This was the most ignorant decision ever made.
The dealers cost the manufacturer’s NOTHING.
It is impossible to discern why such action took place.
Illogical in the extreme and counter productive.
Most of the dealerships that closed were owned by Republicans. A Republican whose dealership has been closed is one less enemy of the state able to make money to contribute to Republican candidates, other enemies of the state. Not illogical at all.
In Obama's world view, the brutal man is stronger and the stronger man is right!
“The dealers cost the manufacturer’s NOTHING.”
Definitely not entirely true - manufacturers heavily subsidize training, special tools/equipment, ads, etc.) - but note that small towns, where most smaller dealers were, tend to be conservative (=expendable).