Closings point out need to support local dealerships

One car company announced it would close a Southwest Nebraska car dealership, and while another company was announcing more dealership cuts today, we don't know at press time exactly how that move will affect our area.

As Lee Janssen pointed out in a letter Thursday, it's ironic that big car companies want to close dealerships, which are, in effect, their customers.

In small towns especially, the ripple effect is enormous, from the sales taxes collected to the salaries of the sales people and dealership staff to the lenders who provide car loans and numerous community charities to which car dealerships contribute.

As Janssen, a longtime car dealer pointed out, "I don't think they want to drive 75 miles, or perhaps more, to get their vehicle serviced."

The situation points out what wise car shoppers already know, the importance of supporting the local dealerships that support their customers and local communities. It's sad that it takes losing local dealerships to drive that point home.