In the wake of Barraês testimony on GMês recall, itês now up to dealers
After General Motors CEO Mary Barra was grilled last week by two Congressional committees over the recall of 2.6 million cars, the front now moves to dealers. GM says all the cars should be repaired by late fall, reports the Detroit News. But thatês several months away, and meanwhile some dealers are getting a lot of phone calls from concerned customers.
Ed Bozarth Chevrolet in Las Vegas, for example, reports having received 50 calls a day for the past three weeks, fixed operations director Al Belford told Reuters. They are calling for information, said Belford, and are a little confused about what they need to do.
Fewer than 2 percent of the ignition switches needed for repair are expected to be in dealerships this week, according to the Detroit News. GM has said anyone who is afraid to drive their recalled car can get a loaner from a dealership. The automaker said it has already underwritten 15,000 loaners. But some GM vehicle owners told the News that dealerships in their areas didnêt have loaners available.
Dealers told the News they had not heard from GM as to when they would get the ignition parts or how many they would get. Weêre in the dark just like everyone else, said Reichard Mann, service manager at Greenwood Chevrolet, Youngstown, Ohio.
Although most recalled cars were sold in the Midwest and Plains states, observers nationwide are wondering how the recall might affect GMês future sales. It will take some time for the brand to gain back the customers it lost, said April Ancira of Ancira Auto Group of San Antonio in an email to Reuters. But I have got to believe that General Motors will use this opportunity to really focus on improving the safety of their product.”
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