Valley spared from massive GM dealership closings

General Motors’ long-standing roots in the Mahoning Valley appear to have spared the region from the massive dealership cuts announced today, an official said.

GM notified 1,100 dealers nationwide that they would not be renewed after October 2010, but the only local store on the list appears to be Reichenbach Motor Sales in North Georgetown in Columbiana County.

The survival of nearly 20 other dealerships in the region surprised Steve Chos, executive president of the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio.

GM’s long-running manufacturing presence here must have saved the Valley from severe cuts, he said. He noted that the area has a dedication to GM brands because of the large number of people who have worked at the GM Lordstown complex and local Delphi Packard Electric plants, which used to be part of GM.

Jim Pace Pontiac of Niles said it will comment later when it knows more about its situation. It didn’t receive a closing notice from GM, but the automaker has said it is not keeping the Pontiac brand.

For more information, see Saturday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.