Another update on RLJ-McCarty-Landers:
Branson, MO:
There are 4 dealerships within 30 miles of Branson, MO.
1. Branson, MO——> Tri-Lakes Motors (RLJ owned)
2. Ava, MO-———> Davis Dodge (owned by Larry Davis)
3. Ozark, MO———> Heritage Chrysler-Jeep (owned by Kay Church)
4. Ozark, MO———> Ozark Dodge (owned by Kay Church)
Mr. Davis and Ms. Church gave no money to any political candidates since 2004.
The RLJ owned dealership in Branson will remain open while the other 3 dealerships will be forced to close in June.
Tri-Lakes Motors in Branson (RLJ owned) will have no other Chrysler dealers within a 30-mile radius of its dealership.
So far, RLJ-McCarty-Landers will have 8 competing dealerships total eliminated from 3 of their markets: Lee’s Summit, MO; Branson, MO; and Bossier City, LA. I’m willing to bet that the other 3 markets that they serve are similar in nature.
More to come...
Another very interesting point to consider is who really is calling the shots in these closings. Some articles I have read claim Chrysler is makind the decisions, but a Reuters article disputes that claim:
“Among those updates is the one linking to a Reuters report quoting a lawyer representing dealers being closed came away from a deposition of a senior Chrysler executive with the distinct impression that the company is simply following orders coming from the White House.
“It became clear to us that Chrysler does not see the wisdom of terminating 25 percent of its dealers. It really wasn’t Chrysler’s decision. They are under enormous pressure from the president’s automotive task force,” said attorney Leonard Bellavia.”
It would be helpful to have a concrete answer to this question from the “transparent” Obama administration. Who set up the parameters and who made the final decisions on which dealerships are to be closed? We need clear answers.
Another question I have yet to see an answer for:
Why was the CEO of GM fired by the US Government, but not the CEO of Chrysler?
Getting more interesting by the minute. Thanks for your hard work.