Oct 31, 2008 4:40 pm US/Pacific
Local GMC Dealership Falls Victim To Economy
GRASS VALLEY (CBS13) ―
Nearly 120 bankrolled vehicles removed from a local car dealership, which is just another sign of tough economic times. The trucks started to tow away the cars early this morning. CBS13 went to Grass Valley to see why workers there say they are struggling to survive.
"I am just about ready to cry that's how bad I feel," says one worker.
One after another, bankrolled vehicles are carted away.
"People don't have money they can spend on buying new vehicles," says one of the workers who were laid off.
Weaver Truck and Auto Center, like many dealers got credit through GMAC for its fleet.
Authorities say the Grass Valley dealership couldn't pay back the loan, and so the inventory must go.
"That's a court order and it's our job to enforce it. And so the cars are being removed," authorities say.
"You know I look at GMAC taking all these vehicles back. Well they got to survive too," says Rich Mueller.
But rich Mueller and around 30 other employees won't survive the tough time – and are getting laid off.
"It's probably the best place I've ever worked in my life," says Rich.
"We got TV monitors," says Chris Johnson.
Across the street, Chris Johnson who owns a custom auto shop fears his business could be next.
"All this stuff that's in here is a want not a need, so that puts companies like this on the back burner," says Chris.
And as each car rolls away, more jobs are lost and so are tax revenues.
And if the dealership is able to line up new financing or fill the empty lot with other cars, it maybe able to avoid shutting down. For now, it's still a licensed General Motors dealer.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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