How the legacy of Celebrity Motors Cars is changing the automotive industry

Celebrity Motor Cars, the family of luxury automotive dealerships on the east coast, recently added a Ford store to their portfolio. On today’s Inside Automotive, we’re pleased to welcome the President and CEO of Celebrity Motor Car, Tom Maoli, along with his daughter Veronica Maoli, the Owner of Celebrity Ford of Toms River, to discuss the transaction and the importance of legacy.

On May 15, the Dave Cantin Group, a leading financial advisory firm focused on the automotive industry, announced the sale of Downs Ford to Celebrity Motor Cars. This transaction represents a small but significant growth of the women-owned Ford Dealership and showcases the leadership position and business growth women are achieving in the automotive sector. 

Females in the industry 

Veronica Maoli is the youngest female dealer principal in regard to any Ford dealership. By entering the male-dominated industry, Veronica notes how the industry as a whole is behind the time. Within her dealership at Celebrity Motor of Tom River, she has seen the salesladies broaden the scope of what they can offer the customers. Veronica states, “Rather than the typical salesperson, our females enrich the customer’s experience even more. It’s because we have a variety of personalities and people on the team that has brought a different dynamic to the table.” 

In addition, her father, Tom Maoli, reiterated the importance of the female body within the dealerships. To illustrate, “When it comes down to the final sale, it ultimately is the female, the wife, that makes the decisions based on the family’s needs,” asserts Tom. It’s essential to note that females influence 89% of all showroom sales. 

The legacy 

Tom emphasizes how vital legacy is, especially when conversing with manufacturers who fear the aging population of the dealer body. For example, OEMs are concerned with the quality of the next generation of dealers that will be running the dealerships. Yet, Veronica expresses, “The legacy aids with the mindset of watching my dad work hard for everything he created, and it taught me along the way.” Despite Veronica not wanting to be involved with the automotive industry, she later went to the NADA Academy, which fostered her automotive experience and enhanced her overall journey.