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Leesburg may lose two Chrysler dealerships
Two Leesburg dealerships are among the hundreds Chrysler intends to sever ties with as it struggles to become profitable again.They are Pohanka Chrysler Dodge, at 219 Catoctin Circle and nearby Dulles Jeep, at 107 Catoctin Circle. The company is also ending its association with Ourisman Chantilly Dodge just across the border in Fairfax County at 4105 Auto Park Circle. All told, Chrysler is terminating franchise agreements with 17 dealerships in the Washington, D.C., region.
“We're still in business,” said Hamid Saghafi, president of Dulles Motorcars, parent company of Dulles Jeep. He said he learned of Chrysler's plans through a letter recently sent to his dealership, which also sells Subaru and Kia models.
Scott Crabtree, owner of Pohanka, said he got word of Chrysler's plans early May 14 and described his reaction as “disappointed.”
He said, though, Chrysler is considering a plan to stay in Leesburg by allowing one dealership to sell all of its models. Talks are ongoing, he said.
Still, he said, if his dealership does lose its Chrysler franchise, Pohanka of Leesburg could remain open as a service center.
“We want to be in Leesburg,” he said. “We like the market.”
The list of affected dealerships was released as part of a filing Chrysler made in bankruptcy court in New York City May 14. The list was published on Chrysler's Web site. Chrysler said it plans to terminate agreements with nearly 800 of its 3,200 dealerships nationwide.
Saghafi said Jeep sales account for roughly 40 percent of his business, and the brand has been “selling well” despite the recession.
He said until he gets final notice from Chrysler on his Jeep dealership's status, he will be servicing and selling Jeeps as usual.
Meanwhile, more bad news is on the way. On May 15, General Motors was supposed to start notifying the dealerships it would be ending relationships with. Reportedly, 1,100 of the company's 6,000 dealerships will be affected.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
Let there be a moral to the Chrysler saga. You build and sell inferior products, then you eventually lose your market share. The junk that has been coming out of the Chrysler/ Jeep /Dodge line for years will only retain so many loyal customers. Eventually people grow tired of lemons, lengthy repair bills and cars that generally are 20 years behind in looks and performance to other brands. The Dodge Neon, Dodge Truck, Chrysler Sebring, Acclaim, Aries, Omni/Horizon, Daytona, Shadow/Sundance are all shining examples of Chrysler's long standing failure as a company to produce a quality vehicle. GOOD RIDDANCE!
Posted by NovaDifferenceMaker
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I'm sure that the new CEO, OhBummer, will be happy to hire the displaced workers as part of his private, brown-shirted, 'citizen army'. All they need to do is to swear fealty to their new Lord and promise to split their paychecks with Him. And, of course, ensure that their children offer up their piggybanks to "The One". They won't be needing any money for gas, since they will all be peddling their bicycles to worship at the altar of the Green Messiah.
Posted by segeny
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Chryslers and Jeeps continue to fail every major crash test. Is it any wonder no one buys this garbage?
Posted by Waya
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