In an automotive retailing industry filled with employees for whom the grass always looks greener elsewhere, DCH Millburn Audi operates by the adage that it's more productive and efficient to simply fertilize one's own yard.
The dealership, in Maplewood, N.J., a suburb of Newark, ranks No. 1 overall on Automotive News' Best Dealerships To Work For list for 2020. DCH Millburn Audi also finished atop the medium-size dealership category, for stores with 50 to 99 employees. The luxury dealership, owned by Lithia Motors, has been on the list each year since the Best Dealerships program began in 2012 but has never before ranked No. 1. Its previous highest ranking was No. 10 last year.
In a side-by-side comparison with most dealerships, it's easy to spot why employees at DCH Millburn Audi might think it's a great place to work: It offers a generous benefits package; there are quarterly social gatherings to elicit team-building; and it offers lots of individual recognitions, trainings and assistance. Turnover is very low, with the dealership reporting a 19 percent voluntary turnover rate for its last fiscal year. It's also a top-performing Audi store nationally. In 2019, the dealership sold 1,223 new and 1,025 used vehicles.