Nearly 30 GM, Chrysler dealers won't be forced to close

Nearly 30 car dealerships that were slated to close last year by General Motors and Chrysler have been saved.

The 28 dealers were among 52 that GM and Chrysler had announced they would shutter after bankruptcy.

The Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association says the saved dealerships preserved a total of 1,700 jobs.

Association President Scott Lambert says it's unfortunate that Minnesota lost more than two dozen other dealers.

"GM and Chrysler acted in bad faith and I think the dealerships that closed didn't have to close," Lambert said. "I think the marketplace was doing a good job of winnowing out businesses that couldn't survive all by themselves. For them to come in and pick winners and losers - it was never right then and it's not right now."

Twenty-four dealerships were closed last year, cutting an estimated 1,400 jobs. GM closed nine other Minnesota stores when it killed the Saturn brand.