About NEMPA
Founded in 1987, the New England Motor Press Association is a professional organization of automotive journalists, broadcasters, photographers, content creators, influencers, and industry opinion leaders. For 39 years, NEMPA has been a trusted link between the automotive industry and the public across New England.
Our members deliver automotive news, reviews, and analysis across print, digital, radio, television, podcasts, video, and social media. Combined, their work reaches more than 250 million readers, listeners, and viewers every month through outlets including Road & Track, MotorTrend, CarGurus, The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Car Talk, Hemmings, Axios, Kelley Blue Book, and GM-Trucks.com.
A New England Perspective
NEMPA serves the 15.4 million residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is a densely populated, demographically distinct region where car buyers have higher-than-average income and education and their own automotive preferences, shaped in part by New England’s weather and geography. These are multi-vehicle owners who shop everything from all-wheel-drive trucks and SUVs to hybrids and electric vehicles. In 2025, they spent $67.9 billion on new cars and trucks.
That distinct market gives NEMPA a differentiated point of view. Our members evaluate vehicles in the conditions New England drivers actually face, from winter storms to the rough roads of the spring thaw, and report on what holds up in the real world.
What We Do
NEMPA hosts regular monthly meetings featuring new products and industry news, and works with manufacturers and other automotive companies to host special events, product debuts, and vehicle programs. Annual events include the NEMPA Ragtop Ramble and the awards dinner. Many of these gatherings take place at the NEMPA Garage, a dedicated space for manufacturers to introduce vehicles and tell their stories directly to working media.
Through these programs, NEMPA gives journalists direct access to vehicles and industry leaders, and gives manufacturers direct access to the media professionals who shape automotive coverage in the region.
Our Awards
Each year, NEMPA recognizes the best in the industry through its awards program, headlined by the Winter Vehicle Awards and the Official Winter Vehicle of New England. Additional honors include the Yankee Cup Technology Award, selected with input from engineering faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Ritvo Design & Elegance Award, chosen in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. NEMPA awards carry no fees, and winners may use them freely in marketing and advertising.
Connecting the Industry
As vehicles grow more advanced and the industry continues to evolve, NEMPA remains a direct link between automakers, marketers, dealers, and the media professionals who cover them. Whether helping consumers make informed decisions, holding the industry to a higher standard, or amplifying real innovation, our members bring experienced, independent analysis to audiences across New England and beyond.
