Statement Regarding Chrysler Group LLC’s Agreement to Offer Binding Independent Review Process for Discontinued Dealers
Washington, D.C. , Dec 3, 2009 -
Chrysler Group LLC appreciates the leadership that Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and their staffs have displayed in the effort to settle issues regarding discontinued dealers amicably.
As a result of these discussions, Chrysler has agreed to provide a binding independent review process for discontinued dealers, with the understanding that this binding independent review is an alternative to federal legislation affecting Chrysler’s dealer network. As a show of good faith, Chrysler is implementing the binding independent review process today. The appeal process provides:
The fundamental elements of the appeal process include the following:
A detailed letter describing the offer will be mailed to all 789 discontinued dealers on or before December 10, 2009, and the process will begin at that time. This offer will be available in all states where Chrysler is legally permitted to offer these opportunities to join the dealer network.
Additional Chrysler efforts to provide a soft landing for discontinued dealers include:
The road to recovery for Chrysler required the company to make some very difficult decisions and sacrifices in order to build a vibrant new company. While Chrysler has not closed the door to further discussion with the dealer groups, Chrysler believes that the process it offers today fully addresses concerns that Congress and the discontinued dealers have raised: it provides transparency, a right of appeal, and opportunities to join the new dealer network. Moving forward with this process today enables us to focus our efforts on the business of servicing our current dealer network and building and selling new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles – our best way to repay the nation’s support.