Thousands of folks in the state's auto industry couldsoon lose their jobs.
The future of owners and employees at Wisconsin car dealerships is up in the air. WisconsinAutomobile and Truck Dealers AssociationPresident William Sepic says the "draconian cuts" being proposed bythe auto task force and manufacturers could have a significant impact on ourstate.
"We could see up to as many as maybe 90 or 100dealerships that could be lost, and dealerships average about 30 employees perdealership – that's just an average. You're talking a significant amount ofjobs – in the thousands of people."
The cuts are all part of the restructuring plan, afterChrysler filed for bankruptcy last week. Chrysler could announce any minute nowthat up to a quarter of its 3,200 dealerships in the US could crumble.
Sepic argues dealerships aren't the money pit thedecision-makers would have us believe.
"We challenge the auto task force to share with uswhere the financial savings are in cutting the dealer network. We challengethem to show us, you know, what significant movement is made in doing thisbecause dealerships don't cost the manufacturers money."
Sepic is in Washington D.C. right now trying to educate the elected officials onthe significance of the dealer network to the manufacturers, and he says,they'll examine emission standards and discussincentives such as cash for clunkers.
