NORWICH – A list released Thursday from the bankrupt automobile manufacturer, Chrysler LLC, did not include Norwich Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep of Norwich.
Norwich Dodge, owned by Dick Pope, is the only Chrysler dealership in Chenango County. Pope owns a Chrysler franchise in Morrisville that was also spared.
The dealer did not return phone calls this morning.
Upon hearing the news, Maureen Carpenter, president of Commerce Chenango said she was “very pleased.”
“That’s good news for our area that people are still going to have a variety of dealers to chose from for their services and purchasing needs,” she said.
Chrysler gave 28 dealerships across New York the axe as part of a nationwide effort to consolidate its business and emerge from bankruptcy. The auto giant wants to close 25 percent or 789 of its 3,200 U.S. dealerships by June 9. Closed dealerships stand to lose tens of thousands of dollars in unsold inventory.
The Southern Tier community of Vestal will lose two Chrysler franchises, Miller Motor Corp. and Matthews Auto Group. Both stores sell other makes of cars, but customers will have to travel further for service. Stores in Syracuse, Ithaca, Roscoe and Herkimer were also on the closure list.
