Articles

Market for dealerships is shifting

Market for dealerships is shifting

The climate for buying and selling auto dealerships is shifting rapidly. Who's buying? How much is beingpaid? And why? Mark Johnson, whose firm, MD Johnson Inc., advises on the sale and acquisition of dealerships nationwide, will provide answers this week in an online...

Buy­-Sell Mistakes to Avoid

Buy­-Sell Mistakes to Avoid

The industry’s dealer count definitely took a hit through the economic downturn, with the National Automobile Dealers Association estimating that more than 3,000 dealerships shut their doors from 2008 to 2010. What you may not realize is that while market challenges...

Closed dealerships just gathering dust

Closed dealerships just gathering dust

About 15 new­car dealerships have closed across Central Florida in the past few years, and if you believethe analysts, more will close in the next two years. Which, in most cases, leaves some large holes in the local landscape. In a climate where financing is tight...

Chrysler to eliminate 15 dealers in Washington state

Chrysler to eliminate 15 dealers in Washington state

Chrysler LLC plans to eliminate 789 dealerships, or about 25 percent of its dealers, including 15in Washington. The carmaker revealed the number in a bankruptcy court filing. It’s expected that the dealers will have a right to appeal to Chrysler’s decision. Read...

Rainier Automotive sells its dealerships

Rainier Automotive sells its dealerships

Rainier Automotive Group, with dealerships in Auburn, Burien and Kirkland, is selling out, anapparent victim of the recession that has battered auto dealerships across the nation.Of the Burien­-based company’s four dealerships, two have pending sales, according to...

Saturn: A different kind of franchise agreement

Saturn: A different kind of franchise agreement

DETROIT — Saturn's franchise agreement is different from those of General Motors' other brands.The Saturn agreement required dealers to sign the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Disclosuredocument, says Mark Johnson, president of the financial advisory and...

New vehicle sales stall in Washington

New vehicle sales stall in Washington

Sales of passenger vehicles and light trucks have tanked in Washington because of costly fueland tight credit, forcing new car dealers to lay off workers. A handful of dealerships have also recently closed because of the tough business climate. The number of new...