Compromise Talks Are Near in Dispute Over Store Closings

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin is trying to set up comprehensive talks about dealer terminations in an attempt to forge a compromise alternative to legislation, according to spokesmen for the National Automobile Dealers Association and General Motors Co. Participants in the proposed talks would include GM, Chrysler Group, NADA, key lawmakers and the White House, NADA Chairman John McEleney said in an interview. An independent dealer group that has pushed for the reversal of dealer terminations also might be invited, McEleney said. The NADA proposal calls for GM and Chrysler to offer reinstatement automatically to any dealers that meet or exceed criteria previously disclosed by the carmakers. Any disputes would be decided in arbitration.
Source: Automotive News