GM will end up with about 4,500 stores in U.S.

(August 6, 2010) General Motors goal last year was to trim its dealer network from 6,049 stores to about 3,600. But as arbitration concludes, GM's final total will be about 4,500 stores.

In November, there will be about 3,100 Chevrolet franchises, 2,100 Buick franchises, 1,750 GMC franchises and 925 Cadillac franchises.

General Motors prevailed in 39 of its arbitration cases and lost 23 to rejected dealerships according to a GM spokeswoman. GM announced final results of a process that began with enactment of a federal arbitration law in December and ended with final decisions handed down last month on claims by dealers tagged for elimination during the company's restructuring.

Most of the 1,176 arbitration claims filed in January never reached a decision, the company said in a statement.

“A strong, profitable dealer network selling and servicing the world's best cars and trucks is a genuine market advantage,” GM North America President Mark Reuss said in the statement.

About 1,000 of the continuing stores are scheduled for “a major facilities upgrade” by the end of this year, the statement said. Included in the upgrades will be work areas with phone and laptop computer outlets, Wi-Fi and a cafe area with refreshments.