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Nissan Dealer T.J. Johnson Becomes Owner of Virginia Dealership

14 October 1998

Nissan Dealer T.J. Johnson Becomes New Owner of Newport News, Virginia, Dealership

    NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Oct. 14 -- Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A.
today announced that Bob Crumpler has sold his Denbigh Nissan dealership to
T.J. Johnson of Myrtle Beach, SC.
    "T.J. has an outstanding track record of fairness toward customers and
employees," said Mike Seergy, vice president and general manager of Nissan
Division. "Nissan couldn't have asked for or found a better dealer principal
for this key location."
    Johnson, 48, currently owns two other car dealerships, including Grand
Strand Nissan in Myrtle Beach. Johnson says the new store will be known as
Tidewater Nissan.
    "I'm looking forward to being a productive member of the tidewater
business community and providing a positive car buying experience," said
Johnson.
    Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
    Sale of the dealership to Johnson effectively ends Nissan's legal action
to terminate its dealer franchise agreement with Crumpler. That action began
nearly two years ago when Crumpler was videotaped using racial slurs against a
trailer park employee.  Nissan's termination decision was recently upheld by
the Virginia Circuit Court.
    Johnson has a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Florida State
University and an honorary doctorate degree from Shaw University School of
Divinity. He attended pilot training in the U.S. Air Force and flew C130s.
Johnson is a director on several boards, including First Financial Holding
Company and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Johnson has been a car
dealer since 1985.
    Johnson also becomes the first African American appointed since Nissan
recently announced an initiative to increase minority representation among its
dealer body by 25 percent by the year 2002.
    In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering,
manufacturing, sales, consumer and corporate financing, and industrial and
textile equipment. Nissan in North America employs more than 20,000 people in
the United States, Canada and Mexico, and generates more than 70,000 jobs
through more than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti dealerships across the continent.
More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan
and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissan-na.com.