4 Black Automotive Innovators You Should Know | Sullivan Tire

The automobile industry has been shaped by countless inventors, innovators, and engineers, but many early contributions of Black inventors are too often overlooked. This Black History Month, we’d like to highlight four Black inventors and innovators who made meaningful contributions that helped influence the way we drive today.

1. Richard B. Spikes (1878–1965)

We’ve all been there—behind the wheel, wishing the driver ahead would use their blinker before cutting across three lanes of traffic. While the modern turn signal evolved over time through multiple innovations, Richard B. Spikes is often recognized for his early work in automobile signaling systems and safety improvements.

Spikes was a prolific inventor who held several patents connected to the automotive world, including innovations related to vehicle signaling, brake safety, and transmission/gear shifting improvements. His contributions helped push vehicle technology forward during an era when cars were rapidly evolving—and safety features were still in their early stages.

2. Garrett Morgan (1877–1963)

Garrett Morgan was an inventor and businessman whose work helped influence modern traffic safety. In 1923, Morgan patented an improved traffic signal design that introduced a “caution” position between stop and go—an important concept that would later become a standard feature of modern traffic lights.

After witnessing a serious traffic accident, Morgan was motivated to create a better way to control intersections and help prevent collisions. He later sold the rights to his traffic signal invention, and his contribution remains one of the most recognized transportation-related innovations created by a Black inventor.

3. C.R. Patterson (1833–1910) and Frederick Patterson (1871–1932)

C.R. Patterson & Sons Co. holds a powerful place in American automotive history.

Charles R. “Rich” Patterson was born into slavery in 1833 and later settled in Ohio, where he built a successful career as a skilled craftsman and entrepreneur. In 1873, he co-founded a carriage business that eventually became C.R. Patterson & Sons Co. in 1893.

After Charles’ passing, his son Frederick Patterson took over and recognized the growing demand for “horseless carriages.” That vision led the company to pivot from carriage building to automobiles—making Patterson’s company widely recognized as the first Black-owned automobile manufacturer in the United States.

The company began producing vehicles in the 1910s, but like many small manufacturers of the era, it faced intense competition as larger automakers expanded mass production. The business eventually closed in 1939, but its story remains a remarkable example of innovation, perseverance, and entrepreneurship.

4. George Washington Carver (~1864–1943)

While George Washington Carver is best known for his groundbreaking work in agricultural science, his research also extended into industrial uses for crops and natural materials—work that intersected with automotive needs during World War II.

Carver explored ways plants could be used to create useful products like lubricants, dyes, and alternative materials, and he was involved in research related to rubber-producing plants such as goldenrod. During wartime shortages, Henry Ford and others became interested in plant-based rubber possibilities, and Carver’s work helped support broader efforts to explore agricultural solutions for industrial challenges.

While this research did not replace modern rubber manufacturing on its own, it remains an important example of how Carver’s innovation helped inspire new thinking about materials and production during a critical time in American history.

Honoring Innovation This Black History Month

This list is far from comprehensive, but we hope it shines a light on a few of the many Black innovators whose ideas helped influence the way we drive, travel, and move through the world today.

To learn more about Black History Month, find virtual events, galleries, and more, please visit blackhistorymonth.gov. We also encourage readers to find Black History Month events in your area to attend and participate in.

Until next time… We’re Always Here To Get You There®

About Sullivan Tire and Auto Service:

Headquartered in Norwell, Mass., Sullivan Tire and Auto Service is New England’s home for automotive and commercial truck care with 83 retail locations; 21 commercial truck centers; 14 wholesale distribution satellite locations; two truck tire retread plants; two LiftWorks facilities; and five distribution centers, across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine. The foundation upon which Robert J. Sullivan started Sullivan Tire in 1955 was, “Treat everyone, customers and fellow employees, as you would a member of your family,” and that tradition continues today. In 2023 Sullivan Tire announced a new Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), turning ownership of the company over to its more than 1,500 employees. For more information on Sullivan Tire please visit www.sullivantire.com.