04-28-2009, 07:27 AM
ZTWsquared,Apr 27 2009, 11:04 AM Wrote:NefCanuck,Apr 27 2009, 09:33 AM Wrote:Okay and now the catastrophe hits the GM dealer network in Canada, 'cause I can't see Buick/GMC surviving as a stand alone dealership, meaning a whack are going to be closed / coverted to Chev / Cadillac.
Bets on when the first lawsuit is filed?ÃÂ My guess is two months from the date that Pontiac is declared dead.
NefCanuck
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GM is already on record that they intend to cut their dealerships by 50% (in the US) - - it's been commonly accepted in the industry that they are heavily over-dealered in Canada - it's long overdue.
Ford in Canada at one time had over 700 dealerships ... they now have barely 400 ... the 300 went away when the Mercury franchise was cancelled and others have fallen by the wayside over the past 10 years or so.
Ford's way ahead of the curve on this one - one of the reasons Ford in Canada is still profitable and Ford US is still on their feet without government assistance.
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Oh I don't disagree ZTW, not in the least, however where I'm looking at it is the fact that unlike Ford where the dealerships had been previously split Ford and Lincoln/Mercury and when Mercury was killed there was a natural blending of the remaining brands, GM doesn't have such a seamless transition available to it.
I mean imagine your a Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealership, what are you thinking now?
If I was one of those dealers I'd be screaming bloody murder and calling my lawyer if GM thinks I was just gonna close up shop & go fishing.
NefCanuck