The hit list
In semi-socialist America, Dodge gets the hell out of you.
Chrysler is cutting loose 789 dealerships, including the following Oklahoma stores:
- Ballard’s of Clinton
- Eddie Cordes, Lawton
- Fenton Motors, Stillwater
- Janzen Jeep, Enid
- Jensen’s Inc., Fairview
- John Thomas, Cordell
- Crossroads Superstore, Atoka
- Milo Gordon Chrysler, Lawton
- Oakley Jeep, Bartlesville
- Reynolds Auto Group, Durant
- Williams Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Stigler
- Wilson Jeep, Stillwater
Here’s where it gets interesting:
Chrysler, because it is under Bankruptcy Court protection, will not be required to buy back vehicles, tools or parts from rejected dealers.
However:
Chrysler will match rejected dealers with accepted dealers, who will buy back parts, tools and vehicles.
Assuming, of course, the surviving dealers actually want all that stuff.
Tom »
14 May 2009 · 5:46 pm
Don’t you know that the GM dealers are scrambling to dump inventory right now in case the same fate awaits them?
CGHill »
14 May 2009 · 7:26 pm
But of course. (And it very likely does; I don’t see any easy way to avoid it at this point. Ford isn’t in such dire straits, but only because they borrowed a ton of money while there were still tons of money to be lent.)
McGehee »
15 May 2009 · 10:44 am
Today the local paper says both local dealers that carry Chrysler products will be “closed,” though one of them also carries GM brands (uh-oh) and the other may try to go over to Honda or something.
The local Ford dealership has been plugging away in the same somewhat obsolete facility for years and shows no signs of hurting, while the two dealerships affected by this development are in the two newest-built facilities in town.
Dunno what that signifies; I just find it noteworthy.
Sarah »
15 May 2009 · 4:16 pm
I just heard on NPR this morning that the Chrysler dealerships in small towns are generally having better luck staying in existence than are dealerships in bigger cities. Mostly because the small-town dealerships (besides having less nearby competition) do a pretty brisk business in Dodge pick-ups.
McGehee »
15 May 2009 · 5:28 pm
That could sort of explain why not-so-small Newnan is losing both dealerships. This is not really Dodge country, at least truck-wise. Fords slightly outnumber Chevy/GMC varieties, and I think Japanese makes (combined, probably not singly) outnumber Dodges.