Kern’s Chrysler dealers spared cuts
| Thursday, May 14 2009 06:19 PM
Last Updated Thursday, May 14 2009 06:19 PM
Kern County dodged an economic bullet Thursday as Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers in Bakersfield and Delano learned they will not be shut down as part of the bankrupt manufacturer’s move to close a quarter of its dealerships within a month.
Officials at Haddad Dodge, Bakersfield Chrysler Jeep and Delano’s Family Chrysler Jeep Dodge reported receiving letters from Chrysler indicating they will not be shuttered. They said the news was not a surprise, as their recent sales have been relatively strong.
“We weren’t really worried,” said Ali Dhain, general manager at the Delano dealership. “It’s business as usual here at the dealership.”
Chrysler dealerships in Taft and Ridgecrest have not been so lucky: Both recently closed on their own in advance of Thursday’s announcement.
Nobody was answering phones Thursday at the former Diamond Motors dealership in Ridgecrest.
At the former San Joaquin Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Taft, service advisor Mona Payne said the business has been converted to an independent service shop that can work on virtually any make of car. Its new name is San Joaquin Automotive Center.
Chuck Haddad, owner of Haddad Dodge, found a silver lining in the closure notices.
“Every (surviving) dealer will be a lot stronger,” he said, “because you have less dealers selling the same product.”
He said customers are to be thanked for the dealership’s survival.
“We owe it to everybody in Bakersfield and Kern County that’s been buying cars form us,” he said.
