GM, U.S. House Republican Leader at Odds Over Ohio Dealership Arbitration
WASHINGTON - A top U.S. lawmaker and GM seem to be at odds over whether an Ohio dealer has been reinstated, reported Automotive News.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Friday had been told by "a high-ranking GM official" that Rose Chevrolet of Hamilton, Ohio, had prevailed in arbitration, a spokesman said. Today, Boehner wanted to know why General Motors Co. hadn't yet informed the dealer.
GM declined to say if the dealership has been reinstated. GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney in an email today wondered who at GM might have spoken with Boehner.
For now, confusion prevails.
"There are some questions GM needs to answer," Boehner's spokesman, Cory Fritz, said in a phone interview today. "Why would they let us know without letting the dealer know? It doesn't make sense to us."
Boehner was contacted Friday, June 11, by a GM official, said Fritz, who declined to name the source.
Said GM’s Carney in an e-mail: “Not sure whom Congressman Boehner is referring to from GM.” Carney declined further comment.
Boehner's statement on Friday read: "Today's news is all that Rose Chevrolet asked for: a fair decision based on their record as one of the best dealerships in southwest Ohio."
Boehner since learned from the dealership that it had received no such call from GM, Fritz said.
Still, Boehner isn't backing off from his formal statement.
"The facts in our mind are no different from what we heard on Friday," Fritz said.
Boehner, whose district includes Hamilton, near Cincinnati, had written a letter to GM a year ago requesting that Rose Chevrolet be reinstated.
The dealership had been told last June that it was being wound down and would be closed by October 2010.
Rose Chevrolet, owned by Ed Larkin, confirmed today that it has not yet heard either from GM or the arbitrator about the outcome.
"We're all sitting on pins and needles," said Rose Chevrolet sales manager Mark Frauenknecht.
Rose Chevrolet had its arbitration hearing in Cleveland from Tuesday June 8 to Thursday June 10, he said.
The dealership didn't expect an arbitration decision until next week, Frauenknecht said.
More Industry

World EV Adoption Set to Grow
A new report says the segment, despite recent setbacks in some regions, is poised for acceleration as many countries look to reduce pollution.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Wholesale automotive auction business stayed steady last week as bidders encountered lower prices, analysts observed.
Read More →
Pricing Transparency Drives Purchase Consideration
An annual study by JD Power found that clear pricing matters to consumers on automaker websites, so much so that it increases their purchase consideration.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Used-vehicle market depreciation was the prevailing story in the wholesale market last week.
Read More →
Smaller Is Looking Better
A growing number of Americans in the market for a new vehicle are opting for more affordable options, not waiting for market stability to bite the bullet.
Read More →
U.S. EV Market Slowly Stabilizes
U.S. electric-vehicle interest is slowly stabilizing since a major dip in sales after last year's end of the federal EV tax credit, and hybrids remain the leading electrified power train.
Read More →
Global EV Market Entering New Phase
Automakers are making investments to lower battery costs and optimize production to meet changing consumer needs.
Read More →
Black Book Weekly Market Update
The holiday weekend, not surprisingly, put a drag on wholesale automotive activity last week, analysts observed.
Read More →
Auto Affordability in Context
Cox Automotive points out the complex circumstances that have led to eye-popping vehicle prices.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Automotive auction inventory increased last week, giving choosy bidders even more leeway.
Read More →