General Motors to Reduce Dealership Network by 1,124

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood

General Motors will cut 1,124 dealerships loose by October of 2010. The struggling automaker on the verge of bankruptcy sent letters out to the dealerships last week as it searches for ways to reduce it’s current dealer network of 5,969 to just 3,600.

GM says it will not renew dealership agreements with the 1,124 companies when their contract renewal comes up in October of next year.

The dealerships being cut are considered to be poor performers and accounted for just 7 percent of GM’s U.S. sales last year.

Another 470 dealerships are also scheduled to be let go as GM parts with the Hummer, Saab and Saturn brands. An additional 35 stand-alone Pontiac dealerships will also be cut.

Those dealerships not already notified aren’t necessarily safe, however, as the remaining 4,300 stores is still 700 over the 3,600 cap.

The news of GM’s numerous dealership closings came just one day after Chrysler announced it would drop 789 U.S. dealerships.

[Source: Automotive News]

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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 2 comments
  • Jj Jj on May 30, 2009

    Does anyone have a list of G.M. Auro Dealers that will be closing in the State of California?

  • James Pretlow James Pretlow on Jun 11, 2009

    Now that GM has Filed BK, why haven't they released the names of dealerships to be closed?

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