Planet Honda Expands Into Passaic
4 October 1999
Planet Honda Expands Into Passaic
UNION, N.J.--Oct. 4, 1999--Northeast Purchases City Motors
Planet Honda and The Used Car Universe is expanding its holdings with the purchase of City Motors, a Honda dealership located in Passaic, NJ. Planet Honda, the top-volume Honda dealership in the Northeast, is spending more than $6 million to acquire City Motors, which sells an average of 1,100 new cars per year.
Timothy Ciasulli, chief executive officer and president of Planet Honda, said the purchase positions the company to grow its business in Passaic, Bergen, Hudson and Essex counties, which is considered a very rich import market.
The Passaic dealership will operate under the new name "Planet Honda and The Used Car Universe of Passaic."
"Our plans are to bring the Planet Honda name and corporate culture to City Motors," said Ciasulli. "We're already off to a fine start with the exemplary reputations of both Planet Honda and City Motors."
History of High Customer Satisfaction Ratings
City Motors, located off of Route 3, at 225 River Drive, was owned by brothers Morty Kalb and Sandy Kalb for 40 years. It was started by their father in 1935. Ciasulli commended the Kalbs' commitment to customer service. "Throughout their careers, the Kalb brothers have done an outstanding job of servicing car buyers in their community and have always achieved high levels of customer satisfaction," Ciasulli said.
Plans for $4 Million Expansion
Ciasulli expects to boostnew car sales during the first 12 months of operation to 2,000, and plans on increasing the 70-member workforce by 20 percent during the same period. He also intends to invest $4 million to renovate the dealership, which includes the construction of a high-tech showroom, and shuttle service to points in Manhattan and area corporations.
New Manager Named
Tom Scialpi, logistics and marketing manager at Planet Honda in Union, has been named general manager of the Passaic dealership and will have an equity position in the new dealership. "Tom possesses an incredible acumen for customer satisfaction in a high-volume environment," Ciasulli said.
Planet Honda Corporate Philosophy
Planet Honda is dedicated to creating a fun car-buying experience by stimulating the five senses, and to preserving the planet through the sponsorship of community programs that benefit the environment, education and health.
Community initiatives include "Planet Kidz," which focuses on educational and fun activities for children; "Women on Wheels" (WOW) which educates women on car maintenance and repairs; "Planet Health," which promotes breast cancer awareness, and fund-raising activities that benefit the Sierra Club.