The recession has pounded black-owned dealerships, halving their ranks and stalling Detroit's effort to build them up

Curley Lee says Ford Motor Co. gave him one week to find financing to buy out the automaker's stake in his Illinois store. Earlier this month, he posed at a Ford dealership near Houston. (CRAIG HARTLEY)

AS

By:

Arlena Sawyers

July 25, 2011 05:00 AM

When Curley Lee got his first car dealership in November 1997, he dreamed of handing the business down to his children.

Featured Stories

What automakers are saying about vehicle prices with tariffs in effect

What automakers are saying about vehicle prices with tariffs in effect

Live updates on tariffs: Ford, Stellantis offer employee discounts; China retaliates; Mexico seeks solution

Live updates on tariffs: Ford, Stellantis offer employee discounts; China retaliates; Mexico seeks solution

Elon Musk expands Texas empire with his own park, ‘ecological paradise’

Elon Musk expands Texas empire with his own park, ‘ecological paradise’

Here’s our list of the 2025 Top 150 dealership groups

Here’s our list of the 2025 Top 150 dealership groups

Latest News

Read the Automotive News Digital Edition for April 7

Elon Musk expands Texas empire with his own park, ‘ecological paradise’

Jaguar Land Rover is pausing exports to key U.S. market over Trump’s tariffs

Tesla’s software engineering head is said to depart EV maker

Staying current is easy with newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.

See More in Retail

Will Carvana be ready for the next market shift with tariffs? Confidence is there

Dealership can defend itself against lawsuit stemming from test drive crash, court rules

Canadian March, Q1 sales surge on tariff fears

Bennett Automotive Group sells Provincial Chrysler in Windsor, Ont.

Staying current is easy with newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.