Saturn. All of Saturn. Even the rings.

Penske Automotive Terminates Discussions with General Motors to Acquire Saturn
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Sep 30, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG) an international automotive retailer, today announced that it has terminated its discussions with General Motors Company ("GM") to acquire the Saturn brand, citing concerns directly related to the future supply of vehicles beyond the supply period it had negotiated with GM.

Since announcing its discussions with GM on June 5, 2009, the company has been in the due diligence process to determine the feasibility of developing an independent distribution model for Saturn-branded products and service parts in the United States, including the sourcing of vehicles from GM and other potential suppliers. The company had negotiated a definitive
agreement with GM to source vehicles on a contract-manufactured basis for a period of time. After this period, the company would have been required to source vehicles from another third party under a similar contract-manufacturing agreement.

Penske Automotive Group negotiated the terms and conditions of an agreement with another manufacturer; however, that agreement was rejected by that manufacturer's board of directors. Without that agreement, the company has determined that the risks and uncertainties related to the availability of future products prohibit the company from moving forward with this
transaction.

Denny Hecker Offices & Dealership RAIDED by IRS, DEA, MN State Police, etc.

http://wcco.com/crime/denny.hecker.raid.2.1048076.html

The GM Closure List (About 160 of the 1100 So Far)

A partial list as reported so far.

Cannot vouch for its accuracy since GM has not released the list, but these are supposedly "self-reported." If there are any inaccuracies, please let us know ASAP.

Here you go:

Abercrombie Chevrolet in Hartselle, AL
Adams Chevrolet in Belton, MO
Alex Montgomery Chevrolet in Mount Washington, KY
American Chevrolet in Mannington, WV
Angleton Auto Center Chevrolet Buick Pontiac GMC in Angleton, TX
Apple Valley Chevrolet in Martinsburg, WV
Autoserv of Laconia Buick Pontiac GMC in Belmont, NH
Barber Brothers Chevrolet in Spanish Fork, UT
Bell Chevrolet in Sistersville, WV
Bigelow Chevrolet in Parma OH
Bill Cross Performance Auto Group in Wooster, OH
Bob Hall GMC in Yakima, WA
Bob Thomas Chevrolet Cadillac in Bend, OR
Bob Wysong Chevrolet-Pontiac Cromwell, IN
Boyd Chevrolet in South Hill, VA
Boyles Motors in Maryville, MO
Brackeen Motors Buick Pontiac GMC in Shawnee, OK
Brighton Garage Chevrolet in Island Pond, VT
Broadway GM in Pulaski WI
Brown Pontiac in Sylvania Township, OH
Bruce Chevrolet in Hillsboro, OR
Bruckerts Chevrolet in Bunker Hill, IL
Cecil Clark Chevrolet in Leesburg, FL
Charlie Roberts Chevrolet Buick in Renselear, IN
Chuck Clancy Auto Group Chevrolet in Cartersville, GA
City Chevrolet in Oklahoma City, OK
Classic Pontiac Cadillac GMC in Anniston, AL
Coggin Chevrolet in Kissimmee, FL
Coggin Pontiac-Buick-GMC in Kissimmee, FL
Colonial Chevrolet-Buick in Talledega, AL
Condon Auto Sales in Sioux City, IA
Courtesy Chevrolet in Morgan Hill, CA
Courtesy Chevrolet in Orlando, FL
Courtesy Chevrolet in Ontonagon, MI
Courtesy Chevrolet Buick in Booneville, MS
Crown Automotive in Lawrence, KS
D'Andrea Buick Pontiac GMC in Chicago, IL
Dallas Automotive Group in Jackson, OH
Daniels Chevrolet, Colorado Springs, CO
Danny Len Pontiac Buick GMC in Mt. Dora, FL
Dave Hamilton Chevrolet Redmond, OR
Dick Bigelow Chevrolet in Parma, OH
Don Ayres Pontiac-GMC in Fort Wayne, IN
Don Helms Chevrolet in Graham, TX
Don Signer Buick Cadillac in Newark, CA
Don's Chevrolet in Ida Grove, IA
Eisenhour Motor Sales Chevrolet in Pemberville, OH
Epp's Chevrolet in Middleboro, KY
Ernie Von Schledorn Chevrolet Pontiac Cadillac in Mayville, WI
Faw Chevrolet in Cambridge, NE
Firebaugh Chevrolet in Firebaugh, CA
Forrest Chevrolet Cadillac in Cleburne, TX
Fox Motors in Charlevoix, MI
Fox Pontiac Buick GMC in Grand Rapids, MI
Frank Andrews Chevrolet in Dublin, GA
Freeway Cadillac Ogden, UT
Friday Motors in Taos, NM
Gene Reeg Motor Sales in Columbia City, IN
Glen Dale Chevrolet in Glen Dale WV
Guatney Pontiac Buick GMC in Little Rock, AR
Hasay Chevrolet in Shickshinny, PA
Hatfield Buick GMC in Redlands, CA
Hajek Chevrolet in Loveland, CO
Headwaters Pontiac Buick GMC in Livingston, MT
Headwaters Pontiac Buick GMC in Three Forks, MT
Heaton Chevrolet in Pittsfield, IL
Henna Chevrolet Cadillac in Aiken, SC
Henneberry Buick in Belvidere, IL
Hoak Chevrolet in Souix City, IA
Holiday Chevrolet in Farmington Hills, MI
Holler Chevrolet in Winter Park, FL
Hubler Chevrolet in Shelbyville, IN
Illig Chevy/Pontiac in Cattaraugus, NY
Jack Wolf Chevy in Belvidere, IL
JL Freed Pontiac Cadillac in Lansdale , PA
Jim Douglas Chevrolet in High Springs, FL
Johnson Motor Company Buick Pontiac GMC in Graniteville, SC
Johnson Sales Chevrolet in Arlington, WI
Joe Romero's in Kingwood, WV
Jones Chevrolet in Corvallis, OR
Kaiser Pontiac in Deland, FL
Keeton Motor Buick Pontiac GMC in Fordyce, AR
Ken Nelson Automall Cadillac-GMC in Sterling, IL
Krueger Auto & Truck Villa GMC in Waverly, IA
La Roche Buick Pontiac GMC in Brenham, TX
Lakeland Pontiac GMC in Oconomowoc, WI
Larry Miller Pontiac Buick GMC in Caldwell, ID
Lehman Pontiac/Buick/GMC in Miami, FL
Lewis River Motor Co. (Chevrolet) in Woodland, WA
Matthews Chevrolet in Brilliant, OH
Mazzei's GMC in Pittsburgh, CA
McCombs Superior Pontiac GMC in San Antonio, TX
Mendenhall-Roy Chevrolet Inc. in Grabill, IN
Merle Snider Motors Chevrolet Buick Pontiac Cadillac in Winfiled, KS
Meyer GMC Trucks Inc. in North Manchester, IN
Michael Chevrolet in Chesterfield, MI
Midway Motors in Harman, WV
Miler Chevrolet in Lordsburg, NM
Milnes Chevrolet in Imlay City, MI
Mollala Chevrolet in Mollala, OR
Montrose Chevrolet in Kent, OH
Moomaw Chevrolet in Sugarcreek, OH
Moore Pontiac Buick GMC in Canton, GA
Mountain City Chevrolet in Inez, KY
NH Disch Motor Group in Moosup, CT
Norman Blackmon Motors in Greenville, AL
Northstate Motors in Orland, CA
Nourse Interstate Automall Chevrolet Buick Pontiac in Richburg, SC
Nuebel Chevrolet in Le Mars, IA
Offutt Motors Chevrolet Pontiac Buick in Lisbon, ND
Olesen Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Avoca, IA
Olsen Implement GMC in Huron, SD
Painter Chevrolet Pontiac in Nephi, UT
Pat Fischer Chevrolet in Titusville, FL
Patire Chevrolet Buick in Hoosick Falls, NY
Paul Spady Buick in Hastings, NE
Pete Paris Chevrolet in Monroe City, MO
Pines Pontiac/Buick/GMC in Pembroke Pines, FL
Poulin Auto Country Chevrolet in Rochester, NH
Power Chevrolet in Long Beach, CA
Preferred Chevrolet-Pontiac in LaGrange, IN
Quality Motor Co. in Las Vegas, NM
Raceway Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC in Lake City, SC
Randy Jones Chevrolet in Corvallis, OR
Rea Buick in Port Jarvis, NY
Reichert Chevy, Buick, Pontiac in Crystal Lake, IL
Reichert Chevy, Buick, Pontiac in Woodstock, IL
Ricky Smith GMC in Weymouth, MA
Riley Cadillac in Jefferson City, MO
R.L. Reising Sales in Beecher, IL
Rose Buick Pontiac GMC in Gloversville NY
Roseland Pontiac in Chicago, IL
Royal Automotive in Fulton, MO
Russ Chevrolet in Tigard, OR
Rust Chevrolet in Cissna Park, IL
Salisbury Chevy in Scotia (Glenville), NY
Saturn of Capitol Expressway in San Jose, CA
Scarff Auto Center in Kalispell, MT
Scott Nichols Motors in Silver City, NM
Seaside Buick Pontiac GMC in San Diego, CA
Spencer Auto Group in Spencer, WV
Spitzer Auto World in Homestead, FL
Springhurst Chevrolet in Louisville, KY
St. Claire Cadillac in Santa Clara, CA
St. Paul Equipment GMC in Saint Paul, NE
Starling Chevrolet in Deland, FL
Stewart Chevrolet Cadillac in Colma, CA
Stokes Hodges Chevrolet Buick Pontiac GMC in Thomson, GA
Susan Schein Chevrolet in Pelham, AL
Swenson Motor Company in Benson, MN
Swenson Motor GMC in Belmar, MN
Team Chevrolet in Smyrna, TN
Tom Sparks in DeKalb, IL
Tom's Chevrolet in Cornell, WI
Tri Pontiac Buick in Hemet, CA
Tri-County GM in La Junta, CO
Victor George Chevrolet in Lapeer, MI
Videon Chevy in Newton Square, PA
Wagner Buick Pontiac GMC in Belleville, IL
Walker Chevrolet in Sandy Lake, PA
Wallace Lundgren Chevrolet in Elgin, TX
Walser Buick Pontiac GMC in Bloomington, MN
Warta Buick in Salina, KS
Wells River Chevrolet in Wells River, VT
Wile Motors in Columbia, CT
Williams Chevrolet Buick Pontiac in Sayre, PA
Windward Chevrolet (Servco) in Kaneohe, HI
Wolf Chevrolet in Belvidere, IL
Yankton Motors in Yankton, SD
Zimmerman Bros. Buick Pontiac GMC in Pittsfield, IL

3 New Orleans Saturn stores

Saturn of Metairie, Saturn of Harvey, Saturn of Slidell

May 13, 2009

Saturn of Eugene - OR

Lithia store.

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090512/BUSINESS/705129910

Saturn of Cedar Rapids - IA

Lithia store. May 12, 2009

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090512/BUSINESS/705129910

Burien Nissan - WA

Soon. No more inventory.

Chrysler Kills Almost 800 Dealers By June 8

Click here for the list.

GM Experience Centers - Continued

In a previous post I raised the concept of having GM Experience Centers in major metropolitan areas as a way to economize the current inefficient dealer system. Here are some additional details on how I think it should work:

As I said in the original post, GM should put in one or two of these big centers in the top 25 metro areas. They would include a test track and customers could place orders for pickup at their chosen dealer. The buyer would be able to accesorize their vehicle at the Personalization station (fit between write-up and F&I). GMAC financing would be available for the buyers and the chosen dealer would get a cut of the finance revenue similar to today.

All dealers within 50 miles of the center would be obligated to participate and dealers outside of the 50-mile radius could opt-in to their closest center.

But what about pricing? Isn't that the big challenge? Technology can help here. Each dealer would be given access to a web portal that allows them to declare how much over/under invoice or MSRP they are willing to sell each particular vehicle for (not unlike the Costco buying program or CarsDirect). For example, Suburban at $100 over invoice; Camaro at MSRP minus $500; etc. If a dealer does not submit their data, their prices default to MSRP. This way a buyer can weigh cost vs. convenience.

Won't this continually put each dealer in competition with each other? Yes, it will lower the average transaction price, however in exchange, the GM Experience Center would also act as a huge warehouse for the vehicles, which means dealers could keep far fewer cars in inventory and thereby lessen floorplan costs dramatically. And, by having all of the vehicles in one place for a buyer to shop from (and experience with the 3-day test drive), a much higher closing rate should result. Remember, GM's biggest challenge today is CONSIDERATION. If customers can experience how good GM cars are today in a low-pressure, fun atmosphere, they are far more likely to add GM back to the shopping list.

Philly dealers

Dealers like Weed Chevrolet, David Penske Chevrolet, Stockburger Chevrolet, Wilkie Chevrolet, Sloane Chevrolet and Meissner Chevrolet were good dealers unable to weather this economic storm.

David Penske Chevrolet - King of Prussia, PA

September 2008. Can't believe I missed this one before. Reportedly the brother of famed Roger Penske.

What GM REALLY needs to do...

So here's what we have so far: Rick Wagoner is tossed out as CEO and the remaining team puts forth a "plan" that is really just incremental change instead of the real change required.

If GM wants to survive, it is going to have to make some major overhauls. As a 20-year industry veteran, here is my prescription:

1) Reduce white-collar waste. This is a clear case where size matters. Toyota's US headquarters staff is tiny compared to GM and nobody can argue that they are less effective. As a former GM vendor, I could never shake the impression that half of the GM white-collar staff was sitting around making work for the other half. Start by dismissing any staff member whose social security number ends in an even number (or odd, doesn't matter). The exceptions: Engineering and market research. Sure the dismissed workers would require a buyout, but the whole company is bloated.

2) New leadership. Wagoner is gone, but there are still a ton of his cronies, GM lifers, who are calling the shots. Time to stop rewarding those who brought the company to where it is today. Anyone else notice that Ford is the only domestic that is doing well? Most will attribute it to the leadership of Mullaly, who came to Ford from Boeing. Wagoner was not enough. GM must get rid of the top three layers, let the young guns rise, and bring in someone fresh and successful from outside automotive. Maybe after this is done GM will finally shake its "whack-a-mole" mentality where new and radical ideas are cause for dismissal.

3) Consolidate brands. Kill Hummer. Nobody wants it and the vehicles are the most earth-damaging of any car division. And let SAAB go back to being its quirky self. As for the others, GM has already made some strides consolidating Buick, Pontiac, and GMC, however they could have gone farther. My recommendation is that GM folds Saturn into that group and eliminate overlapping models. Saturn becomes the entry level brand, Pontiac the sporty brand, Buick the luxury brand, and GMC for trucks.

Saturn should keep the Astra, Aura, and Vue. Kill the Outlook and as much as I love the styling of the Sky, it either has to go or becomes a Pontiac. Buyers who are moving up then have two choices, Buick for luxury or Pontiac for sporty. Buick should keep the LaCrosse, Lucerne, and Enclave, while Pontiac keeps the G8 and either the Solstice or the Sky. Then, of course, Pontiac should see the return of the Firebird. GMC should keep the pickups, big van, and Yukon and kill the Acadia and Terrain.

As for Chevy, kill the boring as hell Cobalt when the Cruze comes out, and the new Malibu has made it very easy to kill the Impala.

And Cadillac should continue as a stand-alone, however I think Caddy needs a refreshed badge. Get rid of the Grandpa-screaming wreaths for starters. Want to be like BMW and M-B? They have nice, clean badges. Also, I think Caddy deserves a "halo" car like the Sixteen. Keep it to a few units a year, but it would go a long way to change how people think about Cadillac and GM.

4) Better engineering. Ask any engineer at GM and they'll tell you that they seem to reinvent the wheel for every model. GM just has too many unique parts. A Honda ignition switch is a Honda ignition switch, no matter the model. It is long overdue for GM to have more commonality of parts, especially those that the consumer doesn't see. Furthermore, GM should set an engineering goal of reducing the number of parts per vehicle by 20%.

5) Fix retailing. GM needs nothing short of a revolution in retailing. The best investment GM has made in the last decade is the Auto Show in Motion (of course, it got killed by a grizzled old fart high in the food chain who preferred putting more incentives on the vehicles instead). It is no secret that there are way too many dealers and they are often the weak link. The answer? Put GM Experience Centers in the top 25 markets across the country where consumers can come test drive any GM model and compare it head-to-head with the competition. Also, let consumers rent the vehicle they are considering for $15 per day (up to 3 days). Studies show customers are far more likely to buy if they spend more time with a product.

At these GM Experience Centers, consumers can order, customize, and finance their vehicle and arrange for pickup at one of the local dealers (fewer in number than there are today). This would relieve the dealerships of increasingly expensive sales staffs and allow them to focus on the more profitable used car and service operations.

This would also allow more uniformity of processes and vendors. Apologists in the industry scream "but dealers are entrepreneurs!" Bullshit. Dealers are often the most ham-handed, unsophisticated businesspeople out there. Anyone ever hear of the concept of economies of scale? Today they usually kill all brand equity just to steal a deal from the guy 6 miles away. A more coordinated marketing system is definitely called for.

Having said that, I do think GM is on the right track when it comes to vehicle value protection, payment protection (even if they did have to follow Hyundai's lead), enhanced warranties, and OnStar. In fact, I think they should make the one-year standard OnStar a two-year deal.

6) Health care. Time for GM to show corporate leadership and tell Congress that their lack of progress fixing the health care system is a major contributor to GM's problems today. Wagoner started to talk about the need for a single-payer system before the economy totally fell apart but then stopped talking about it. Time to bring it up again with conviction.

More later...

Prebul Auto Group - Chattanooga TN/Dalton, GA

Winter 2008 through February 11, 2009

Chattanooga, TN: Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Kia, Volvo, Infiniti, Vespa
Dalton, GA: Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Pontiac, Mazda, Kia
Dayton, TN: Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge

Apparently this guy kept his dealer group going on one customer...his brother-in-law's "investment." Boy is Thanksgiving dinner going to be AWKWARD! Do they serve turkey in the pokey?

4 Wisconsin Saturn Dealers

April 15, 2009.

Saturn of La Crosse
Saturn of Eau Claire
Saturn of Wausau
Saturn of Fond du Lac

All John Bergstrom stores, one of the original Saturn franchisees. He is keeping two other Saturn stores open for now in Appleton and Green Bay.

Zangara Dodge - Albuquerque, NM

February 2009.

This one amuses me. Ken Zangara was one of W's biggest supporters. Guess he now realizes what happens when economic policy is directed to give more and more to those who already have the most, with real incomes falling for all but the aristocracy. Did he forget he was selling Dodges and not BMWs? So now he may not have any income, but his tax rate on that no income is 3% less than it was under Clinton. What a great trade off!

Oh yeah, this self described "Christian" is now being charged by the New Mexico Attorney General with a Ponzi scheme. Apparently he forgot to pay off trade ins. Screwing the poor in both economic policy and ruining their credit at the same time doesn't sound like the kind of thing Jesus Christ would have advocated.

Warren Westlund Buick GMC - Seattle, WA

While technically still an Isuzu dealer (until they make their final departure from the US), Westlund has given up their GMC and Buick franchises and is now trying to make it as an independent.

Graham Colonial Motors - Lagonier Valley, PA

Chrysler Dodge Jeep
February, 2009.

This is a sad story. The dealer was found dead of a heart attack amongst new vehicles he was torching.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20090309/ANA06/903090343/1078

Power Buick Pontiac GMC - Scottsdale, AZ

October 2008. Claims it was part of a "consolidation." AutoNation store.

Scottsdale Hyundai - AZ

January, 2009.

Cardinale Way Buick Pontiac GMC- Scottsdale, AZ

March 6, 2009.

Superior Auto Group - CA

Superior Nissan of Mission Hills
Superior Nissan of Carson
Superior Nissan of Puente Hills
Superior Nissan of Fremont
Superior Chrysler Jeep Dodge - City of Industry

These are sister stores to Superior Toyota of Oakland (see separate post)

Courtesy Chevrolet - Thousand Oaks, CA

March 1, 2009

Who buys domestics in Thousand Oaks?

http://www.dailynews.com/business/ci_11810025?source=rss

Legacy Auto Sales - Scottsbluff, NE

Toyota, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

March 10, 2009

Not only did the dealership close, it appears that the DP, GM, and Controller stole 81 new vehicles and disappeared (until arrested in Utah). Funniest part...no Lincolns or Mercuries disappeared. Anyone want them?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/12/missing.cars/index.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29656878/

Toyota of Oakland - CA

March 2009.

Closed one week after $35 million building opened. Whoops.

Shoals Suzuki - Sheffield, AL

March 2009.

Sister store to Suzuki of Huntsville.

Floorplan issues.

Suzuki of Huntsville - AL

March 2009.

Largest Suzuki dealer in the US at one point.

Saturn of Watertown - CT

3/6/09

Tracy Volkswagen - CA

February 6, 2009

San Rafael Chevrolet Cadillac SAAB Hummer Hyundai - CA

January 23, 2009.
Last of the domestics in southern Marin County.

In an industry filled with arrogant jerks, the GM here was a classic example of what is wrong with the retail car business.

Prospect Motors - Jackson, CA

January 12, 2009

Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Cadillac

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=53121

Kennedy Cadillac - San Bernardino, CA

December 2008

Superior Pontiac GMC - Ontario, CA

December 2008

All Star Dodge - Banning, CA

December 2008

Hemet Chrysler Center - CA

January 9, 2009

http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_S_chrysler10.3c328c0.html

England Motor Co (Ford/Honda) - Greenville, MS

December 5, 2008.
Opened 1926.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20081205/BIZ/81205005

Lithia Ford - Omaha, NE

October 17, 2008.
http://www.ketv.com/news/17745276/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Reagan Buick Pontiac GMC - Omaha, NE

January 10, 2009.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10533672

Peninsula Dodge - Redwood City, CA

January 2009.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=6613470

Score Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Middletown, OH

January 6, 2008.
http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/05/daily11.html

Capitol Buick Pontiac GMC - San Jose, CA

December 30, 2008.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=6579051

Alan Young Pontiac Buick GMC, - Richland Hills, TX

December 22, 2008.
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/12/22/daily9.html

Eddie Wiggins Buick Pontiac GMC - Warner Robins, GA

January 14, 2009.
http://www.macon.com/197/story/585987.html

Bill Buckner Dodge Chrysler Jeep - Emmett, ID

December 10, 2008.
http://news.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/carsblog/2008/12/bill-buckner-do.html

Saturn of Pueblo - CO

End of 2008.

Bauer Jaguar - Irvine, CA

Their website calls it a "consolidation" with their Newport Beach location. Sounds like a shut point to me.

BBC Dodge - Burien, WA

September 2008

EDITORIAL: Little Sympathy

I know that it isn't proper to say that I don't feel much sympathy for all of the car dealers going under, but I can't help it. The automotive retail industry has been bloated with hacks and idiots for eternity.

George Carlin said, "Dogs think everything is forever." He could have said the same about car dealers.

Let's take a look at why dealers are some of the least progressive business people in the world.

Let's start with the owner. Who owns dealerships? It is either a sales guy who worked hours on end and got a chance to buy in, or the dealership was handed down from daddy. Either way, chances are they have only a high school diploma. Some may have gone to a college nobody has ever heard of. But really the chances are they started on the sales floor at 18 and never needed to go any further with their education.

Which brings us to GMs. Why would an owner who got his education from the school of hard knocks ever hire someone smarter than they are? God forbid someone comes in and tells the owner that things can be done much better. The owner's ego couldn't take it. Their name is on the building for Christ's sake, they must know best. I think I can count the number of GMs I've met with an MBA on one hand, even if I cut off three of my fingers.

So what we have is an entire industry, with the extremely rare exception, that has a deep contempt for higher education (want proof, ask ANY factory rep). The result are dealership owners and managers with huge egos who think they know all there is to know about business when all they really know is the car business, which is far from the same thing. Just look at how long it takes to drag dealers kicking and screaming into new technology! Ask them about a histogram or a standard deviation from the mean and watch the glazed look on their faces.

Here's an interesting idea for a dealership too radical to ever be implemented...stock it with managers for whom an MBA is mandatory. Then, and only then, will dealers start to look at problems strategically and actually plan for downturns instead of reacting to something new every 30 days.

Grady's Pontiac GMC - Live Oak, FL

January 6, 2009

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/37175089.html

Freeman Moore Mazda - Memphis, TN and Jackson, TN

January 2009

Premiere Ford - Gladstone, OR

December 5, 2008

Beaverton Mitsubishi - OR

December 9, 2008

Gary-Worth Auto Sales - Gladstone, OR

Lincoln-Mercury, July 2008

Beaverton Lincoln-Mercury - OR

September 2008.

Eckenhoff Cadillac Buick Pontiac GMC - Jenkintown, PA

Not quite dead as of 12/30/08, but soon. GM took back all the inventory.

Premier Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Decatur, GA

October 20, 2008

Michael Holly Chevrolet Kia - Lakeland, FL

December 22, 2008. Holley has been charged with 26 counts of grand theft and more.

Central Chevrolet - Fremont, CA

Opened in 1937. Closing January 2009.

Guy Schmidt Cadillac Buick Pontiac GMC - Glendale, CA

September 2008

EDITORIAL on Automotive News Headline: S&P downgrades five top dealer groups

No surprise there. The big dealer groups have never fully realized their potential. Sure, some have centralized accounting, etc., but for the most part they have never fully taken advantage of some of the economies of scale available to them. Lithia seems to be the exception, however they have hitched their wagon to traditionally weak brands.

Ask the big wigs at the publicly held groups and they say "our dealer operators are entrepreneurs." OK, if that is true, then why not be just a holding company with no national staff? This economic crisis has demonstrated that most GMs can't think their way out of a paper bag (more on that later).

If the big groups really want to provide added value, they would have uniform procedures, uniform vendors (even for uniforms), etc. so that one employee could be picked up and moved and wouldn't even blink.

Gibson Motor Co. - Junction City, OR

November 2008 after 87 years.

Bret Chevrolet - Kent, WA

October 2008

Carter SAAB - Seattle, WA

Became Subaru

Volvo of Pleasanton - CA

Broadway Ford - Oakland, CA

Ford of Dublin - CA

San Francisco Chrysler Jeep

11/14/08.

Oroville Beckford Ford-Mercury - Milton, FL

November 2008

Owl Chrysler Jeep - Honesdale, PA

November 24, 2008

Pen Argyl Ford - Plainfield Township, PA

March 7, 2008

Towbin Hummer - Las Vegas, CA

Rumor is they will start selling Smart cars at that location.

Silicon Valley Hummer - San Jose, CA

2008

Sunnyvale Lincoln-Mercury - CA

2008

Sunnyvale Dodge Chrysler Jeep - CA

2008

Pensinsula Dodge Hyundai - Redwood City, CA

November, 2008
Part of the Denny Hecker closing (Minnesota)

Rogers Chevrolet Pontiac Buick - Rantoul, IL

By end of 2008

Legacy Auto Ridge - Bonham, TX

November 21, 2008
Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC

Winner Ford - Lisbon, CT

2008

John Irish Auto Plaza - San Rafael, CA

Early 2008. Chrysler Jeep Dodge

Courtesy Pontiac Buick GMC - Longwood, FL

September 25, 2008

Urban Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Foothill Ranch, CA

April 2008

Family Nissan - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

May 16, 2008

Galleria Chrysler Jeep Dodge - New Hampton, NY

June 10, 2008

Monroe Ford - NY

October 16, 2008

Harriman Chevrolet Cadillac - NY

March 27, 2008

Roberti Saab - Kingston, NY

November 18, 2008

Heritage Lincoln-Mercury - Tustin, CA

August 18, 2008

Chrysler Jeep of Elk Grove - CA

Auburn Buick Pontiac GMC - CA

December 1, 2008

Maita Hyundai - Sacramento, CA

Week of December 1, 2008

Svanda Chrysler Dodge - Sparta, IL

Week of December 1, 2008

Sable Chevrolet - Pittsburgh, PA

Week of December 1, 2008

Rosado Dodge - Wilkes-Barre, PA

December 1, 2008

Center Chevrolet - San Bernardino, CA

By end of December 2008

Ford of Marin

October 2008

Geri LeBlank Buick Pontiac GMC - Thibodaux, LA

November 2008

Bigelow Motors - Belleville, NJ

Chrysler Jeep
10/4/08

Clarks Summit Chevrolet - PA

August 2008

Stevens Creek Buick Pontiac GMC - Santa Clara, CA

June 2008

Los Gatos Chevrolet - CA

October 2008

Good Chevrolet - Alameda, CA

October 2008