 40,000 Nissan and INFINITI employees throughout North and South America. We know that the journey ahead to foster inclusion will be ongoing – and it should be. We should never reach a place where we feel like it's all done. At Nissan, we are committed to doing more and being better today, and tomorrow.
Please continue reading for highlights from our inaugural Nissan Americas DEI report.
Guiding Principles
The theme of this year's report is Empowering Journeys. It reflects the work we have done across the Nissan Americas region to build a culture of belonging – ensuring employees, customers and partners feel respected, valued and heard.
Nissan's DEI commitment is anchored by our North Star: Better Conversations Lead to Better Actions, and five guiding principles that are the foundation for building a diverse and inclusive culture.
Transparency: To listen and to share with intention. Courage: To get uncomfortable and to innovate. Vulnerability: To be open, to be OK to make mistakes, to learn and try new things. Equity: Recognizing the equity and equality are not the same. Inclusivity: Ensure our actions represent everyone.
Empowering People
Building an inclusive environment in alignment with our North Star and guiding principles means empowering people. We take deliberate actions to recruit a diverse workforce and then are purposeful to offer programs, resources and initiatives that enable an enriching career where individuals can maximize their potential inside and outside of work.
For recruitment, Nissan Americas fosters partnerships with educational institutions and professional organizations to create a diverse talent pipeline. Specific programs include providing students with free access to professional development, participation in job fairs and mentorship; offering scholarships to students at certain schools studying relevant career fields; participating in LGBTQIA+ Employment Fairs in our Mexico market; and partnering with the Black Automotive Media Group, Tennessee State University and Jackson State University on an apprenticeship program for HBCU students interested in careers in communications within the automotive industry.
We are also making strides in retention by offering benefits and opportunities that promote engagement, learning, recognition, respect and trust, and encourage overall employee well-being. For example, Nissan U.S. updated our parental leave policy to apply to all employees – regardless of gender. It now provides 16 weeks of paid leave, including for adoptions. We have also implemented numerous in-person and virtual trainings and conversations on a wide range of DEI topics for the region.
Additionally, we are working to ensure that our DEI training and conversations are inclusive of the manufacturing population. Those trainings are tailored to cultural differences in our different markets – such as in South America, considering applicable norms in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru. In South America and Mexico, we also provide manufacturing technicians with education on leadership skills development, generational differences at work and related topics.
Our DEI Performance by the Numbers. This is represented using a pie chart. Nissan Leadership gender identity breakdown for all Americas is 77% male and 23% female. Nissan Leadership Race/Ethnicity breakdown for the U.S. only is 73% white, 20% people of color and 7% undeclared. Nissan Employee gender identity breakdown for all Americas is 77% male and 23% female. Nissan Employee Race/Ethnicity breakdown for the U.S. only is 55% white, 42% people of color and 3% undeclared. More than 80% of employees who took parental leave in 2022 were men. 100% of salaried employees and people leaders completed Unconscious Bias training. 40% of our U.S. customers are from under-represented communities.
Empowering Culture
Nissan recognizes that our strengths come from our differences, which is why we are actively building a culture of inclusivity and belonging for all employees.
One element of cultural empowerment is enabled by Business Synergy Teams (BSTs) that provide employees with a supportive environment to build connections and support for one another, and consult with leaders on DEI business strategies.
24 BST chapters active across all Nissan Americas markets. Approximately 10% of Nissan Americas employees are involved in at least one BST.
Jada Stills, Analyst, Marketing & Sales Finance, gained valuable hands-on experience in a Nissan internship, and decided to pursue a full-time career with the company. Hear how her internship helped her develop professional skills, and how BSTs help her feel welcome at Nissan.
Leigh Gilliam, a Senior Paralegal with more than two decades of experience at Nissan, reflects on how one of the company's BSTs, the Gay Straight Alliance at Nissan (GSAN), helps her and other employees feel welcomed and accepted in the workplace.
Empowering Communities
In addition to supporting employees, Nissan Americas works to positively impact surrounding communities through work from the Nissan Foundation, the Nissan Neighbors Program and other activities.
The Nissan Foundation, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with its first-ever symposium, is established in the U.S. and Canada.
In the U.S., the Foundation has supported over 150 non-profit organizations and donated more than $14 million since its inception in 1992. We have developed long-standing partnerships across the country, including funding the Global Education Center Passport to Understanding project in Nashville, Tennessee, expanding our 20-year partnership with the Japanese American National Museum and supporting organizations that define our shared history, including the Arab American National Museum and the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, to name a few.
Also, the U.S. Nissan Neighbors program provides additional hands-on support to nonprofit organizations through donations and employee volunteer hours. The Neighbors program focuses on work in three areas: education, the environment and humanitarian aid. Some of the grantee partners include The American Red Cross Tennessee; Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, Rutherford Country, Central Mississippi and Southeastern Michigan; and Habitat for Humanity International.
Across the region, the Nissan Canada Foundation supports Habitat for Humanity and the World Wildlife Fund. In Brazil, Voluntário de Valor activities include support of open innovation programs to promote social impact on local communities, and school supplies donations, among others. And, in Mexico we planted 135 trees, installed four water collection systems in vulnerable communications and presented weekly instruction to help promote students' interest in the automotive industry.
Empowering Partners
As an extension of our business, Nissan Americas partners with organizations that align with our DEI goals. We champion inclusion among the Nissan and INFINITI dealer body and supplier partners, as well as customers to ensure that our environment of inclusion and empowerment is shared by the entire team and spread throughout society.
Dealers
Nissan has a first-of-its-kind Dealer Diversity Program that helps to unlock dealer ownership opportunities for qualified candidates from under-represented communities. In 2022, the number of Nissan and INFINITI minority-owned dealers increased by 18% versus the year prior – propelling us to our highest percentage ever of minority-owned dealerships.
Damon Lester, Dealer Principal at Nissan of Bowie, reflects on how his connections with Nissan and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) helped him receive the support necessary to acquire his first dealership in 2021.
Jennifer Carroll, Executive Manager at Trophy Nissan, shares how close partnerships with mentors at Nissan for 26 years have helped her grow and thrive in her career.
Suppliers
Nissan believes that a diverse supplier base offers our company a competitive advantage. For us, working with a diverse group of supplier partners is important to our long-term business strategy. It's the right thing to do and the smart thing to do as it allows us to be more creative, accelerate innovation, and build the vehicles that meet the needs of diverse customer.
18% annual increase in the number of minority dealers in our network. 16% year-over-year increase in our diverse supplier spend.
Customers
It's crucial to communicate with Nissan customers in meaningful and impactful ways that recognize the diversity of the people who purchase and own our vehicles. In the U.S., nearly 40% of Nissan customers come from under-represented communities – one of the highest numbers among any automotive manufacturer.
To actively engage with those groups and build awareness of our products and services, Nissan and INFINITI have increased their multicultural media spend by 500% since 2020. We additionally underscored our commitment to inclusivity by signing the Association of National Advertisers/Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing Commitment to Equality, Inclusion and Systemic Change.
The Road Ahead
Delivering better outcomes and a more inclusive environment for all is a continuous journey. Sharing this report is just the first step, and helps define our direction and intention to have better conversations and take better actions in the months and years to come. We look forward to working with our colleagues, customers and partners to leverage the power of diversity to open doors, fuel the economy, and help drive Nissan Americas toward a brighter future.
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Media Contact |
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Ashli Bobo |