Chrysler seeks termination of 3 Indianapolis dealerships

Chris O'Malley, The IBJ

comalley@ibj.com

Chrysler LLC has asked a federal bankruptcy court in New York to terminate the franchises of three of its Indianapolis dealerships and 17 others in Indiana, according to records the automaker filed in court today.

Axed locally would be Palmer Dodge Inc., 4545 E. 96^th St.; Palmer Dodge West, 5051 W. Pike Plaza Road; and Gene Beltz Shadeland Dodge, 1630 N. Shadeland Ave.

Chrysler proposes to eliminate 789, or about 25 percent, of its dealers nationwide as part of the bankruptcy restructuring.

The Beltz location is just north of Eastgate Chrysler, which would remain open.

Palmer's 96^th Street Dodge location is across the street from O'Brien Chrysler, which also avoided the closure list.

Chrysler has about 3,200 dealers, but says that's too many and wants a smaller, more profitable dealer network.

Dealers likely will have a right to appeal to get off the closure list. The closures will affect thousands of jobs around the country and result in millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.