Open Road Automotive Group

Time Dealer of the Year

Open Road Automotive Group in NJ
Open Road Automotive Group in NJ

W. Rod Ryan | Open Road Automotive Group

400 Route 22 East, Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Sales: (732) 650-1550

Congratulations to W. Rod Ryan for being selected New Jersey's Time Dealer of the Year!

Ryan of Open Road Automotive Group representing New Jersey
in the 2017 Time Dealer of the Year Competition
-- Winner to be announced at NADA Convention in January 2017 --

bridgewater, nj, (sept. 19, 2016)

W. Rodman Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Open Road Automotive Group, was recently chosen as the New Jersey candidate to compete for the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year Award. The New Jersey Coalition of Automobile Retailers (NJCAR) selected Rod Ryan out of a pool of 60 candidates to compete at the national level. The winner will be announced at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention, which is being held in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 26-29, 2017.

"It is an honor for me personally and the Open Road team to be the New Jersey nominee to compete nationally for this prestigious industry award," said Rod Ryan. "As a team we are proud of the company's 44-year heritage and reputation, quality of business and product, expertise of our staff, and commitment to be good neighbors in the communities where Open Road Automotive Group's dealerships are located."

Open Road Automotive Group was founded by Rod Ryan in 1972 operating out of a converted garage in Edison, New Jersey, where he sold recreational vehicles, used cars and Honda motorcycles. Today the Open Road Automotive Group has 21 dealerships and 4 distribution centers located throughout New Jersey and New York, selling and servicing 13 brands.

The company has been the recipient of many industry and manufacturer accolades for sales, service and customer satisfaction. Over the years Rod Ryan has been recognized for his professional and civic work. He was the recipient of the 2012 Somerset Business Partnership "Citizen of the Year", the 2015 Senator Millicent Fenwick Civic Award, and the Boy Scouts of America Patriots Path Council's 2007 "Man of the Year" Award to mention a few.

The criteria to qualify to compete for the TIME Dealer of the Year Award requires that nominees have been NADA and NJ CAR members for five years, devote at least 60 percent of their time involved in dealership business and perform distinguished community service.

An important mission of Open Road is being a good neighbor and giving back to their communities. The mission has netted countless dollars and volunteer hours donated to hospitals, schools, youth sports events, boy scouts, food banks, and more. Open Road participates in and organizes major annual fundraising events that support a number of charities including: The Somerset Hills YMCA's Annual Strong Kids Golf Classic, The Far Hills Race Meeting for RWJ Barnabas Somerset Health Care Foundation, EQUUS (a benefit for the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center), RWJ Children's Cancer Center and JDRF (formally Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) including their Annual One Walk, for which over $400,000 was raised last year alone.

According to Rod Ryan, "The success of Open Road Automotive Group has not been the work of one. My team makes our success possible."

About the TIME Dealer of the Year

The TIME Dealer of the Year program honors new car dealers in America who exhibit exceptional performance in their dealerships and perform distinguished community service. Dealers are nominated by members of the Automotive Trade Association Executives (ATAE) and the winner is announced at the NADA annual convention, this year held in January 2017 in New Orleans.

About Open Road

Open Road Automotive Group (www.openroad.com) is a premier automotive retailer specializing in "in-demand vehicles" for the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1972 by W. Rodman Ryan, Chairman and CEO, the company grew from a two-bay garage in Edison, NJ, to one of the most respected automotive dealership chains in the country. With 44 years of automotive experience, Open Road currently owns and operates over 25 automotive facilities including 21 dealerships and four distribution centers throughout the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area representing Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Smart, Sprinter, Subaru and Volkswagen.

The company has earned many industry accolades for customer service and employee relations including being ranked the 15th largest automotive group in the nation by the Automotive News.