Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Republican Congressman Greg Walden chaired hearings Friday on the revocation of several domestic auto dealerships. April Baer reports.

Walden says he's concerned about Central and Southern Oregon car owners whose nearest service centers are more than a hundred miles away. 

GM's CEO Fritz Henderson said in the hearing that a majority of his company's dealers are not profitable today, and that some needed to close.

Still, some Representatives have suggested the closings are politically motivated. Walden says he's heard criticisms.

Greg Walden    "I don't know that that's the case. I've not seen any evidence to back that up, but we are asking all those questions, because people are asking us those questions."

Bend Chevy dealer  Bob Thomas testified at the hearing that his  dealership would stay afloat with other brands. But he estimates he'd lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.