A Legacy in Motion
50
YEARS OF
Lessons From the Farm
Fred Beans credits his success to the values he learned while working on his family’s modest Pennsylvania farm. An only child, Fred spent his early days embracing the rhythm of chores, the hum of machinery, and the quiet wisdom of the land.
As he reflects on 50 years of growing one of the region’s most respected automotive groups, it’s clear: The farm taught him what he needed to know about running a business.
The following are a few enduring lessons from Fred:
The footsteps of the farmer
On the farm, there are no shortcuts – you have to show up every day, rain or shine. Fred learned that leadership means being present, putting in the work, and never asking someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. To this day, he believes in walking the lot, checking in, and leading by example.
Do the hard things – and do them right
Whether it was hauling hay or fixing a fencepost, the job had to be done well, no matter how tough or tedious. That mindset carried into every service bay and showroom he opened. Quality wasn’t optional – it was a matter of pride.
Take care of the land, and the land takes care of you
Fred learned early that if you nourish your environment – your people, your community – it will repay you tenfold. That’s why giving back is woven into every part of the Beans culture, from the customer loyalty AutoRewards Club to local philanthropy.
Love your machines – they’ll tell you stories
Fred’s fascination with tractors and engines sparked a lifelong respect for machinery. He didn’t just see vehicles – he saw potential, utility, and pride in ownership. That same respect for the product became the backbone of his customer-first approach in the automotive business.
Be resourceful and take smart risks
At just 21, Fred took out a loan (co-signed by his mother) to buy a gas station. He understood risk – but also the value of self-reliance. Farm life had taught him how to make do, fix what’s broken, and trust his instincts. That grit became one of his greatest business assets.
You grow what you tend to
Like a field that yields more when it’s properly cultivated, Fred knew that employees, relationships, and customers need attention. Growth doesn’t happen by chance – it’s the result of consistent care, accountability, and long-term thinking.
The Early Years
Frederick William Beans grew up on his family’s farm in Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the 1940s. Living during World War II required extra resourcefulness, and Fred found his place tinkering with machinery, fixing tractors and trucks. This sparked his early fascination with automobiles.
Fred had the foresight – at just 15 – to plan a career around his interest. While in high school, he wrote himself a note detailing his plans to own an auto dealership focused on the customer experience.
Big Oak Service Center
No stranger to hard work, Fred took a major step toward realizing his career goal in 1959 at the age of 21. He purchased the service station where he worked while attending Rider College. The owner no longer wanted to operate it, so Fred stepped up. With $124 in his personal savings, Fred had his mother co-sign for a $5,500 loan so he could become the new owner.
The station was aptly named the Big Oak Service Center because of its location on Big Oak Road in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
Fred grew Big Oak from two to four bays and developed a reputation for having a quality auto repair business. Still interested in cars, he began renting and leasing vehicles out of the service station – his introduction into automotive sales.
When Fred began making a small commission from renting EZHaul trucks in a five-county area, his interest was renewed in becoming a car dealer. He began networking with dealers in the early 1970s, looking to get his foot in the door to learn
Once a door opened with dealer Bill Marsh, Fred seized the opportunity. He sold the gas station to a dedicated employee, Steve Kerrigan, who successfully ran it until 1994.
Although Fred sold Big Oak on February 26, 1972, this is where the seed was planted for the Fred Beans Automotive Group.
today, the Big Oak tree is just a stump, but its roots remain, embracing the service station that is now under new owners. it still bears the Big Oak name as Big Oak Citgo.
Beginning the Beans Family of Dealerships
Fred sold Big Oak after connecting with dealer Bill Marsh at his Ford store in Newtown. Fred would visit him at night to gain experience and learn all he could from the successful dealer.
The two developed a mutual respect for one another, and one night over dinner, Bill offered Fred a 25% share of Bill Marsh Ford. Business nearly doubled under the new partnership. This was the opportunity Fred sought and one that would change the trajectory of his life.
Bill Marsh
In 1975, Fred and Bill attempted to buy another Ford store together in Doylestown, which was originally owned by JJ Conroy before Mel Harris bought it.
At the time, the country was coming out of an “energy crisis,” which made the timing just right for a young, ambitious entrepreneur like Fred to enter the business just as others were looking to get out. It also made Ford more likely to take a chance on Fred.
Ford had a rule prohibiting owning more than one dealership in close proximity, so Fred sold his shares in Bill Marsh Ford and made Mel an offer. It took Mel four months to sign the agreement, and during those
four long months, Fred said he lost about 20 pounds and barely slept – when he did, it was on the couch. He knew Mel realized selling was a good financial decision even if his heart was not in walking away from his business.
Fred purchased Mel Harris Ford on his own in April 1975. That August, he moved his wife and three daughters to Doylestown. In September 1975, he changed the name of the dealership to Fred Beans Ford.
And, as they say, the rest is history.
T he Man Behind the Business
As Fred grew a successful business and brand, his three daughters had a front row seat to watch him work.
Today, they contribute to the continued success of the business with Beth Beans Gilbert as vice president, Barbara Beans as fleet manager, and Jennifer Beans Keiser as president of Autorent.
They appreciate the lessons their father shared, both through his example and words of wisdom – understanding that he is a force and one that has not only impacted the Fred Beans Automotive Group, but also them as individuals and collectively as a family.
Reflections from Beth
“My dad is a true visionary. Even into his 80s, he continues looking for ways to make us better and even himself better,” says Beth.
At an early age, Beth was fascinated by the business and wanted to spend time learning from Fred. But, if she went in with him, she says she was there well beyond the workday. “He’s still like that. He goes nonstop and doesn’t even break for lunch. That was a hard schedule for a kid,” she jokes.
Beth appreciates Fred’s willingness to teach her the ins and outs of the business, but says he never gave her a shortcut to get to the next level of responsibility. This was especially frustrating for her as a 12-year-old when all she wanted to do was work the switchboard. She did sneak in on occasion when Fred was not around and says without fail she would answer when Fred was on the other end and then disconnect the call.
At around age 16 or 17, Beth went through sales training at her dad’s encouragement and says his own appreciation for education and personal betterment influenced her to say “yes” to the opportunities presented to her, including
accompanying Fred on all his travels.
“He is an incredible mentor. I even remember him showing me how to review a financial statement on one flight, and it’s one of many lessons I never forgot.”
Beth not only welcomed Fred’s lessons, but also his direction over the years. “He and I developed a good working relationship, because he’d share an idea, and I’d take it from there. I continue to enjoy figuring out how to execute what he’s envisioning so he can keep his focus on what he does bestselling cars.”
Reflections from Barbara
Barbara remembers moving to Doylestown the day before her 8th birthday after Fred bought his first dealership. By the fall, she says she and her sisters were already hard at work, picking up trash in the lot and clearing snow from cars.
“We were always working; my dad was always working,” remembers Barbara. “Even on Sundays, we’d all pile into the car and go look at other dealerships, some to possibly buy.”
Much like Beth, Barbara says she had to earn
every job she had within the family business. “Every single job I had led me to what I am doing now – a job I am truly passionate about, because of the relationships I have formed.”
Some of Barbara’s earliest jobs included peeling labels from cans of beans to put on Beans advertising, filing paperwork, and serving as a hostess, during which she welcomed each customer into Fred Beans Ford of Doylestown with a handshake and a friendly greeting.
Such a role was important to Fred, who built the Fred Beans Automotive Group around the customer experience. “Dad cares; he genuinely cares about the people who walk through our doors and the people who work for us,” says Barbara. “He still gives out his cellphone, and he still answers it. Over all these years, he remains true to his core beliefs to put people first.”
Reflections from Jennifer
Jennifer says that her dad’s focus on people is “the real competitive advantage in our business.”
She remarks how Fred kept this focus over the years and saw any financial rewards of doing well as another opportunity to help people. “He always
says the business is not here to serve our lifestyles; I even remember him driving us around in a beat up Ford Ranger that was used for parts deliveries.”
What Fred views as a worthy investment is education. “He says your education is something that no one can ever take from you,” Jennifer adds. When she chose to go right to work instead of college, she knew that she would need to put in extra effort to prove herself to her father.
“Even though I helped build our Autorent operation, I had to train two different people to manage it before getting my chance,” she notes. “None of us girls were handed our positions, and the work we all put in made us appreciate each new opportunity to advance and contribute to the company.”
With the company part of her life for as long as she can remember, Jennifer got her start alongside her sisters tidying up Fred’s office and clearing cars on snow days. She also fondly remembers being around for some of the earliest sales challenges. “We had Steak and Beans dinners; the losing team cooked steak for the winning team, and the losing team then ate baked beans.”
She adds, “There was a lot of fun to go along with the hard work.”
Fred as a Family Man
Beth, Barbara, and Jennifer each say traveling as a family to Fred’s 20 Group meetings created opportunities to see the country together.
“This was during a time with no cellphones,” says Barbara. “So, we would add on a road trip before or after one of his meetings and really explore out on the road with little distractions.”
This also meant they only had a paper map – if that –for navigating new roads. “I remember driving through New Mexico to get to Colorado, and we got so lost, but it was so exciting,” Barbara adds.
She also recalls their car breaking down in the Ozarks and Fred walking to get help. “He returned with a small car, a Trans Am or Camaro, and we all crammed in it with our luggage to get to the airport on time.”
Fred developed a hobby for aviation, and that enabled the family to see even more of the country. “He exposed us to so many cool towns, and he always knew what to do and the best places to eat,” adds Beth.
Flying since he was 14, Fred is a jet pilot and has commercial pilot, multi-engine, multi-level instrument, and float-plane ratings.
He shares his passion with many members of his family, including Jennifer’s son, Chase, who chose a career in aviation. Whereas Fred once taught Chase, it is now Chase’s turn to share his knowledge with Fred.
Fred also passes his appreciation for education to his 10 grandchildren; his go-to gift for their birthdays and Christmas is always a book. He often shares biographies to emphasize traits, such as integrity, discipline, and duty, that made a leader successful.
He is laying the foundation for this next generation to follow in his footsteps, whether that is through direct involvement in the business or through charitable
endeavors. Beth’s oldest son, Christopher, already returned to the Fred Beans Automotive Group, and Jennifer’s son, Carter, is studying automotive at Northwood University.
All 10 grandchildren – Alexandra, Christopher, Paige, and Tyler Gilbert (Beth’s children); Greg Murray and Lauren Soverino (Barbara’s children); and Carter, Charlie, Chase, and Connor Keiser (Jennifer’s children) – embrace Fred’s commitment to giving back by helping to shape the Beans family’s charitable giving. Today, they work together to ensure giving reflects the family’s diverse interests, as well as the common goal to support nonprofits in and around Bucks County.
Co-Drivers: Company Leadership
Fred Beans works closely with his daughter, Beth, and son-in-law, Chris, to ensure the family’s values influence both big-picture and day-to-day operations, especially customer interactions.
Together, their leadership drives the Fred Beans Automotive Group toward continued success.
Beth Beans Gilbert, Vice President
Beth began working in the family business at age 12.
After a summer of filing paperwork and observing her father at work, she wrote a letter to Fred saying she wanted to be a “top dealer” just like him.
Today, Beth is blazing her own trail in automotive by empowering women to join her and succeed in the industry. She works to create programs and processes that help the company commit to the ideal of treating employees, customers, and community members as extensions of the Beans family. She has introduced new benefits to attract candidates seeking balance between work and family and launched an innovative Healthy Living program to prioritize employee mental and physical health. She oversees a Hardship Fund to aid employees in financial need, as well as corporate giving to support community organizations. Customers also appreciate her attention to detail, which impacts everything from delivering vehicles to scheduling service appointments.
Under Beth’s leadership, the Fred Beans Automotive Group has enjoyed a long winning streak as one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Best Places to Work and past wins as the Healthiest Employer. She was a finalist in Time magazine’s 2003 Dealer of the Year as Pennsylvania’s nominee and was recognized for her leadership as the 2023 Barbara Cox Woman of the Year winner. She attended Hood College, then the NADA Academy, and worked in dealerships in Florida and Virginia before returning home to join her family at the Fred Beans Automotive Group.
Chris had ties to Fred Beans long before his first sales job. His father, Layton, was Fred’s first accountant. Chris remembers witnessing their interactions during the early days at the service station through the expansion into dealerships. He even fondly remembers accompanying his father to Doylestown to purchase cars.
These memories make working alongside Fred in management and joining the Beans family as Beth’s husband and Fred’s son-in-law particularly meaningful.
Chris Gilbert, COO
Chris joined Fred Beans Ford in May 1991 shortly after graduating from Lycoming College. Initially unsure of the path his career would take, he found direction after joining the sales team at Beans. In just six short months, he developed a passion for the dynamic world of car sales and began to see his future in automotive.
Chris transitioned from sales to finance to used cars and eventually to service, seizing each opportunity to expand his expertise and hone his skills. That also included attending the NADA Academy in 1999.
Ambition combined with experience made Chris an ideal candidate to move into leadership as general manager of Fred Beans Saturn of Devon. After three years, he returned to Ford Doylestown as GM and eventually took on the same role at Fred Beans Subaru of Doylestown. With a track record of success, he was promoted again, first as operational director and then in 2019 as chief operating officer.
Chris contributes a quietly confident and thoughtful leadership style to the team. Whereas others are quick to engage, Chris prefers to initially observe and listen.
The Fred Beans Footprint: 50 Years of Growth
As of 2025, the Fred Beans Automotive Group encompasses 31 dealerships, 21 brands, eight Fred Beans collision centers franchised CARSTAR, two AutoExpress locations, a parts warehouse, two CarQuest locations, four Autorent rental locations, and commercial truck sales.
The company has grown its footprint over 50 years in business, with operations in five Eastern Pennsylvania counties and two New Jersey counties.
CARLISLE
HERSHEY
LEBANON
LANCASTER
READING
ALLENTOWN
PHILADELPHIA
WEST CHESTER
CHERRY HILL
KING OF PRUSSIA
TRENTON
Fred Beans Automotive:
Acura of Abington
Buick GMC of Mechanicsburg
Cadillac of Doylestown
Chevrolet of Doylestown
Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Doylestown
Ford of Boyertown
Ford of Doylestown
Ford of Exton
Ford of Langhorne
Ford of Mechanicsburg
Ford of Newtown
Ford of Washington
Ford of West Chester
Genesis of Doylestown
Honda of Abington
Our 2025 Dealership Portfolio
Hyundai of Abington
Hyundai of Doylestown
Hyundai of Flemington
Hyundai of Langhorne
Hyundai of Mechanicsburg
Kia of Langhorne
Kia of Mechanicsburg
Lincoln of Doylestown
Mazda of Abington
Mazda of Mechanicsburg
Nissan of Doylestown
Nissan of Flemington
Subaru of Doylestown
Toyota of Flemington
VW of Devon
VW of Doylestown
Fred’s Heart Belongs with Ford
Our Flagship Store: Fred
Beans Ford of Doylestown
Fred purchased Fred Beans Ford of Doylestown in 1975 from Mel Harris, marking the official start of the Fred Beans Family of Dealerships, which has evolved to become the Fred Beans Automotive Group.
Fifty years later, the dealership remains the heart of the organization. This is where Fred has his office and walks the floor, greeting customers and handing out his personal cell. He continues to set the bar high for customer service and lead by example from this dealership.
The dealership has repeatedly won the Ford President’s Award for exceeding customer expectations in both sales and service and often ranked first among regional Ford dealers for both new vehicle sales and commercial truck sales.
In 2022, the Fred Beans Automotive Group was inducted into the 2022 Class of the Ford Motor Company’s Top Volume Dealer Hall of Fame.
Fred and his team were commended for embodying the spirit of being a Ford Hall of Fame Dealer: being loved by customers, respected by employees, and engaged with surrounding communities. Fred received a special jacket and a ring, indicating his inclusion in an elite group of Ford dealers.
“Freds blood runs Ford blue.” “
Andrew Frick, President, Ford Blue and Model e Division
After receiving official approval from Ford on April 17, 1975, Fred was determined to make the best of it. From this one dealership, he began applying his philosophy of treating customers like friends and family and found a formula by which to grow a successful business.
Just three years after inducting Fred into the Ford Dealer Hall of Fame, Ford executive Andrew Frick visited Doylestown to present Fred with a 50th anniversary plaque.
Andrew commended Fred for being in the minority of first-generation business owners to make it and for his partnership with Ford for a half-century.
Fred says, “Everything I own and everything I have ever accomplished has come as a result of starting with Ford, and I think that is why I am so loyal to Ford.”
Our Most Decorated Ford Store:
19 President’s Awards
and counting
Fred Beans Ford of Boyertown is among an elite group of Ford and Lincoln dealerships to be recognized repeatedly with the President’s Award by Ford Motor Company. The prestigious award honors dealerships that have excelled in both sales and service in automotive retailing by focusing on the customer experience.
Fred worked alongside long-time partner Dennis Malloy, who was both partner and general manager of Fred Beans Ford of Boyertown until his retirement in 2023. Together, they built a team in Boyertown that continues to make it Better at Beans.
With a handshake between him and late friend Bill Marsh in 1972, Fred became a 25% partner in Bill Marsh Ford, located in newtown.
Fred sold it when he was building his own family of dealerships and then returned to purchase the Newtown dealership in 2016.
Now known as Fred Beans Ford Newtown, the dealership underwent a complete remodel in 2022 and retains its important place in the history of the Fred Beans Automotive Group.
Doylestown is Our Home
One-third of the Fred Beans Automotive Group’s dealerships are in Doylestown. In addition to company headquarters, Beans dealerships line the streets of Fred and his family’s beloved hometown in Bucks County.
The 10 Doylestown-based dealerships are:
Cadillac of Doylestown
Chevrolet of Doylestown
Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Doylestown
Ford of Doylestown
Genesis of Doylestown
Hyundai of Doylestown
Lincoln of Doylestown
Nissan of Doylestown
Subaru of Doylestown
VW of Doylestown
Selling Across State Lines
In 2012, the Fred Beans Automotive Group moved into New Jersey, purchasing two existing franchises in Flemington – Kia and Toyota. Beans transitioned the Kia dealership to a Nissan dealership in 2018 and also acquired a Hyundai store in the area that same year. With strong connections forged in the community, Beans also identified Flemington as an ideal location for a CARSTAR Collision Center.
The Flemington stores have carried Beans values and promises across state lines, establishing strong reputations for sales, service, and a commitment to giving back to the community. Fred Beans Hyundai of Flemington has earned multiple recognitions as a topperforming Hyundai dealership.
In June 2022, Beans further expanded its footprint in New Jersey by adding an eighth Ford store with the acquisition of Smith Ford in Washington. Fred appreciated the opportunity to both own another Ford store and also build on the foundation established by another dedicated family in automotive.
Ford of Washington
Hyundai of Flemington
Nissan of Flemington
Toyota of Flemington CarStar Flemington
Expanding our reach and brands in abington
April 2024 marked a period of growth for the Fred Beans Automotive Group with the purchase of four dealerships and one collision center from Rosenthal Automotive –all located in the Abington, Pennsylvania area.
The acquisition added three new brands – Acura, Honda, and Mazda – to the Beans inventory in addition to another Hyundai store and CARSTAR Collision Center.
Investing in the Mechanicsburg Market
A partnership with McCafferty Auto Group initially moved Fred Beans into Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The Fred Beans Automotive Group became fully established in the area in September 2014 with a stock purchase that led to full control of what is today known as Fred Beans Ford, Fred Beans Kia, and a CARSTAR Collision Center.
When another familyowned business, Freysinger Automotive, looked to sell its three dealerships and auto body shop in the area, the Beans team saw the acquisition as an opportunity to continue growing in a familiar market.
In October 2024, Fred Beans made a deal with the Freysingers, purchasing what has become Fred Beans Buick/GMC of Mechanicsburg, Fred Beans Hyundai of Mechanicsburg, and Fred Beans Mazda of Mechanicsburg. The Freysinger’s body shop in New Cumberland is now a Fred Beans CARSTAR. the Freysingers identified Fred Beans as the right buyer and steward for their company, community, and employees.
Catering to the VW Customer
Our customized approach
Both of the Fred Beans Volkswagen dealerships are award-winning for meeting the highest standards in sales, marketing, customer experience, and facility management and presentation.
The Doylestown VW dealership first opened in a rented facility in 2016, moved into a building owned by Beans in 2019, and then relocated to a brand-new, customized dealership in 2024. The new space is both attractive and functional with a robust EV display area, fast Level 3 charging stations, an indoor location for delivering a new vehicle, and an indoor, climate-controlled bay for vehicle service.
The Devon dealership was originally Fred Beans Saturn of Devon, which opened in 1997 before transitioning to a VW franchise in 2005. With that transition came customizations to match VW customers’ desire for a blend of innovation, design, and sustainability.
Fred Beans Volkswagen of Devon is now a multipletime Wolfsburg Crest Club member, and Fred Beans Volkswagen of Doylestown earned its first entry into the Wolfsburg Crest Club after moving into its brand-new, state-of-the-art facility.
Sharing the Subaru Love
The Fred Beans Automotive Group operates a Subaru dealership in Doylestown, which embraces the brand’s commitment to making a difference beyond selling cars. The Subaru Corporation’s HEART Pillars model – Honesty, Empathy, Appreciation, Respect, and Trust –
drives a commitment to the customer experience, which includes giving back in ways that make a difference in customers’ lives.
Such a commitment mirrors that of the automotive group and drives the Fred Beans Subaru team to exceed expectations, year after year, when participating in Subaru’s Share the Love® event. Throughout December, each sale made means Subaru donates to a nonprofit selected by the dealership.
Fred Beans Subaru has repeatedly selected the Autism Cares Foundation as its “Hometown Charity” to give back to an organization that has positively impacted the lives of Beans team members and their families.
The Fred Beans Subaru team also has repeatedly earned Subaru’s Love Promise Customer Community Award for efforts to organize additional fundraisers that benefit nonprofits in and around Doylestown.
Dealerships of the Past That Shaped Our Present
Our Early Expansion into New Holland
An enduring energy crisis primed the way for Fred to expand shortly after opening Fred Beans Ford of Doylestown. After acquiring the rights to sell a few more brands in town, Fred moved into New Holland with the purchase of a Ford dealership there in 1981.
Fred hand-selected a top employee at the time, Geoff Class, to apply the processes and values that were working in Doylestown to the New Holland store. He made Geoff a minority partner and worked with him to establish a strong Beans presence in the area. Over the years, they added or acquired three other dealerships and sold a range of brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Isuzu, Jeep, Lincoln, Mercury, and Toyota – all in New Holland.
Geoff himself appeared in dealership commercials that caught customers’ attention with the slogan, “Where a little country means a lot of a savings,” paired with a catchy jingle and a friendly looking cow.
The growth in this area also included a stand-alone parts and service facility, New Holland Autocare, which Geoff helped establish and grow.
After 35 years of managing the Fred Beans Automotive Group’s New Holland-based operations, Geoff retired. Without a minority partner in this area, Beans sold the New Holland franchises and real estate.
The sale was bittersweet. The money from the transaction was used to buy Fred Beans Ford of Newtown, the same dealership where Fred got his start working with Bill Marsh.
Saturn Dealerships Influence our People-First Practices
Saturn was GM’s answer to foreign competition. The company encouraged a team approach to deliver the best car-buying experience for customers. That meant everyone involved in the corporation was a “partner” and empowered to work across departments and even with other Saturn dealerships to share ideas and offer assistance. The goal was to meet customers’ needs and top the competition.
Sound familiar? This approach of working as a team, with people to serve people, was a fit for the Beans operation. With Fred already applying this concept to his own family of dealerships, he acquired franchise rights for Saturn in the early 1990s. Fred Beans Saturn of Doylestown opened in 1991, followed by Fred Beans Saturn of Devon in 1997.
Beth Beans Gilbert served as general manager of both Saturn dealerships and credits the experience with helping her develop confidence and a unique leadership style. She especially appreciated how former Saturn President Skip LeFauve encouraged and empowered employees to think beyond their transactions with customers to provide an experience that led to repeat customers and established roots in the community through charitable efforts.
Although GM’s support for Saturn waned and production of the brand ended in 2009, the Fred Beans Automotive Group continues to appreciate the Saturn philosophy that the car business is actually a people business.
Fred Beans Automotive: Our 2025 Operations
AutoExpress Doylestown
AutoExpress Langhorne
AutoRent Boyertown
AutoRent Doylestown
AutoRent Langhorne
AutoRent Newtown
Big Oak Insurance
Buying Center
CarStar Abington
CarStar Boyertown
CarStar Doylestown
CarStar Flemington
CarStar Langhorne
CarStar Mechanicsburg
CarStar Newtown
CarStar New Cumberland
Fred Beans Fleet
Parts - CarQuest
Parts - Parts
Distribution Center
Fred Beans AutoExpress
Locations in Doylestown and Langhorne, PA
After looking – and struggling to find – a business model offering fast and reliable automotive and tire services, Beth Beans Gilbert helped develop one with the launch of AutoExpress in Doylestown in 2007. Following the success of this pilot location, the Fred Beans Automotive Group opened a second AutoExpress location in Langhorne in 2019.
These AutoExpress locations service any make or model vehicle and do not require appointments. These operations reflect a continued commitment to enhance customer service and satisfaction.
Fred Beans Autorent
Our dedicated vehicle rental department
Under the leadership of Jennifer Beans Keiser, the operation has flourished and, as of 2025, serves customers in four locations: Boyertown, Doylestown, Langhorne, and Newtown. Even throughout its growth, Autorent has reflected Beans’ approach as a family-owned business, prioritizing the needs and interests of local customers.
At the heart of Autorent’s appeal is consistency in pricing. Unlike larger rental agencies that adjust rates based on fluctuations in demand, Autorent maintains fair and reliable pricing. This commitment to stability has resonated with customers who have come to appreciate such consistency and honesty.
Autorent is also at an advantage because of its connection to Fred Beans dealerships. With access to a wide range of inventory, Autorent can ensure that renters always have top-quality choices available. Jennifer’s personal loyalty is to Ford Motor Company, which gave her father his first opportunity in dealership ownership.
Another way Autorent further distinguishes itself is by prioritizing the customer experience by renting new models and low mileage vehicles. Many vehicles are pulled from the fleet after reaching a mere 3,500 miles to provide customers with a comfortable and reliable rental experience.
Jennifer has a vision to continue expanding Autorent and is supported by a dedicated team that shares her passion for excellent service and
Fred Beans Collision and Towing
Carstar
Locations in Abington, Boyertown, Doylestown, Flemington (NJ), Langhorne, Mechanicsburg, Newtown, and New Cumberland
Fred Beans CARSTAR provides quality collision services at eight locations throughout the company’s area of operation. The CARSTAR team combines quality with convenience by providing customers with free estimates and working directly with insurance companies.
CARSTAR’s I-CAR- and OEM-certified technicians are trained to work on all vehicle makes and models, delivering the highest quality repairs with a CARSTAR Limited Nationwide Warranty.
Fred Beans CARSTAR also offers towing and rental car assistance to further position the Fred Beans Automotive Group as the best and first choice for customers’ automotive needs.
Bucks County Towing
Bucks County Towing is a division of the Fred Beans Automotive Group. The towing team assists Beans customers across the automotive group’s CARSTAR Auto Body and Collision shops and dealership-based service centers in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In addition, Bucks County Towing answers independent and AAA calls in and around Bucks County.
The Beans towing team earned top recognition from AAA in 2024 for overall excellence in roadside assistance. The team prides itself both on responsiveness and consistent communication with customers.
Fleet Group and Commercial Vehicles
Companies in just about every industry depend on The Fred Beans Automotive Group for fleet vehicles, commercial trucks, and automobiles
Barbara Beans oversees the Fred Beans Fleet Group and has helped make the Fred Beans Automotive Group the go-to for businesses in need of fleet vehicles for their sales staff, daily operations, such as delivering parts, or even transporting VIPs.
Employees with company cars should also know they can turn to the Fred Beans Fleet Group to pick up and maintain their vehicles.
Barbara says the relationships she has formed with manufacturers helps her deliver for customers. She entered this area of the business at age 29, and the connections she has made fuel both her passion for fleet sales and the Fred Beans Fleet Group’s growth. This area of the business alone sells more than 6,000 vehicles a year. Even more impressive, Beans is consistently the top-selling Subaru Fleet dealer in the United States.
Commercial Vehicles
The Fred Beans Automotive Group also specializes in commercial vehicle sales, with a wide selection from luxury sedans to box vans to dump trucks available. Customers looking specifically for work trucks can browse inventory, schedule a test drive, and discuss specialized needs at Fred Beans dealerships in Doylestown, Langhorne, Mechanicsburg, and West Chester.
The automotive group’s commitment to pairing commercial customers with the right vehicles to meet their needs has earned Beans the title of Pennsylvania’s #1 Volume Commercial Dealer Group.
Fred Beans Parts
In the mid-’90s, Fred ventured into selling parts, first by picking up manufacturers’ parts from his dealerships and taking them to a central location. He then arranged for parts to be delivered to the back of a NAPA Auto Parts he purchased – the unofficial start of Fred Beans Parts.
In 1999, Fred began convening with a small team monthly, meeting on Saturday mornings at the Cock ’n Bull restaurant in Peddler’s Village to take his vision for a parts business to the next level. Here, they created “mind maps” on a large board in the front room, outlining their ideas to create something special and detailing every aspect of a successful parts operation.
Fred Beans Parts, Inc. was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fred Beans Holdings, Inc. in 2000, coinciding with the purchase of a warehouse in Doylestown.
Fred especially appreciated the insight into the parts business from Glenn Kinsey, who Fred inherited as an employee when he bought his first Ford dealership in Doylestown. Fred called Glenn the “original parts guru.” Today, the Doylestown parts warehouse is dedicated to Glenn.
Parts Distribution Center
What was referred to for years as the “parts warehouse” was renamed the Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in 2020 to accurately represent the scope of business now conducted through this subsidiary – and the realization of the vision Fred and his team had during those Saturday morning planning sessions.
Through the PDC, the Fred Beans Automotive Group is a leading provider of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) automotive parts, serving a diverse range of clients from independent service providers to large fleets and government agencies. The automotive group’s secret to success is its unwavering commitment to customer service. The PDC simplifies the process of parts procurement for customers, touting “one call gets it all.”
Answering the call:
We have been the #1 seller of multiple manufacturers’ parts nationwide nationwide, including Chrysler, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
As of 2025, the Parts Distribution Center encompasses:
• Once-a-day delivery to a 100-mile radius
• 101 daily delivery routes, ensuring timely and consistent delivery
• Nearly 400 total employees, a significant increase from the initial team of 70 in 2001
• 3 cross docks 3 cross docks in Lebanon, PA; Sussex, NJ; and Swedesboro, NJ
• 24-hour warehouse operations, 6 days a week
• Over 300,000 square feet of combined storage space
• Over 4,600 unique customers a month
CarQuest
When the Doylestown warehouse opened, the Fred Beans Automotive Group moved its NAPA Auto Parts retail operation into this new space. At around the same time, Beans transitioned its relationship with NAPA to one with CarQuest.
Beans continues to sell parts to the public in its CarQuest store, which is located at one end of the Doylestown warehouse. The automotive group also operates a second CarQuest in Langhorne.
CarQuest is where car-buying customers go for parts. Beans’ Doylestown retail store ranks eighth in the country among all CarQuest locations in sales volume of aftermarket parts, which are replacement parts not made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer.
Customers turn to CarQuest for everything from a battery to an air filter, wiper blades, touch-up paint, and more. They also have access to the PDC’s OEM parts, when needed.
Getting to Know Beans
Over the years, the Beans brand has been bolstered with a few catchy taglines, including “Nobody Beats Beans,” “Get to Know Beans,” “Everything Automotive,” and the longstanding, “It’s Better at Beans.” These have been shared alongside our promises to customers in ads, showroom displays, and even on cans of beans.
Ads Through the Years
Beans ads have showcased vehicles for sale and incentives to buy, while simultaneously building the company’s brand. Now with a 50-year history, the Beans name is synonymous with the family values Fred grew the business with – the same values he, his family, and the entire Beans team uphold today.
Our Fred Beans license plates have evolved over 50 years, but what these designs represent has not.
Our
brand is so much more than just a giveaway, but for
Better Practices and Promises
Our team sustains our brand, following our better guidelines that put customers first.
RETTEBBe Beans. we are all the brand.
Engage enthusiastically. Every interaction, every time.
Treasure every customer. They are our lifeblood. Think like the customer. Find ways to be legendary.
Explore options. Be a solution.
Recover rapidly. Our reputation depends on it.
Our promises as a company also make it better at Beans:
Better Prices, with all vehicles backed by Beans Best Price Guarantee;
Better Selection, with 20+ brands offered at 30+ locations and a significant inventory of used vehicles;
Better Rewards, with points earned on every dollar spent through the AutoRewards Club; and
Better Peace-of-Mind, with a 5-day return or 30-day exchange policy.
A Beans Customer For Life: AutoRewards Club
One purchase with Beans, and customers become part of the family with membership to the Fred Beans AutoRewards Club. That means the Fred Beans Automotive Group takes care of each customer for the life of the vehicle – and even the next one.
Points Used as Dollars for LongTerm Savings
Customers join the Fred Beans AutoRewards Club and earn points on every dollar spent with Beans. These can be used toward a collision deductible or the purchase of a new car. They can even be shared with a friend or family member.
Exclusive Benefits
Beyond points, AutoRewards membership also provides peace of mind with free first oil changes, state inspections, towing reimbursement to Fred Beans service centers, and more.
Perks as a Fred Beans VIP Beans also treats AutoRewards Club members to private VIP events, such as free photos with Santa, ice skating, and movie nights. In addition, members get discounts and specials at hundreds of area merchants, including restaurants, florists, fitness and pilates centers, and cleaning services.
Are Only as Good as the People Around You
We Got Big By Staying Small
Fredisms: Words to Live By at Fred Beans Automotive Group
When you spend more than half of your life as a successful entrepreneur, you have many secrets to success. Fred often shares – and repeats – these in succinct sayings, affectionately called “Fredisms.”
Fred has led and grown a successful team that has contributed to his 50 years in business. The impact both he and the business have had on others is significant and gives Fred notoriety in the community and throughout the automotive industry. The company has leaned into Fred’s “larger than life” persona over the years, not only by sharing his “Fredisms” but by introducing the “Big Fred” mascot.
The Three Words We Want a Customer to Say: “I’ll Be Back!”
Leaving a Legacy... ...By Giving Back
Raised by a Quaker father and an alumnus of the George School in Newtown, Fred often heard the phrase, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
That stuck with him over time, and as his business grew, he became motivated to share his good fortune with others.
Today, Fred’s commitment to giving back has been embraced company-wide; Beans even offers paid time off for employees to volunteer.
The company formalized its commitment to giving back in 2000 by establishing the Fred
Beans Charitable Foundation. The foundation supports efforts and organizations that provide important human services and elevate communities through education, the arts, and health and fitness, including ongoing sponsorship of the Bike Works Fred Beans Elite Cycling Team.
Through the foundation, Beans has funded large-scale expansion and renovation projects for Doylestown Hospital, the George School, the James Michener Museum, and the YMCA of Bucks County, among others.
Beans also offers ongoing support to municipalities, with donations ranging from a new Harley Davidson to the Warrington Police to a monetary contribution for the Plumsteadville Volunteer Fire Company’s construction projects and fire truck purchases. The company’s support of schools has included donations of vehicles for automotive training and participation in Ford’s Drive 4 UR School fundraiser.
Since 2011, the Fred Beans Automotive Group has participated in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program to direct millions back into the community to provide scholarships, educational services, and innovative school programs.
Starting in May 2020, company leadership introduced meals challenges, donating portions of sales and service bills to fund meals distributed by food pantries throughout Beans’ areas of operation. The company set a goal to provide 500,000 meals in that first campaign at the height of the pandemic and has since remained committed to fight hunger.
Beans stores also are empowered to support their immediate communities. Dealerships have
become frequent hosts of blood drives for the American Red Cross, making the company a Premier Blood Partner.
The Beans team has adopted its own cause to support colleagues in need. For years, employees have contributed through internal fundraisers and an annual holiday raffle to maintain a Hardship Fund that provides financial assistance to Beans team members faced with unexpected and dire need.
L
eaving a Legacy...
By
Building a Better Team
Fred has long said that the Fred Beans Automotive Group is only as good as its people. He inspired a company culture that prioritizes both professional and personal development and upholds Core Values that include: integrity, excellence, teamwork, customer focus, and continuous growth. Beans team members have the support to deliver on the promises the company makes to customers and one another.
Professional Development
Opportunities exist to participate in Dale Carnegie leadership training and the NADA Dealer Academy, in addition to undergraduate and graduate education programs through Chrysler.
In partnership with Bucks County Community College, the company also offers a customized leadership training program – the Fred Beans Leadership Academy – for employees who have potential to move into a leadership role or have recently taken on a new role.
Healthy Living Program
Helping employees bring their best selves to work each day, the Healthy Living Program is an anomaly in the automotive industry. Led by a designated wellness coordinator, the program includes a range of online and in-person resources, company-wide fitness challenges, and individualized fitness and nutrition consultations to support employees based on their needs, comfort levels, and health goals.
Even Fred has participated in the challenges in his dress shirt, doing push-ups or planks on the showroom floor. The extra practice got him ready for his annual birthday push-up challenge. On his 80th birthday, he completed 125 push-ups in front of an audience and was featured in the Wall Street Journal for his commitment to maintaining a healthy mind and body.
Bonding as an extended Family
We think of our Fred Beans team as an extension of the Beans family. That means we make time to connect and have fun. From Halloween costume and car-decorating contests to annually hosting Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, we look for opportunities to strengthen bonds across our operations.
Employees who surpass sales and service goals and improve customer satisfaction are rewarded with an all-expense-paid vacation with a guest alongside company leadership. These “Top Performers” enjoy extra time together, outside of work, with options to take part in a range of group excursions and a culminating awards celebration.
First-Choice Employer
As a family-owned and -operated business, the Fred Beans Automotive Group has aimed to be increasingly flexible and family-friendly over the years. Benefits such as paid maternal and parental leave and increased PTO and bereavement days better support a personal and professional life balance.
Efforts to support employees in all aspects of their lives have earned the Fred Beans Automotive Group the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Best Places to Work Award.
Leaving a Legacy... ...By Sharing Wisdom
From Fredisms to Better at Beans Promises and Core Values, Fred’s wisdom is well documented and often shared throughout the Fred Beans Automotive Group.
But perhaps his most widely known words to live by are his Guiding Principles, also known as his SMAC - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, and Challenging – Guide.
Fred’s Guiding Principles:
01. Obsess over customer satisfaction: Create long-term satisfied customers, not just one-time buyers.
02. Invest wisely: Allocate 50% of profit annually. Be financially conservative and avoid dependency on external financiers.
03. Practice frugality: Be meticulous with expenses, even down to the smallest fractions. 0.001% is significant.
04. Focus on details: Maintain cleanliness and attention to small details, like picking up trash in the parking lot.
05. Stay local: Grow in familiar markets and invest in businesses where we can be a top player.
06. Engage directly: Get out from behind the computer and engage with people. Manage by walking around. Stand up, smile, and escort people.
07. Demonstrate resilience: Be tough-minded and persistent. Solve problems and never give up.
08. Maintain excellence in the frontline: Ensure both product and people are impeccable.
09. Be professional: Represent the brand with professionalism. Know and protect the value of our great reputation.
10. Know your numbers: Understand operational metrics at the ground level and what drives profit.
11. Learn continuously: Cultivate curiosity. Ask yourself daily, “How do I/we get better?”
12. Act decisively: Have a bias for action but avoid confusing activity with results.
13. Think big and aim high: Play to win every day and never become complacent.
14. Friends doing business with friends: Foster relationships where business interactions are built on trust, respect, and mutual benefit.
L eaving a Legacy that will remain in motion
What started with one person, Fred Beans, who had $124 to purchase one gas station has evolved into...
Multiple generations of Beans family involvement
2,300 total team members
30 dealerships selling 21 brands and additional operations to meet each automotive need
Largest dealer-owned parts operation
Millions invested in the communities where we live and work and
One legacy that will forever remain in motion
