WASHINGTON — Under withering criticism in Congress, executives of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler on Friday called the closings of hundreds of dealerships painful steps needed to right-size the auto giants. Down-on-their-luck dealers said the moves would needlessly devastate their local economies and livelihoods.
"Many dealers and the communities they serve frankly feel blindsided," said Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.).
GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson told a House panel that the dealer cuts were "quite painful" but necessary to save more than 200,000 jobs at GM's remaining dealers.
"In essence, this is our last chance," Henderson told the House Energy and Commerce Committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee.
Chrysler Deputy CEO Jim Press said the cuts were part of the shared sacrifices by the United Auto Workers union, bondholders and others that were needed to avoid liquidation.
"Going through bankruptcy was not our choice," said Press, who along with Henderson and the other witnesses was required to testify under oath.
But the committee heard from shut-down dealers such as Frank Blankenbecker III of Waxahachie, Texas, whose voice cracked as he recalled the hard work of his father, a World War II veteran, to build their family business.
"I am glad that he is not alive to witness this travesty," Blankenbecker said. "To have risked his life for a country that would do what they are doing would destroy him."
The carmakers' explanations won few converts from House members, who wagged their fingers at the executives and questioned their motivations.
Many of the dealers, they argued, had been profitable and received little warning or opportunity to plead their cases.
"There's something wrong with a business model that basically says, 'In order to survive, we've got to crush our local dealers,' " Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said.
Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas) confronted Henderson about GM's decision to maintain a parts distribution center in the district of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Frank had urged Henderson to keep the facility open.
"What is the number I need to call? Is it 1-800-Car-Czar?" Burgess asked. "I have a nagging suspicion that there is a political calculation."
Chrysler is closing 789 dealerships and GM plans to cut about 1,350 by the end of next year. Lawmakers said the cuts would hurt many rural communities, forcing consumers to drive long distances to have their vehicles serviced.
