HOW THIS CUBAN-BORN IMMIGRANT WITH A PASSION FOR CARS GREW A PAIR OF HUMBLE MIAMI DEALERSHIPS INTO A BOOMING AUTOMOTIVE EMPIRE WITH 29 STORES AND COUNTING – INCLUDING THE LEGENDARY FERRARI OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY
BY AMANDA MCCOY • PHOTOS BY ROBERT NUZZIE
A fervor for cars was ignited in Mario Murgado early in life. While winding through the streets of Chicago in the early 1970s, Murgado and his father would often play a game. “He would quiz me about cars we passed,” recalled Murgado, and though he wasn’t yet old enough to drive himself, he guessed correctly every time. “I could identify the make and model by the headlights, taill lights, and sometimes even the sound.” Flash forward four decades, and Murgado is the president and CEO of Murgado Automotive Group, an automotive powerhouse with 29 dealerships across five states. Since its launch in 2001 with a pair of fledgling Honda and Pontiac GMC dealerships in downtown Miami, the humble enterprise has become one of the fastest growing boutique automotive groups in the country, amassing a reputation for integrity, principle, and superior customer service. Murgado partners with many of the globe’s leading legacy and luxury automakers, from Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz to Bentley and Ferrari.
Murgado built his business brick by brick. As a Cuban-American immigrant who relocated to the Chicago area as a toddler during the Freedom Flights of 1966, he wasn’t born into affluence, but he made up for it in drive. He initially planned to pursue a career in economics, briefly dabbling in the shoe business and sales before rethinking his future.
“I wanted to pursue an industry I was passionate about,” said Murgado. “I found an incredible opportunity with Braman Imports in Miami, a reputable dealership with an incredible selection of marquee brands. I was promoted to manager, general manager, partner, and finally president and CEO. It was a wonderful journey, and I learned a lot about building an organization.”
In 2001, after a long and fruitful career with Braman, Murgado felt prepared to take the next step and branch out on his own. “It was 8:08 p.m. when I decided to buy a dealership,” recalled Murgado. “I’ll never forget the time.” With two partners, Murgado acquired the Honda and Pontiac GMC dealerships in Brickell, years before the Miami neighborhood became the booming business and cultural hub it is today. The store had three employees and was averaging just over 20 sales a month between both brands. Murgado rolled up his sleeves and turned the dealerships around, building a culture rooted in trust and relationships. Sales began to surge, and today the 8th Street store sells more than 10,000 cars per year and sits among the nation’s top performers.
Expansion was always part of the master plan, but the savvy businessman was careful not to move too quickly, even amid significant early success. He spent time mapping out his business’ growth strategy, and in 2013, he put his plan into action. That year, he put down roots in the wealthy enclave of Stuart, Florida, with a pair of upscale Audi and Infiniti stores. In 2014, Murgado Automotive Group added Mazda to its 8th Street campus and acquired a Cadillac dealership in northern Miami-Dade County, followed by Honda and Volkswagen dealerships in his childhood hometown of Chicago in 2017, then landed his first ultra-luxury nameplate, Bentley, in Jacksonville in 2018. The following year, Murgado ventured northeast to Central New Jersey, where he acquired three of the auto realm’s most iconic nameplates: Bentley, Maserati, and Ferrari. The latter was especially stirring for the lifelong car enthusiast.
“Ferrari is a brand that people dream about as kids, myself included,” added Murgado. “It has that wow factor; your hair stands up every time you hear a Ferrari’s engine rev.”
Located in Edison, Ferrari of Central New Jersey is a white-glove experience from beginning to end. When a client walks through the glass front doors, they are immediately greeted with a display of up to 20 Prancing Horses, from the sleek Roma coupe to the thundering Purosangue, the Italian marque’s first four-door, four-seater model (the brand famously eschews the term SUV, as the high-performance fastback was built for speed). A suite of demo cars grants customers the opportunity to get behind the wheel, as does an F1 racing simulator.
Murgado described the Ferrari clientele as special, noting, “They are true enthusiasts and excellent ambassadors for the brand.” He explained that 99% of Ferrari deliveries are custom orders, and that clients might wait years to receive their car. As a result, Murgado and his team have the opportunity to build lasting, meaningful relationships with their customers. The Ferrari passion is not limited to street vehicles and Scuderia Ferrari F1 drivers; Murgado Automotive Group also runs one of the most successful Challenge teams in North America, FCNJ Racing. The Ferrari Challenge racing series is for true race aficionados that want to experience the pure thrill of competitive track driving with the ultimate performance vehicle.
“When a client comes to us, they are instilling in us the trust and responsibility to help them build and design a car they’ve been dreaming about their entire lives.
Because they are special orders, some clients might wait up to five years to receive their car. It’s a privilege to be able to guide them through the process and deliver their In the back of the showroom sits the lounge, where clients meet with specialists when they are ready to begin the design process. Here, against a backdrop of Ferrari books and Formula One trophies, clients sip cappuccinos while thumbing through leather and paint samples. Nearly every aspect of the car’s finish, from wheels and tires to brakes and seats, is customizable.
“It’s not uncommon for our clients to come into the showroom on a Saturday morning, have a coffee and talk to our associates,” noted Murgado. “Our general manager, Daniel Garbacz, is a Ferrari devotee. He’ll often spend upwards of three hours with a client, talking to them about the most recent F1 race. We’ll even arrange for our clients to attend F1 events in Miami or Las Vegas. That’s what this brand deserves.” Today, Murgado Automotive Group is still growing. (Its most recent addition is a pair of Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Southern California.) In 2001, he launched his business with only three employees, and today there are more than 1,700 in the Murgado Automotive family. When asked to share his formula for success, the humble Cuban-American immigrant went back to his roots. “We work as hard today as we did in the beginning,” he said. “I love what I do every day. I have met the most wonderful people in this industry, customers that are now friends, but even more rewarding is getting to witness our employees grow in this business. Many have been with us for years, and we’ve watched them get married, buy their first home, and have their first child. It gives me great pride to be a part of that.”
Murgado Automotive Group
Ferrari of Central New Jersey / 816 US-1, Edison
732.248.9100 / ferrariofcentralnj.com