From Family Dealership to Automotive Empire: Ernie Bach Jr's Journey

Ernie Bach Jr. opens the doors to his private estate, offering a rare glimpse into the life of an automotive maverick who transformed his grandfather's humble repair shop into Subaru of New England, one of just four remaining auto distributorships in America.The sprawling 7.9-acre property houses not only his family home but an extraordinary car salon featuring 40 meticulously maintained rare vehicles that Bach considers himself a "preservationist" of rather than a collector. "If they're not restored, they're gone," he explains, describing how each car remains plugged in, charged, and ready for his early Sunday morning drives.Bach's journey from being fired twice by his father to building one of the industry's most formidable operations demonstrates his business acumen. His dealerships once claimed the titles of #1 Honda dealer globally and #2 Toyota dealer on the planet before he made the strategic decision to focus exclusively on the Subaru distributorship. Today, Subaru ranks as the third best-selling car in New England, occasionally overtaking Honda, with Bach's singular vision guiding 65 single-point dealers across six states.What truly distinguishes Bach beyond his automotive empire is his passion for music. Through his foundation Music Drives Us, he has provided thousands of instruments to schools, ensuring music education survives budget cuts. A talented guitarist who has performed with rock legends, Bach integrates his musical passion into both his philanthropy and business, personally playing guitar on Subaru's commercial soundtracks.Looking toward the future, Bach is preparing his son to become the fourth generation in the business while expanding his warehouse by 100,000 square feet. His business philosophy remains refreshingly straightforward: "Do what your talents allow you to do. Make the money, then do what's passionate." For those interested in supporting music education, visit MusicDrivesUs.org to learn more about grant opportunities.Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick. For more interviews with the leaders shaping retail automotive, visit CBTNews.com and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone in the industry.