Dealers deliver ‘Main Street’ message to Capitol Hill

Posted on Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 2:19 PM EST.

As the U.S. Congress considers support for the domestic automobile industry, a select group of Chrysler LLC’s U.S. dealer network will visit the nation’s capital on Tuesday, Nov. 18, and Wednesday, Nov. 19, to discuss their concerns regarding the impact of the global financial and liquidity crisis in their communities across the country.

The dealers will specifically voice their support for temporary financial assistance for the domestic auto industry. Thirty-three dealers representing 25 states will make Capitol Hill visits to key Republican and Democrat members of Congress, as well as to the Bush Administration. The group consists of Chrysler’s 18-member National Dealer Council, as well as 15 additional dealers who have requested to participate.

Three Chrysler dealers held a media roundtable on Monday, Nov. 17, to discuss the dealers’ efforts to have their voices heard in Washington. Participants in a media roundtable included Hayden Elder, Elder Chrysler Dodge Jeep®, Athens, Texas; Jim Arrigo, Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep, West Palm Beach, Florida; and Chuck Eddy of Bob and Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Austintown, Ohio;

“On behalf of our 140,000 direct employees, our customers and our communities in all 50 states, Chrysler’s 3,372 dealers’ voices need to be heard,” Arrigo of Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep said in a statement. “The immediate economic and liquidity crisis confronted by the domestic automotive industry, including our dealerships, is directly caused by and related to the financial/credit crisis. The lack of liquidity impacts our ability to do business, and our customers’ ability to purchase the vehicle. We are very concerned that without immediate support, communities across the country, ranging from big manufacturing states to every small town with a car dealership, will face significant further economic downturn. This is not an issue about Detroit, or three companies, it is about millions of people, mechanics, sales representatives and accountants working across this country whose livelihood intersects with automobile industry.”

Elder, of Elder Chrysler Dodge Jeep, added: “Chrysler’s dealers strongly support the U.S. government giving immediate temporary financial assistance to Chrysler, General Motors and Ford and their captive finance companies. This is the only way to get customers buying again, and allow the companies to restructure. There are customers who want to buy and dealers who want to stock up, but the financial crisis is making it difficult for them. We are excited about the potential future of Chrysler LLC—from electric vehicles to hybrid pickup trucks to America’s minivans, their product line has great potential.”

Facts about Chrysler’s U.S. dealer network

• There are 3,372 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships in the United States, directly employing more than 140,000 people (End of September 2008).
• In 2007, Chrysler’s U.S. dealers generated $105 billion revenue.
• In 2007, Chrysler’s U.S. dealers spent $575 million on advertising.
• In 2008 through September, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers invested $132 million solely to upgrade their U.S. facilities.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 2:19 PM EST and is filed under Company. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Comments are currently closed.