Another Montana automobile dealer is closing it doors, and the owner says losing its General Motors dealership contributed to the downfall.
Headwaters owner Dave Jackson worked for General Motors for 30 years and owned two dealerships for seven years.
The closure in Livingston Wednesday came six months after Headwaters received the letter from General Motors that it would not renew its dealership agreement. He closed his GM dealership in Three Forks back in July.
“Obviously, it's very disappointing.We tried to keep her going as long as we could” Jackson said. “I think Cash for Clunkers really hurt the dealers. And when you take and basically throw away all those cars, that hurt the market place. It's a very sad day for us here in Livingston."
At it's peak, Headwaters GMC in Livingston and Three Forks employed 32 people.
(from May 22, 2009) General Motors told two Livingston car dealers this week that they will not be selling the company's new vehicles in 2010, but both companies say they plan to stay in the car business, selling and servicing used cars.
Whiting Chevrolet Cadillac started in 1960 and the Whiting family first sold General Motors vehicles almost 90 years ago in Southern Utah. Meanwhile, Headwaters GMC Buick Pontiac has been in business seven years.
Headwaters owner David Jackson has worked with and for General Motors for 30 years, and his father for 43. He said he likes GM's signs on his dealers in Three Forks and Livingston.
"I always took great pride in that, still do. I think General Motors could continue to be the best company in the world" he told us.
Both Whiting and Jackson say dealers pay for everything and are not an expense for General Motors. The owners of the two GM dealers in Livingston said that for them it's more than business and economics, they also try to help out customers and make a contribution to the community.
The two added that used cars and service are the main parts of their businesses, but they would consider an opportunity to sell new cars with GM or another company.
But no matter what they sell. Headwaters and Whiting say they will stay open for business in Livingston.
We spoke with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke about a number of topics on Thursday, including the auto industry's impact on rural America. He said that the communities which are losing dealerships will feel an impact, but that the administration wants to provide options.
