Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE — As GM dealers in Colorado awaited news concerning their contracts with General Motors, a local Chrysler (Jeep) franchisee said he is not closing his doors.

Chrysler announced Thursday that, if its bankruptcy plan proceeds as planned, it will shed contracts with 789 dealerships, including Pollard Brothers, which sells new Jeeps.

Rich Pollard said, however, that won't kill his entire business or cause the closure of Pollard Brothers, as Friday's headlines stated.

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He said if Chrysler's bankruptcy plan proceeds as scheduled, he will lose his Jeep franchise.

"But it hasn't happened yet. I am still the Jeep dealer in Montrose. I own this place. They don't own anything here."

Pollard said he will stay in business, selling used cars if in fact he loses his Jeep franchise. He will retain his mechanic, too.

"We have a lot of loyal customers. We have been here for 26 years," he said, reiterating reports his dealership was closing weren't accurate.

"As of right now, everything is the same as it was 25 years ago. I'm the Jeep dealer," he said.

Hellman Motors in Delta shouldn't close, either. It's on the list to lose its Chrysler franchise, but also sells other makes of vehicles.

Hellman representatives could not be reached for comment Friday.

General Motors is also looking to cut ties with 42 percent of its dealerships by next year. There was no word Friday afternoon as to whether GM will cancel contracts with any West Slope dealers.

"We'll stay in business," Kent Wollert of Wollert GMC in Montrose said.

"If that happens to us — which we're not aware of yet — if we lose our GMC franchise, then we're going to be a super strong used car store. We're going to take care of our customer base like we always have."

GMC can decline to renew the Wollert franchise, but it can't actually shutter the dealership. "As far as our dealership, we will remain open," Wollert said.

He said Wollert would invest the same amount of money into used vehicles as it currently invests in new cars.

Comments

To many cars wrote on May 27, 2009 11:02 AM:

" My brother is a Chemical Engineer for LEER in Ohio. Cutting franchises down will help lower costs associated with factories like his from producing so many parts and cars which are NOT being sold. Truly is a good practice to help sort thru their bankruptcy "




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William wrote on May 23, 2009 2:20 PM:

" I have been a Pollard customer for over 15 years. I am glad to see Rich Pollard says he is not leaving. He is a conservative business man who has stood by his products and service. He is a breed we need to keep on the Western Slope. Chrysler needs to reconsider their bankruptcy plan for dealerships like Pollard's "




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Jody wrote on May 22, 2009 7:25 PM:

" I am Glad to see Pollards standing tough. I plan on supporting them.
I do not understand how cutting dealership licenses saves corporate costs. Don't they make money on commission of sales? What is their logic? "




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