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(NEW YORK) — You may not know Ralph Gilles by name but you may have owned (or admired) his cars: the Dodge Viper, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram truck, to name a few.

Gilles, the 52-year-old chief design officer of Stellantis, the automotive giant that owns the Chrysler, Peugeot and Fiat brands, has been sketching cars and trucks for more than 30 years. He started as a designer in 1992 and quickly climbed the ladder at Chrysler, becoming president and CEO of Dodge and the SRT Brand. He now oversees the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Maserati marques, shaping future product and directing a large team of designers.

He has another mission at company: to make it more inclusive. Gilles, who is Black, serves as the executive sponsor of the Stellantis African Ancestry Network Diaspora (STAAND) and is active on the Stellantis Global Diversity Council.

The company announced last month that it was launching two new programs to attract diverse talent and train Black and multicultural employees for future leadership opportunities. Stellantis was also recognized as a top diversity leader by DiversityInc magazine.

In 2019, Black employees accounted for 17.2% of workers in automotive manufacturing, higher than the overall labor market, according to government data. But the industry lacked gender and racial diversity at the leadership level, the report from the U.S. International Trade Commission said.

“I think our industry doesn’t seem to attract people of color as much as others because it’s a little more of a clandestine thing that we do,” he said.

Gilles, an award-winning designer and industry visionary who continues to push the limits, spoke to ABC News about his trajectory in automotive, his attempts to hire more women and people of color and whether the Dodge Viper will return as an electric sports car.

The interview below has been edited and condensed for clarity:

What obstacles did you face as a Black man?

A: I didn’t face any impassable obstacles. If anything, my color made me stand out, sometimes for the better actually. I was a leader very young at my age; at 30 years old I was a director so [race] didn’t hold me back. It was quite the opposite if anything. I was very keen and aware that everything I did was being watched but in a good way. In every action I took I felt I would be representing an entire culture, not just myself. So that was something I was aware of from a very early stage.

Tell me how you’re trying to increase diversity at the company.

A: We’ve been trying to create a wonderful environment for people of color. I’ve been part of our business resource group [Stellantis African American Network Diaspora] for over 10 years and what I find fascinating about the group is that it went from being an internal support group to more of a recruiting device. When the Black Lives Matters stuff really lit up, our CEO at the time, Mr. [Mike] Manley, wanted to understand more so he called on the team to sit with him and that started this desire to create a diversity group. Just having these conversations has opened the minds of all of our execs [to] think about recruitment differently. Once you set up a tolerant place to work it naturally attracts people to the company.

How would you describe the makeup of the design team?

A: We have quite a bit of diversity in certain areas. Our infotainment team is pretty diverse. The exterior design team not as much. We’re finding though that the schools are not generating the pool that we need. We’re trying to get kids in middle school excited about this type of career and educate them about the possibilities and the outstanding life you can have as a designer or an engineer. So getting the word out there that it’s an awesome job is working slowly but surely.

What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry since you started?

A: When I started in the industry we were known as the Big 3. Today I laugh, it’s more like the Big 7 or 8. Every company seems to offer a full suite of vehicle types. The competition is really intense. The modern automobile is so technologically laden it’s hard just to call it a car anymore. It’s really rolling technology. And we are feeling more and more like a tech company.

We have software and coding people who are now attracted to the auto industry. The electrification movement, the infotainment movement, the autonomous movement — it’s getting more interesting. You look at it as a mature industry but it’s actually quite the opposite. It’s evolving more than ever.

What will move the needle on electric vehicle sales in the U.S.?

A: I think it’s a combination of more delicious offerings, which is what I am trying to do. To me it should be a choice. Have people say that’s the better, more attractive car. The current suite of EVs out there tend to be a little bit bland and uninspiring — great performing vehicles but not necessarily heart-pumping in the cultural or aesthetical sense. So trying to find a way to make them desirable and affordable. The other thing is going to be the infrastructure. Governments are working quite hard on helping the infrastructure catch up because it is a very different system from what we have today. So trying to make the pain points of owning an electric car go away is something everyone has to collaborate on. It’s not just a Stellantis problem. It’s a societal thing.

How would you respond to criticisms that Stellantis has been slow to produce EVs?

A: I think we’re not interested in just making an EV. We want to make the best EVs. We’re taking our time and developing them properly. We may not have one on offer today but it’s going to be coming very, very soon. We’re going to have several coming at the right time. A lot of the first EVs have very modest ranges that aren’t really solving the problem for the real consumer. So affordability, range, function — that’s what we’re putting in our calculus right now. We’re launching them in Europe. We’re leaders, we’re No. 1 in Europe. As a company we’re actually not laggards. We’ve been quite aggressive. We’re trying to match the society’s take rate.

How is designing an EV different from a gas-powered vehicle?

A: Some of the things we’re running into is trying to give the vehicle a personality. Trying to give it an emotional quotient. EVs don’t make a sound. Part of an excitement of a vehicle, especially with our Dodge brand, is the aural part of it. It’s something we’re intrigued about.

On the Jeep side, it’s creating an EV that looks futuristic but still capable. Aerodynamics are absolutely paramount. The EV gives us a benefit — we have frunks now. We have good packaging solutions. The center of gravity is in a good place. It’s more giving the car personality while balancing the needs of physics.

The Dodge Viper sports car was discontinued in 2017. Could it return as an EV?

A: I can’t talk about future product. I love that people talk about this nameplate so much. So that’s inspiring to us.

What is your daily driver?

A: I have a mixture of vintage cars because I do like the analog. I like to time warp back to the analog times. I have a Grand Cherokee, with a plug-in coming, and I steal my daughter’s [Alfa Romeo] Stelvio because I love that car. I have a few Alfa Romeos, a Lancia Delta and a cute little Peugeot 205 that I restored myself.

Looking back, is there one vehicle you would have tweaked before production?

A: (He laughs). OMG I need a couch now. Are you asking about my failures? (laughs again). I would have fought harder to make the wheelbase of the Chrysler 200 another 2 inches longer. Let’s put it that way.

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(NEW YORK) — Raising membership fees can generally be chalked up as “the price of doing business.” But as inflation, demand and supply chain issues continue to dictate an increase in prices, consumers are left to consider the value of using services like grocery deliveries and big-box retailers.

Retail analyst and financial expert Hitha Herzog shared her insights with “GMA” on increases in membership fees as well as how individual lifestyle is a key driving factor for cost-benefit analysis.

“It always leads back to the consumer, because the consumer will have to eat the cost somehow,” Herzog explained. “It’s in the form of membership prices.”

Amazon recently announced a price hike for its membership to Prime services, which includes discounts for Whole Foods and grocery deliveries, due to “the continued expansion of Prime member benefits as well as the rise in wages and transportation costs.”

“We’re going to start seeing more and more of these memberships to retailers, especially larger online retailers — go up in price as well — if you’re going to increase the number of goods sold on the site and what you offer to your customers, you’re going to have to cover those overhead costs.”

Guggenheim analyst John Heinbockel predicted in a new research note earlier this week that popular big box retailer Costco is close to increasing its annual membership fees.

“We believe we are now 8 to 9 months away from a likely membership fee increase, a historical catalyst for the shares. As is well known, Costco has increased its annual membership fee every five and a half years by $5 to 10. On this timetable, the next hike would come in August-September 2022.”

Herzog explained that bulk stores like Costco increase their membership price cyclicly “about every five and a half years.”

Costco has bifurcated membership options, Gold Star and Executive, the first costs $60 a year and the latter $120 a year, currently.

“I think the crux of this is that this is something typical of these bulk stores. The fact that they’re only doing it every five and a half years — as opposed to other stores or services that are increasing the price of products because of inflation,” Herzog said. “So I think this price increase is already baked into their business model we already knew that this was coming.”

According to Heinbockel’s analysis, he predicts the Gold Star fee would go to $65 while the Executive membership would move to $130. The warehouse retailer’s increased fee could potentially help keep overall product cost down for members amid labor shortages, supply chain issues and inflation.

Costco did not immediately respond to “Good Morning America’s” request for comment.

How should consumers weigh the value of pricier memberships?

“I think it really you have to examine your life, a little bit,” Herzog said. “What I mean by that is you have to assess, what is going to cost you less? So if you are seeing an increase in product [prices], which we’re definitely seeing across the board with everything from staple items in your refrigerator to the price of gasoline — Is it worth it to you to spend more on gasoline to drive to a store to try to get a cheaper product? Or is it worth it for you to spend a little more on a membership to potentially get free delivery, so you can spend a little more on the product?”

She continued, “Overall, consumers are going to have to pay for the price increase due to inflation and due to supply chain issues still existing.”

“As much as we hear government officials saying, ‘it won’t impact the consumer … manufacturers are going to eat the cost,’ it’s never the case,” she said. “At some point, the consumer is going to have to pay.”

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(INGLEWOOD, Calif.) — Seeing a need to promote Black-owned businesses, longtime Inglewood, California, resident Keokia Childress helped start a community-organized food festival to showcase what their neighborhood had to offer.

But what began with only a handful of food trucks in 2017, the Taste of Inglewood will have a super-sized spotlight and more than 100 Black-owned food and retail vendors this year as tens of thousands of NFL fans descend on the neighborhood for Super Bowl weekend.

Childress said she created the event after noticing a movement of Black-owned food trucks popping up throughout the neighborhood.

“I said to myself, ‘I wish there was something we could do to help promote these businesses because they do not get the recognition they deserve.'” Childress told ABC News.

After networking with some of her friends and community members, she gathered a few food trucks and curated an event to bring more publicity to their businesses.

“We were able to find a niche in creating an environment where urban food vendors, as well as retail vendors, could get the same publicity that a bigger business would,” Childress said.

After the first event’s success, Taste of Inglewood continued to grow, only to have COVID-19 halt its plans in 2020.

Childress, who lost her husband Jan. 2021 of over 20 years due to COVID-19, said as she and her daughters continued to grieve, she decided now was the time for her to get back into the community, get the dust off her shoulders and bring Taste of Inglewood back in time for Super Bowl weekend.

The three-day festival, which takes place less than five minutes from SoFi Stadium, where the Los Angeles Rams will be taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, will also include Latin, R&B, and hip-hop artists as part of a concert series.

Some of the businesses participating in the festival include All Flavor No Grease, A Hint of Moss, Sweet Red Peach, and Not Ya Mama’s Kitchen.

Vendors like Not Ya Mama’s Kitchen said they are filled with pride to see their neighborhood in the spotlight.

“When we sit back and think of the Super Bowl coming to Inglewood, the only words that come to mind are wealth and long overdue,” Angie Dillard-Miller, owner of Not Ya Mama’s Kitchen, told ABC News. “Inglewood has shaped us into hardworking and dedicated members of this community and for others to see what’s been here all along is truly astounding.”

“The taste of Inglewood is such a great opportunity not only for our family-owned business, but for the many other Black-owned businesses that are being showcased out here as well,” Dillard-Miller said.

The festival will also be incorporating a special moment where Issa Rae, the creator of the hit series “Insecure,” will be receiving the key to Inglewood for her hard work and positive recognition that she brings to the city.

The festival kicks off Thursday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. local time and will end Saturday, Feb. 12 at 10 p.m.

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(PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.) — Dolly Parton’s signature Tennessee theme park and resort, Dollywood, has announced a new program to help employees further their education.

Dollywood’s operating partner, Herschend Enterprises, is piloting a program that will pay for 100 percent of tuition, fees and books for employees who decide to pursue higher education, according to the Dollywood website.

The program, which is named GROW U and launches Feb. 24, will be open to all team members on the first day of their employment and applies to employees at all levels, including those who are part-time, full-time and seasonal.

It will be available to all 11,000 employees across Herschend’s 25 attractions, including The Harlem Globetrotters, Missouri’s Silver Dollar City, New Jersey’s Adventure Aquarium and Georgia’s Wild Adventures, according to a press release.

This is the latest education-focused enterprise Parton has embarked on over the course of her decades-long career. Notably, she previously launched the Imagination Library, which provides free books to children under the age of 5.

Most recently, Parton donated $1 million to research at Vanderbilt University which led to the creation of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.

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(NEW YORK) — Caroline Altagracia, a college student at the University of Albany, said she became interested in cryptocurrency while still in high school.

“It’s definitely been an empowering journey,” Altagracia. “I feel like when I initially was intimidated, I had to kind of get past that and really understand that, you know, I can invest in this, I can learn about it throughout the entire process.”

Cryptocurrency and NFTs (non-fungible tokens) may be attracting more minority investors who have historically had barriers to traditional financial investment options like the stock market and real estate, according to some in the space.

“Our communities have been locked out of the financial system, we have not been able to participate, when you look at what’s happened in the banking sector, and even Wall Street. So … decentralization is an opportunity for us to not have any barriers to entry and also participate and be producers as well,” said Cleve Mesidor, who leads the advocacy group, National Policy Network of Women of Color in Blockchain, told ABC News.

Decentralization means that cryptocurrency — which is digital money — is not under the control and regulation of standard financial institutions.

Through crypto boot camps, Altagracia, who is Latina, said she learned most of the ins and outs of digital currency from Carlos Acevedo, her former high school teacher who held cryptocurrency boot camps through his organization, the Crypto Community Project.

Originally from the Bronx, New York, Acevedo, a Latino man and former English teacher, said he entered the crypto world after investing in dogecoin — another digital currency — in 2014 to help raise money for Jamaica’s Olympic bobsledding team.

Two years later, Acevedo said he began investing in Bitcoin and Ethereum (two other crypto platforms) after learning the fundamentals of cryptocurrency through podcasts and YouTube.

As his confidence built, he said he decided to take another challenge — pass on his crypto knowledge to his students.

“During my lunch break, [students] saw me watching YouTube videos, they saw me listening to podcasts, reading and they wanted to make money on Bitcoin,” Acevedo told ABC News.

“And so my lunch club kind of organically became a way for students to learn about it because I began teaching it. It really solidified my own understanding,” he said.

Acevedo said minority groups are drawn to the crypto world due to opportunities to build wealth and gain financial independence from other financial institutions.

“Younger people, minorities, people who may have not been quote-unquote, educated, on the traditional finance system,” Acevedo said. “They might see this, especially the anti-establishment in the crypto sphere as more attractive to become engaged with,” he said.

“Not only are people looking at this as a way to become financial literate, but really to take advantage and build wealth that they feel like that they have missed out on.”

Sheika Reid, is an African American woman who works in human resources for a tech software company, and also mints NFTs (non-fungible tokens) for Black artists.

NFTs are a form of currency with an intrinsic value which run on the Ethereum blockchain. Reid told ABC News that NFT pieces can be purchased and sold using different forms of crypto.

Reid said NFTs give Black artists a platform for their work to be recognized.

“Specifically for Black artists … there’s this opportunity where people who’ve never made money from their art before are making, you know, six, seven figures,” she said. “I knew that this was a unique opportunity to get people who are being excluded from the conversation involved but who bring a lot of value to the crypto space,” she added.

Digital platforms like Open Sea — considered the largest NFT marketplace, allow a diverse range of artists to profit off their work.

“Creatives can now first protect their intellectual property, monetize their work, and also create a marketplace. Creatives across the nation have made more money in the last two years than they have in the last decade. And that’s a boom to local cities and their economies,” Mesidor said.

The accessibility to all users is the appeal of crypto, according to Mesidor.

With no need of a bank account or a college degree, Reid said cryptocurrencies give marginalized groups autonomy over their investments and peer-to-peer transactions.

“It’s up to us to figure out what are some ways for us to build wealth intergenerationally so that we can, you know, have the opportunity to prosper economically,” Reid said.

As the government starts looking at the regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, Mesidor said Black and Latino innovators, entrepreneurs and small businesses need to have a seat at the table and participate in those conversations.

“Too often we are not just left out of the traditional financial system, we are left out of the policymaking, so, therefore, we end up with the same laws perpetuating the same inequities,” Mesidor said.

The financial empowerment of Latinos, according to Acevedo, is one of the main reasons he continues to teach cryptocurrencies and shape the young generation of investors.

He said what students learn in the classroom can potentially leave impact beyond borders.

“What you have here is the ability for Latinos in the U.S. to create crypto enclaves and knowledge that will then, I hope, transfer back to their home countries,” he said.

“I’m of the firm belief that if to give prosperity to people and their families, you know, I trust them more to do so than what the institutions have demonstrated in the last 10 years.”

The ability to create generational wealth with cryptocurrencies is a long-term goal for many Black and Latino investors, according to Mesidor.

The road to achieving the goal, however, it’s not easy.

“Generational wealth is something that takes a long time to build, especially for communities that have been historically disadvantaged, and historically excluded,” she said. “What we can do is move towards financial inclusion [and] focus on economic empowerment, which is anchored in financial literacy.”

And the road to financial empowerment still has its downsides. The crypto market collapsed at the end of January, wiping out more than $1 trillion.

“Never risk money that you are not willing to lose,” Acevedo said.

Yet, as her college graduation approaches, Altagracia said investing in cryptocurrencies is a stepping stone to building wealth for years to come.

“Crypto has been the opportunity for us to finally take control of our financial lives, for us to apply the knowledge that we have and find ways where it’s a benefit, not just us in our future, but our families as well,” Altagracia said.

“When it comes to minorities investing in crypto, there has been a lack of trust in the systems, but I do feel like crypto has provided a new opportunity for us to be involved.”

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(WASHINGTON) — The prices Americans pay for a basket of goods and services continued to climb rapidly last month, according to new government data.

The consumer price index — a key measure of inflation — surged 7.5% over the last 12 months, the Labor Department said Thursday. This marks the largest 12-month increase since February 1982. The index surged 0.6% in January alone.

The so-called core index, or measure for all items except the more volatile food and energy indices, spiked 6% over the last 12 months. It was the largest 12-month change since August 1982.

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(NEW YORK) — Looking to buy a used car? Consumers can expect high costs and low inventories at the dealership lot.

Listing prices for used cars in January were up 40% from the same time last year, according to Carfax. The company said the average listing for a used car is currently $28,000 – a record high.

“Historically you’d think of that as the cost of a new car,” Emilie Voss, director of public relations at Carfax, told ABC News. “We’ve never seen a number like that for average price for a used car nationally.”

According to Edmunds, the price is even higher: its data showed the average price of a used car is currently $29,594, up 30% from the year prior.

The ongoing global microchip shortage is to blame for rising costs. Manufacturers cannot acquire enough chips to keep production lines running and the demand for used cars is high.

“We’re seeing record prices and part of that is a severe lack of used car inventory,” Voss said. “What we hear about with the car chip shortage impacting production, which is trickling down to used cars.”

For consumers who can afford high costs, you’ll have to act fast. Experts at Cars.com said vehicles are moving off dealer lots within a week, when pre-pandemic it could take 30-60 days before they sold.

Once you arrive to a dealership, experts say it’s important to keep an open mind. Consumers may have to compromise on their wish lists and expand their search when looking for a used car.

“Say you want a 2019 white Ford Edge. You’re going to have a harder time finding that specific vehicle than if you were to broaden your search and say I’m open to just really any midsize SUV,” Voss said.

Consumers though might see some relief later in the year.

“There are headwinds right now — new car supply is projected to get better in the second half of the year and consumer demand has slowed recently due to the recent COVID spike and high used car prices,” Voss said.

While the market is competitive, Voss said consumers can still negotiate on price.

“Use the vehicle history if price is an issue for you,” he said. “A vehicle history report you can tell if a vehicle is well maintained [or] if an accident was minor or severe.”

ABC News’ Sam Sweeney contributed to this report.

 

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(WASHINGTON) — Two Senate Democrats up for reelection introduced a bill on Wednesday to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax through the end of 2022, as millions of Americans grapple with the economic impacts of surging oil prices.

The Gas Prices Relief Act from Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., would suspend the $18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax through Jan. 1, 2023, according to a summary of the proposal shared with ABC News.

The senators, who are both on the ballot in November, released the proposal at a time when gas is roughly $3.45 a gallon nationwide, about $1 more expensive than a year ago, according to AAA.

“Arizonans are paying some of the highest prices for gas we have seen in years and it’s putting a strain on families who need to fill up the tank to get to work and school,” Kelly said in a statement. “This bill will lower gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year to help Arizona families struggling with high costs for everything from gas to groceries.”

“We need to continue to think creatively about how we can find new ways to bring down costs, and this bill would do exactly that, making a tangible difference for workers and families,” Hassan said in a statement.

At least four other Democrats, Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, have already signed on as co-sponsors of the measure. (Cortez Masto and Warnock, like Hassan and Kelly, are up for reelection in the fall.)

With inflation at a nearly 40-year high and Americans frustrated about the rising cost of many staples, Republicans have seized on the issue of gas prices as they try to retake the House and Senate in the midterms, pointing to the Biden administration’s economic agenda.

According to Gallup, just 33% of Americans are satisfied with the state of the economy — a 10-point drop from 2021 — and just 27% are satisfied with the nation’s energy policies.

Around the country, Democratic and Republican governors have proposed their own changes to state gas taxes ahead of the summer — by either freezing state gas tax collection or stopping planned increases from taking effect.

The Biden administration in November released 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help fight high gas prices before the holidays.

Cold weather and the possibility of sanctions against Russia over a potential invasion of Ukraine have both played a role in keeping the price of oil high, according to AAA.

Despite inflation, the Biden administration has touted the latest job numbers, arguing that the stronger-than-expected addition of 467,000 jobs in January signaled that the economy is weathering the pandemic as the latest wave of COVID-19 recedes.

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(NEW YORK) — Peloton announced Tuesday a major leadership shakeup and a plan to cut costs that includes laying off some 2,800 employees.

The announcement comes as the pandemic wanes in the U.S. and gyms are reopening, lessening demand for the company’s at-home workout equipment and famous stationary bike.

The New York-based company said co-founder John Foley will be stepping down as CEO but will stay with the company as executive chair of the board. Barry McCarthy, a former senior leader at Spotify and Netflix, has been appointed the new CEO and president of Peloton.

“Since founding Peloton a decade ago, we’ve grown this brand to engage and motivate a loyal community of more than 6.6 million members. I’m incredibly proud to have worked with such talented teammates over the years who have helped me build Peloton into what it is today, and I’m confident that Barry is the right leader to take the company into its next phase of growth,” Foley said in a statement Tuesday.

McCarthy added, “As a passionate Peloton member, I have experienced firsthand this fantastic company’s mission and believe there is enormous potential for the platform.”

“I’m honored to join Peloton at such an important moment in the company’s history and look forward to working closely with John, the Board and Peloton’s team members at all levels of the organization to execute against Peloton’s strategy and take the business to the next level,” he said in a statement.

The company simultaneously announced a “workforce reduction” that will result in the cutting of some 2,800 jobs globally, or approximately 20% of its corporate staff. Peloton said that its “roster of instructors and breadth and depth of its content” will not be impacted by Tuesday’s announcements.

“These decisions, particularly those related to our impacted Peloton team members, were not taken lightly,” Foley said. “We greatly value the contributions of our talented colleagues and are committed to supporting impacted team members in their transitions.”

Once revered as a hot stock early on in the pandemic, Peloton shares have slumped some 75% since its highs seen a little over a year ago. The company has endured a tumultuous start to 2022 marked by investor turmoil, and it reported a net loss of some $439 million in its most recent quarterly report.

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(NEW YORK) — The recent tensions between Russia and Ukraine are affecting Americans at the pump.

Prices for oil are now at their highest level in eight years.

“Russia still supplies some of the oil to the United States, and prices for oil are now above $90 a barrel for the first time since 2014,” ABC News’ Rebecca Jarvis explains. “And you’re seeing that at the pump — prices up overnight another penny, $3.45 a gallon.”

In the past week, prices for gas have shot up an average of 8 cents a gallon across the country, with some states seeing even bigger increases.

“Nowhere in the country, at this point, is paying less than $3 a gallon for gas, on average, according to Gas Buddy’s Patrick Dehaan,” Jarvis says.

She adds that Dehaan forecasts that in the coming days and weeks, “we will continue to see this price pressure rise” and that prices for gas could climb to $4 a gallon as tensions between both countries escalate.

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