It’s been a busy year for the New Jersey auto dealer. From supporting good causes and fundraising for local charities to engaging with elected officials at a grassroots level — they do it all! Giving back is a way of life for them, and New Jersey is better because of it.
Philanthropy
Great job, Nielsen Automotive Group, for making the commitment to donate $50 for every car delivered and for collecting non-perishable food items to donate to a local food bank in Stanhope, New Jersey, over the course of December 2024.
Thank you, Coopersburg Kenworth & Liberty Kenworth, for donating toys for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in time for the 2024 Christmas season.
The team at Ciocca Subaru of Flemington had the pleasure of working with Operation Warm and the United Way of Hunterdon County to drop off 120 pairs of socks and shoes for children in urgent need.
On hand for the delivery were Chief Executive Director of the United Way of Hunterdon County Jen Thompson and Volunteer Center Program Manager Laura Hernandez. From Ciocca Subaru of Flemington were General Manager Mike Castor and Events Coordinator Stephanie Nieland.
All American Subaru is proud to be a Subaru Love Promise Gold Award retailer and to participate in programs like Subaru Loves to Help with Operation Warm! They donated over 100 pairs of new shoes to the Raritan Valley YMCA.
Subaru is dedicated to supporting those who need it the most in our communities. From working with Operation Warm to provide new clothing to families who urgently need it, Subaru is proud to be the largest automotive supporter of Operation Warm.
Liberty Subaru Inc. in Emerson, New Jersey, did an amazing job collecting warm coats to donate to both the Jersey Cares Coat Drive and the 2025 Subaru Share the Love Event to give to children who needed to stay warm this past winter.
Great job, Frank’s GMC, for raising $7,000 to donate to several food pantries and helping give back to the community in a generous way.
Amazing job, Burlington Chevrolet, for honoring Burlington Township’s Cal Ripken Baseball and Softball Association with the 2025 Burlington Chevrolet Youth Sports Award and supporting local community youth programs.
Thank you, Fred Beans Automotive Group, for continuing to support the Flemington Area Food Pantry by donating $5,000 through funds raised from a variety of dealerships.
Congrats to Burke Motor Group for hosting a successful Cops & Coffee event with the Middle Township Police Department.
At Lester Glenn Subaru, every drive means more. That’s why they’re proud to support the Point Pleasant Challenger Flag Football Program, which helps children with special needs learn the value of teamwork, inclusion, and building a brighter future. Since 2020, Subaru and Lester Glenn Subaru have donated over $67,000 to help foster these opportunities.
This past holiday season’s toy haul at ACE Ford Woodbury turned out spectacular! Thank you to the generous customers who participated, and a special shout-out to the employees who stepped up and donated toys and cash to the Toys for Tots Foundation. ACE matched the dollars donated from employees!
Dealership Highlights
Congratulations to Burke Subaru in Middle Township for being recognized by Subaru of America Inc. as the No. 1 Subaru dealership in the nation for special events, community endeavors and Love Promise stories.
Congratulations to Miller Ford Lincoln on being recognized by Ford as a winner of the 2025 Salute to Dealers award for demonstrating exceptional dedication in their commitment to give back to the community they serve each day.
NJ CAR would like to congratulate Burke Volkswagen for receiving the Volkswagen Dealer Award.
Congratulations to Fred Beans Automotive Group on celebrating 50 years in business, serving their local community at all of their dealer locations.
Grassroots
Thank you to our truck dealers and the New Jersey Motor Truck Association for attending a meeting with Gov. Murphy’s team to talk about CARB’s Advanced Clean Truck Rule and its impact on the small business truck dealers.
NJ CAR supported Bill A4380, advocating for workers and families to receive fair pay and fair prices.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta and several other supporters testified in front of the NJ Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee about A4380, which benefits consumers and our hard-working, skilled auto technicians.
In March, the Motor Vehicle Open Recall and Fair Compensation Act was unanimously passed out of the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta and Bill Berardino, President of Kollective, met with Sen. Patrick Diegnan to speak about the issues facing New Jersey’s auto and truck dealers, as well as consumers.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta testified before the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee regarding our opposition to Gov. Murphy’s proposal to eliminate the vehicle trade-in tax credit.
This would have a negative impact on car buyers and vehicle affordability in the state, and NJ CAR encouraged the committee to reject the proposal.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta and NADA Director/Former Chairman Rick DeSilva, Jr. (Liberty Subaru) spoke with NJ Spotlight News about how changes in state policy are negatively impacting EV sales.
They focused on the unrealistic Advanced Clean Car II (ACCII) mandate that New Jersey currently must meet, as well as the combined impact of cutting the EV incentive for many potential buyers, implementing a $1,000+ EV registration fee, phasing out the EV sales tax exemption and a slower-than-expected EV charging infrastructure.
Watch the full news story from NJ Spotlight News.
It was good to have Sen. Steve Sweeney join NJ CAR’s Board of Trustees meeting to talk a bit about his race.
We’re also thankful to NJ CAR Chairman Ron Baus and three-time Chairman Eric Nielsen for their tireless leadership on behalf of NJ CAR.
In April, NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta testified (remotely) before the members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. The virtual budget hearing was focused on public testimony concerning Gov. Murphy’s proposed budget for FY 2026.
Laura focused her comments on Gov. Murphy’s proposal to eliminate the trade-in tax credit on new car sales and how it will impact New Jersey consumers by making vehicles even more unaffordable for many buyers.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta attended a roundtable at Rowan College at Burlington County to discuss how tariffs will affect New Jerseyans with U.S. Rep. for NJ Congressman Herb Conaway, MD, Naji Abihabib with Burns Honda, and Peter Nogalo with Holman HQ Automotive.
NJ CAR attended ChargEVC’s Expo & Conference, including panel discussions on navigating the future of EV policies, incentives, charging, growth and servicing EVs. Attractions at the expo also included an EV showcase and EV Ride & Drive supported by New Jersey’s new car and truck dealers.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta discussed the good news on ending the sales ban on gas- and diesel-powered vehicles in the state of New Jersey. Read NJ CAR’s press release on this update.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta attended the American Truck Dealers Legislative Fly-In in Washington, D.C., with four New Jersey truck dealers: Joe Cambria, Spencer Campbell, Douglas Hoover, and Frank Pezzolla.
Together, they visited seven Congressional offices thanks to Magdalena Padilla, Esq., NJ CAR’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs.
In June, NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta, AFL-CIO, the Machinists Union, and the United Service Workers, IUJAT, testified in support of SCS 3309, the “Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act”, in the New Jersey Senate State Government Committee. It was voted unanimously out of the committee.
This important legislation will protect consumers by increasing recall repair rates for cars that are subject to recalls and will provide fair pay for our technicians and machinists who fix cars under recall.
Additionally, the companion bill, ACS 4380, unanimously passed the New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee.
NJ CAR appreciates the support of the AFL-CIO, Machinists Union, and United Service Workers Union, IUJAT on this important legislation.
