Dealers Targeted For Closure Will Fight Decision

Three local dealerships are targeted to close their doors as a result of a recent bankruptcy filing by Chrysler. Alley’s of Kingsport, Don Hill Pontiac of Kingsport and Family Chrysler, Dodge Jeep of Marion, Va. have been targeted, according to a document released this morning. Chrysler LLC is seeking to eliminate 789 dealerships, or 25 percent of its U.S. network, by June 9, according to bankruptcy court filings and Automotive News.com.

But these dealers say they won’t close their doors without a fight. Doug Alley, owner of Alley’s Chrysler Dodge, says it’s important for everyone to remember this is just a proposal, and that the court has to approve it. He says if the proposal goes through, they will definitely appeal the decision, and for the time being, they will do business as usual, selling cars every day.

Rick Hill, owner of Don Hill Pontiac Jeep, says if the decision goes through, it would be a bad business move by Chrysler. “It won’t make any business sense at all,“ says Hill, “it will not make Chrysler stronger by eliminating dealers.“ He also says if Chrysler does decide to eliminate them, that they have other options in the marketplace. “We have an obligation to the manufacturer,“ says Hill, “if they want to withdraw that, that’s fine, but our first obligation is to our customers, the second one is to our employees.“

Both dealers say they will continue cutting prices, not jobs, and won’t let this threat of closure hold them back.