Nissan Americas has released its second annual report on its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including a new paid parental leave program, initiatives to recruit female and minority talent, and efforts to diversify its dealer network.

The report, titled Accelerating Allyship, highlights “actions and progress already underway, while looking forward to a road map of how we will continue to empower our entire network,” the company said in a news release.

“Nissan Americas’ DEI efforts bolster our heritage of always daring to do what others do not,” Nissan senior vice president and Nissan Americas chairperson Jérémie Papin said. “Five key principles — courage, transparency, equity, vulnerability and inclusivity — guide our actions as we work to build the Nissan and INFINITI brands.”

The report showed people of color represent 42% of the automaker’s current U.S. workforce, and 23% of its employees are women. It cited a number of awards recognizing Nissan Americas’ “workplace excellence”, including certification from Great Place to Work.

The company touted several employee benefits it added in 2023 to offer “equitable opportunities,” noting specifically an expanded paid parental leave that was used by nearly 400 Nissan employees last year.

Human resources staffer Laura Valdez said the paid time off was “vital to both my physical and mental health. Paid parental leave allowed me time to focus entirely on my newborn son without the stress of losing my salary during those special early months.”

To continue its drive toward diversity and “to prepare our business for the future,” the company said in a news release, “we use the DEI lens when approaching recruitment, mentorship and retention of employees.”

That begins with building awareness and interest in careers at Nissan among students through various initiatives that reach women in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, partnerships with historically black colleges and universities, and collaboration with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers to connect with Hispanic engineering talent.

The report also cited the annual Nissan Ready program, in partnership with 100 Black Men of America. Nissan hosted 62 African American high school students from around the country for interactive career-building workshops, dynamic presentations and camaraderie.

Another program, The Driving Force, helps expose students from HBCUs to journalism and communications opportunities in the automotive sector.

Nissan’s work to champion DEI extends to its work with partners, including dealers and suppliers, to ensure that our entire business operations are inclusive and represent our customer base.

The report said Nissan’s Dealer Diversity Group is working to increase the company’s share of minority dealers, noting nearly 40% of Nissan customers and 33% of INFINITI clients have a multicultural background. Over the past two years, the report said, group’s recruiting, guidance, training and operational support has contributed to a 21.9% increase in minority dealers and a 35.7% jump in minority INFINITI retailers.

Nissan also highlighted various efforts to reach out to its diverse customer base, including Spanish-language ad campaigns, a partnership with Black Entertainment Television and initiatives in the LGBTQ+ community.

The full report is available here.